Never a Soldier: A Conscript Serves in the Second World War by Daniel Johns is a memoir about the conscription of the author’s uncle, Daniel Josiah Johns, during the Second World War.
- In contrast to the impressionable teenage recruits, Johns’s prior depression era life experience had instilled in him a jaded respect for authority.
- Described by one captain as a “barracks room lawyer,” Johns remained a minor discipline problem throughout his service.
- Nevertheless, he subsequently volunteered for transfer to Europe where he did his job. He performed conscientiously and, when necessary, bravely.
Excerpt from Never a Soldier: A Conscript Serves in the Second World War by Daniel Johns:
“Responding to his conscription notice Daniel Josiah Johns reported to the Canadian Army depot in Sault Ste. Marie on August 20, 1942.
His induction interview was conducted by Lt. T.M.C. Taylor, an associate professor of botany at the University of Toronto prior to the war.
Taylor had a connection to Sault Ste. Marie, having published research on plants north of Lake Superior. Accurately gauging the measure of the 35 and half-year old conscript in front of him proved a harder task than classifying vascular plants.
Taylor’s conclusion: “of average intelligence” and “rather lethargic”. Johns possessed more smarts and energy than Taylor perceived, but more likely Taylor’s assessment reflected the ambivalence that Johns felt and projected on being drafted into the military.
This was not the eager, impressionable 18- year old recruit that the Canadian Army preferred, but the war effort needed soldiers.
Johns was inducted in spite of any doubts held by him or his recruiter.”
