service records

I arrived in Vancouver, Canada at 11pm, Tuesday 5 July 1966. Next morning at 8am I presented myself to the Immigration Office. They set up an appointment for 2pm that day with a company wanting an English steam fitter/mechanic. Having those basic skills I attended the interview. The first thing the manager said was 'I know your not Canadian, your on time' .. then it was a series of questions etc. experience, family life, expectations, all the usual stuff. What references did I have, well as I had only one previous employer in the preceding 10 years and the acting manager was no a Len Payne fan who had written as a reference 'Leonard Payne has worked here for the past 10 years' , there was not a lot for my prospective employer to go on.
'Where did you work prior to this job' he said pointing at the 'reference'. 'Well I was a Regular soldier' I replied seeing the job slipping away .. 'but I do have my Discharge Book'.
He read my Red Book from cover to cover, sat back and looked at me, then picked up the phone .. 'Dad' he said 'come meet your new employee, straight off the boat'. That's when I first met Leon Tessler ex Captain Winnipeg Grenadiers, his son my interviewer, was David Tessler ex British Columbia Regt
I started work the next day on a Thursday 7 July and stayed with Tessler Brother's for the next 32 years until my retirement, ending up as Operations Manager for British Columbia and Alberta, all thanks to my little Red Book.

Len (Ciphers)

ciphers wrote:

I arrived in Vancouver, Canada at 11pm, Tuesday 5 July 1966. Next morning at 8am I presented myself to the Immigration Office. They set up an appointment for 2pm that day with a company wanting an English steam fitter/mechanic. Having those basic skills I attended the interview. The first thing the manager said was 'I know your not Canadian, your on time' .. then it was a series of questions etc. experience, family life, expectations, all the usual stuff. What references did I have, well as I had only one previous employer in the preceding 10 years and the acting manager was no a Len Payne fan who had written as a reference 'Leonard Payne has worked here for the past 10 years' , there was not a lot for my prospective employer to go on.
'Where did you work prior to this job' he said pointing at the 'reference'. 'Well I was a Regular soldier' I replied seeing the job slipping away .. 'but I do have my Discharge Book'.
He read my Red Book from cover to cover, sat back and looked at me, then picked up the phone .. 'Dad' he said 'come meet your new employee, straight off the boat'. That's when I first met Leon Tessler ex Captain Winnipeg Grenadiers, his son my interviewer, was David Tessler ex British Columbia Regt
I started work the next day on a Thursday 7 July and stayed with Tessler Brother's for the next 32 years until my retirement, ending up as Operations Manager for British Columbia and Alberta, all thanks to my little Red Book.

Len (Ciphers)

Nice story Len, the red book only seems to work with people who understand the military.

Ah, here I am, just having celebrated my 68th Belly Button Birthday with a mug of coffee and a bun. No more 'Mothers Ruin', nor 'Amber Nectar', nor 'John Barleycorn' for me. Come November this year, it will be 50 years since I took the Queens Shilling and signed on the dotted line to go for a soldier. Hmm, it only feels like yesterday at times....

I shall keep my little Red Book as a souvenir, and as proof if the RMPs come looking for me.... So I need to keep taking the Meds, and 'other things' as one gets a bit greyer, and gravity takes over, and the dangly bits sag tad more than years gone by....

[quote="unclevanya"] Ah, here I am, just having celebrated my 68th Belly Button Birthday



SPROG ..

Len (Ciphers)

My demob in Aug 67 found helpful Civvy Managers many of whom had been involved in the 2WW. The MP for Brent, Reg Freeson ?, London helped me overcome Min of Lab difficulties with my lack of Rank and ACE. I thank them all.

Seems I was a bit of a brown noser.




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Never went to Brunei though!




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Nice to see that Pte Pike did alright for himself.

Shelldrake wrote:

Nice to see that Pte Pike did alright for himself.

Yeah, but don`t tell him!