Norman W. Powell enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto in September 1939 and received the service number B72959. Following training on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, with barracks in the Horse Palace, he, with the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada, left Toronto on a CN train to Halifax, embarking on the Reina del Pacifico on 18 December as part of the convoy carrying the 1st Canadian contingent to the UK. They disembarked in the Clyde at Gourock, Scotland on 30 December and travelled by train to Aldershot, Corunna Barracks arriving on New Years day.
Training commenced in England, interrupted by the battalion’s “Foray to France” in June 1940. The evacuation of the British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkerque had been completed from 28 May to 4 June. Then Prime Minister Churchill sent the only troops he had left, the Canadians and the 52nd Lowland Division, back into France. Ultimately, only the 1st Brigade of the Canadian army went deep into France. The 48th Highlanders landed at Brest on 13 June and penetrated, by train, 300 km into France before being ordered to return to England. They did so, commandeering their train and returned to training in England.
The next entries for Pte Powell were: 7 days leave of absence from 11 March 1941 and on 12 May 1941 he was granted permission to marry.
(More research required) He was not on the Sailing List to the landings at Pachino, Sicily on 10 July 1943. Whether he was with the Slow Convoy, or remained in England for some time will require his Service Records.
NOK: Mother: Dara Powell, 55 Simpson Avenue, Toronto