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John
Siemens worked at a coal mine in southern Alberta before he was
called to the military. He planned on joining the Medical Corps,
an option that would satisfy both his need for adventure and his
pacifist conscience, but he was not allowed. Canada needed miners
so badly that John's mining company could not afford to let him
leave for alternative service.
“There
were many mines in the valley and the surrounding districts. As
eastern Canada's industrial base grew, the demand for coal from
the valley increased until some 138 mines were operating in the
Drumheller coal jurisdiction. The mine made visible progress in
technology, using electricity and hydraulics, mechanized loaders,
a trolley and battery operated shuttle motors. Nevertheless, a
mix of the old and the new characterized the transition.”
“When
John had entered mine work, he was of draft age and had been exploring
the opportunities that might come. It would not be an easy choice,
since his faith conflicted with the unholiness of war. Yet he
harboured a youthful hankering for broader experience favouring
some form of participation, not directly military since that was
a matter of conscience, but possibly in the Medical Corps.”
“‘The
Call' to report for service came when John had settled in his
mind that the Medical Corps presented no conscience difficulty.
John was still part of the MB [Mennonite Brethren] church community
but he was already in the work force of the greater world and
both of these influenced him now. The fathers of faith had been
thinking about the welfare of their sons in the eventuality of
war and so had the mine management, about its employees. Mr. Klassen
(the preacher) and Mr. Warkentin intervened to obtain CO status,
which would direct John to camp service. When Century Coals became
aware of John's call they fired off a double or triple registered
letter to the Mobilization Board intervening and requesting him
to stay in mine work. Without any real personal decision or help
from church elders, he received notice to stay on in mine work.”
“Now
he was forced to stay in mining. Since it was wartime, the government
froze you to a job. Work in the mine was never easy, physically
demanding, and one always had to be alert. John was thankful for
his upbringing: to be careful about all things, punctual and respectful
of others. The tasks could be anything from pleasurable to ugly,
from fairly clean to very dirty – but no matter what, one must
always exude an air of pride in the work. John felt good about
what he was doing and was ready to work in the morning.”
“The
crunch, the pressure of poverty, and nature of mining, its dangers
and work frustrations brought out the worst in some people. In
his early days as a miner, John was challenged about his clean
life style: “Wait until you're here for a while and you will be
like
us: cursing, gambling and drinking.” He tested the validity of
Christian principles and high morals and ethics in the work place.
Honesty and a disciplined way of life built a trusting relationship
not only with management, but also with his working partners.”
[Based on an interview by Henry Goerzen, ASP, 180-181]
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