TRANSCRIPT

Mr Hughes joined the army in 1937 and three years later, in June of 1940, transferred to the RCNVR as a gunner. Late that year, he was given the choice of whether he would like to join some 1,600 other ratings from across Canada as a member of the "DEMS". According to Mr Hughes, about a dozen men from the region were given similar opportunities. This force was created to protect the merchant ships that travelled alone and relied on their own guns for defence. This included defence while at sea as well as while anchored out of small ports, such as those in Africa. Three to five Navy Gunners were posted to select ships and armed with a variety of weapons including Lewis Guns, 2", 4", and 6" Guns, and 20mm Oerlikons to combat aerial and submarine attack.