How a hockey sweater saved the life of a POW

Page 2 of 2 – How a Hockey Sweater Saved a POW

Ridge Records shares more about the friendship with a German guard:

He bailed out and was still wearing his Smoke Eater sweater under his flight jacket when he hit the ground and broke a couple of ribs. After 2 days he was captured by the Germans. By this time the Germans were clearly losing the war and captured bomber crews could expect harsh treatment. For the first couple of days in the compound with 30 or 40 POWs he was given nothing to eat nor any treatment for his ribs.

On the third or fourth day a German guard came to his cell and told him to take off his flight jacket. When the guard saw his Smoke Eater sweater his demeaner completely changed. He excitedly explained that he was a huge hockey fan and had seen the Smoke Eaters play in Berlin on Christmas Day 1938. He said he loved the way the Canadians played and that Jimmy Morris was his favorite player. A few hours later the guard came back with some bread and sausage that he had smuggled in. This went on for about a week before the POWs were transferred to another facility. Just before he left the guard gave him one last food package to hide under his sweater. When he got on the train, Steve saw some of the guys from his crew. They were starving and Steve was thankful to be able to share some food with them.
When Steve eventually made it back to Trail he still had the sweater and wore it until it fell apart.

You never know when and where hockey will unite people…