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Isobel Carter- Wife of World War II Veteran
Interviewed January 29, 2004

Isobel Carter (nee Falconer) was born in the town of Forres in Scotland, immigrating to Canada with her mother, father, three sisters, and one brother when she was ten years old. The Falconer family settled in Kneehill Valley, a district about 15 kilometers south east of Innisfail.

Isobel met her husband, Harvey Carter, in Innisfail, where he was a mechanic. They were wed in a church in Calgary, and were both approximately twenty-three years old when they took their vows. The couple was married for only a year before Harvey left for the war; their eldest son Wayne was a mere infant. Harvey volunteered his services for the war and joined up with the Calgary Highlanders in 1939, as soon as war was declared. When her husband left for training, Isobel moved in with her in-laws. She and her son were given a suite on the top level of the house, so were afforded some privacy. For the duration of the war Isobel mostly stayed at home, getting her entertainment from the radio and from Auxiliary and Red Cross meetings. During the first month of her husband's absence, Isobel had no source of income, and so did housework around town, taking her son with her on jobs. Later, she received a regular cut of her husband's military paycheck. Isobel also worked for three years at the Globe store, which sold products for both men and women.

To occupy her time and aid in the war effort, Isobel joined the Ladies Auxiliary and worked with the Red Cross. She is a past president and life and honourary member of 60 years with the Auxiliary. With the Red Cross, she did things such as knitting, making blankets, and canvassing.

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About four times a year, Isobel sent her husband care parcels, containing things such as food, socks, toothpaste, cigarettes, and other items he might need. When her husband developed trenchmouth, she picked up a prescription from the doctor and sent it over. Not a single parcel was ever lost. Isobel also wrote her husband regularly, but as the war progressed it was harder to find things to say.

During the war, it was the duty of the telegram carrier to relay the news of a soldiers death, capture, or Missing in Action status to the relatives of the man. At the same time each day, he came to the gates of women whose husbands or relatives had fallen victim to the war. Isobel routinely watched for him, praying each day that he wouldn't stop at her gate.

Harvey served in France, Italy, and spent some time in England as well. He left Canada as a Corporal, and returned home as a Sergeant. He wrote on a fairly regular basis, but he wasn't permitted to write much about what was happening with the war. Letters were often censored, and often the soldiers censored themselves since they generally knew what they were not supposed to say. When her husband was sent overseas, he was in the company of a number of other Innisfail men, and the group formed a close bond. When they returned from the war, they still felt obliged to spend some time each day together, the bar being a frequent hang-out spot for the men. Isobel accompanied Harvey on one of these get togethers, but found it difficult to listen to all the talk of the war and thus didn't go on any other visits. Eventually the soldiers outgrew the need for each others constant companionship. Harvey didn't talk much about the war, but he did have nightmares; often he leaped out of bed, thinking he was still in the war. Harvey joined the legion, and later Jim, Harvey and Isobel's second son, joined through his father.

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Isobel Carter and sons.
1995
Innisfail, Alberta

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Upon his return, Isobel's husband quickly got a job with the county of Red Deer where he worked for 35 years and eventually became the superintendent. He retired because of his failing health, and had nine good years after. Harvey Carter died in 1984.

Isobel and Harvey's eldest son, Wayne, grew up not knowing his father, except for the pictures Isobel showed him. Wayne must have paid close attention to those pictures, because when he and his mother went to Calgary after the war had ended to meet his father, he was able to pick out his dad from the crowds of nearly identical soldiers. When Harvey walked past Isobel and Wayne, the young boy cried "There's daddy!". When the Carters had their second son, Jim, Harvey showered him in adoration and affection since he had missed his eldest son's early childhood.

Isobel was leery when her husband came home; she knew that after six years apart they were bound to be strangers, but after a time they got to know each other again. They continued to live with Harvey's parents for about three months, until they could find a house: they were hard to come across.