Betty MacLeod and Sally Gibson appear in documentary

A number of Saultites, including Betty MacLeod, Betty Bridge and Sally Gibson, are featured in a new docummentary revealing the critical roles played by ordinary Canadians protecting the Sault Locks and other strategic targets during World War II.

The following was sent to us by the War Amps:

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New war amps documentary has Sault connection

A new documentary by The War Amps that was filmed in part in Sault Ste. Marie will have its national premiere on September 13 in Halifax.

Watch & Warn, produced by War Amps CEO Cliff Chadderton, is ground-zero history.

It's an untold story about ordinary Canadians who, in the daily routine of their lives, volunteered to keep a close watch for enemy threats to our country during World War II.

The Sault was important because of its strategic border and significant location on the Great Lakes.

The strategic value was that the canals allowed the safe passage of 90 million tonnes of iron ore to reach the key American and Canadian steel plants on the lower lakes for their essential wartime products.

The documentary includes interviews with local residents Betty MacLeod and Betty Bridge.

Also interviewed is Sally Gibson of the Sault Canal Canadian Historic Site.

Author Allan Coggon of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, wrote the book Watch & Warn upon which the documentary is based and also appears in the film.

He will be in the Soo this week from Saturday, September 2 to Monday, September 4.

More information, including a clip of the film, can be found at WarAmps.ca.

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Backgrounder

For many Canadians, the front lines of World War II were "over there," and the term "Home Front" was the work being done in Canada in the munitions factories, building the aircraft, training the servicemen and women, etc.

In the War Amps newest documentary, Watch and Warn: Canada's Home Front Aircraft Detection Corps the efforts of how ordinary Canadians answered their country's urgent call for help and volunteered to watch for enemy saboteurs on the home front.

Housewives, school children, fishermen and lighthouse keepers scanned the skies and seas and reported any suspicious sightings of aircraft and vessels - even spies.

It was a dangerous time, and our Navy and Merchant Navy were facing enemy U-boat attacks, and the front lines were also right here at home.

Produced by Cliff Chadderton, CEO of The War Amps, it is based on a book by author Allan Coggon titled Watch and Warn.

In speaking about this new documentary, Chadderton stated: "This is a story which has never been told. It is groundbreaking and tells about some brave, unheralded Canadians who, in carrying out their daily jobs of 'watching and warning,' were prepared to deal with the elements, rudimentary communications and lifesaving activities."

The volunteer observers of the Aircraft Detection Corps were an important part of Canada’s home front war effort.

"It is the fascinating story, in which, from coast to coast in Canada and in the northern regions as well, up to 30,000 Canadians voluntarily took on the role of watching for enemy saboteurs. They also assisted in the rescue efforts to save downed airmen," Chadderton added.

There were many areas in the country that were vulnerable to enemy attack, including Halifax Harbour.

In the documentary, Cliff Chadderton states: "there was one incident where a German submarine did fire upon, and sink, an Allied vessel that was a mere 15 miles from Halifax Harbour. For those who think that Canada was not in danger in World War II, just consider that again."

This documentary is part of The War Amps Military Heritage Documentary Series.

It is available to the public at a cost-recovery price of $12 by using E-ZEE ACCESS: call 1 800 250-3030, fax 1 800 219-8988 or visit www.waramps.ca

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