The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Bill Small came to Flin Flon in 1939, actually as an end to a means. As it turned out Bill was "riding the rods" from Vancouver where he had been teaching for a mere $250 per year. After trying his hand as a door to door salesman selling brushes, he had just arrived in Winnipeg when war broke out. When he went to sign up, he was told that there would be a mobile recruiting station set up in Flin Flon the following spring. So Bill decided if he wanted to sign up he had better head to Flin Flon, which he did. Bill got a job as a radio announcer with CFAR for a short while. A Mr. Bridgeman was the manager at that time. Then he hired on at HBMS in the security department, then moved to the smelter, then the crusher and the mill. During this time Bill was also a light weight boxer. He had started at the University of Saskatchewan under trainer Bill Cox. Bill fought Mike Chlan a couple of times during those years. He said Mike was a clean fighter. Their first fight ended in a draw and their second Bill won. Bill went on to win the Light Weight Championship. However, when he joined up with the Air Force in 1941 he was told he would have to make a choice either to box or be in the air crew, but "I couldn't be both," Bill Laughs. "It had something to do with wearing the oxygen mask with a broken nose!" See 'Great' P.# Con't from P.# Bill said, "I was off to Manning Pole in Brandon for training, where we were fed bologna three times a day. Sometimes it was cooked but often it was raw. We had lots of physical training to keep us fit. The air crew had to be fit! I became a flying instructor, then was transferred to Air Observer School in Winnipeg as a check pilot." Later on Bill was sent to Comox to be trained on the DC3s. "We used the Lougheed 10 as a transition aircraft to the DC3. I was discharged in 1945 at Comox B.C.," he said. During that time Bill and Lela got married in 1941 at Vancouver and after the war they came to Flin Flon to start a new life. Bill went back to HBMS in the crusher/ mill working with Paddy Houlihan and Joe St. Godard. However, the reagents caused severe allergic reactions to Bill and he was transferred to the line gang working with Jock Killoh, Vic Sizer, Bob King, Mac Bonnett, Stewie Evans, Art Schearer, Cliff McIntyre, Henry Budlong, Sparky Sparrow and Stewart Kirkland. "That was the best time of my life, working outdoors with a great bunch of guys," smiles Bill. "Then in about 1947 I went to the warehouse, where I worked on the floor with Einar Crone, Bill Lockhart (the boss), Paul Bishop (superintendent), Carl Berg, Tommy Berg, Jack Greenberg, Les Schoeffer, Ray McGinnis, and later I went upstairs to work with Gordie Brown, Walt Cunningham and Carl Nelson." "I retired from HBMS in about 1975." Bill and his wife Lela raised five children in the Creighton area ? Adrienne, Bonnie, Mary, Judy and David. Bill and Lela moved to Denare Beach in 1975. Unfortunately, Lela passed away in 1994. Recently Bill discovered that he is of Objiway ancestry, so he is working on finding out more about his past. He can no longer golf or curl because of his knees. Bill is an active member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church. He spends much of his time making to-scale ships such as the Endeavour and right now he is finishing up the Nonsuch. Bill has 16 grandchildren and he loves to travel. He plans on going back to Saskatchewan, to visit where he grew up and maybe go down to Montana to visit a friend. "I have no plans of ever leaving this area except feet first!" He laughs. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us and share your story Bill!
