I am researching my grandfather's military service during WW2. He was a member of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, one of the three regiments constituting the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which was part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (the Water Rats).
My grandfather didn't see active combat duty until December of '44. I have found a few resources that paint a grim picture, as it was a particularly cold winter, but I am having trouble finding information on what day-to-day life was like. As the title states, my question is this: what would life have been like for him?
As a bonus question, I have also had trouble discovering what his training would have been like. He enlisted in March of '44 (in British Columbia), and then trained in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Shiloh, Manitoba; and Debert, Nova Scotia. What would his life have been like during this period?
Any information (or direction to information sources) would be appreciated.
If you haven't read Tim Cook's work, start there. His novels are incredibly easy to read and he does an excellent job capturing WWI and WW2 (The Necessary War, Fight to the Finish) in his two volume sets. That would be a good starting point anyway.
There is also a video set that a Manitoba historian has been working on the details every unit from Manitoba ever. I cannot remember for the life of me what the name of it is at this moment though. If I finally remember I will update this post.