"Vancouver Through the Years": Albert Speed goes to World War II

My Grandfather, Albert Henry Speed, enlisted in the Canadian Army on November 11, 1941 at the Hotel Vancouver at the young age of 38. Certainly not the prime age to go off to war. He left his wife and 8 year old son for over three years to serve in the war. He did his basic training in Vernon British Columbia from January 13, 1942 to March 16, 1942. Albert left Vernon for Dundurn Saskatchewan to complete his training with the Royal Canadian Engineers. He was in Dundurn from March 18, 1942 to April 23, 1942. After this training he was given the rank of "Sapper" and ready to go overseas. He was given orders to go overseas and was transferred to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax Nova Scotia. In Halifax, Albert was granted sick leave because of a tooth problem so he returned to Vancouver for some rest before returning to Halifax. Once in Halifax he was given his orders to go to England. On June 14, 1942 Albert left Halifax for Britain arriving in Gourock, Scotland June 25, 1942. For two years Albert worked in a Canadian Army Hospital as a Steam Engineer in England until 1944 when he followed his company, the Royal Canadian Engineers 33rd Field Company to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. His main job with the engineers was to build bailey bridges. He returned from Europe in September 1945.