The Remittance Men
A short story about the remittance men.

A minor description of what a remittance man is. It is not any real indication of their contribution to the Province.
They came mostly from, but not always from England. Some for shame, some for adventure. Young, well educated men from well to do families. They were the second son's and would not be entitled to inherit the family estate.
As they knew this most of their lives, they spent time at sports adventures, drinking, and carousing. For the Families they were an embarrassment. So when ads came out in the English papers "take up fruit ranching in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley" How could you not send your boy to Canada. It would make a responsible man of him. He may become self-made and get some self respect. He could learn Ranching/farming but mostly for a very reasonable allowance sent to him. He would be gone.

Some of these strapping young men would pool their remittances. That is they would live off one's remittance then the others. Life was and endless fun times of drinking fishing, cricket, fox hunting, that is coyote hunting, lots of merriment. The wilds of B.C. gave them the freedom they could only dream of in England.

They could work but did not know what was needed too be done or even how to do it. Remember back home they had people to do these things now it was their job.
Pioneer families traded for most things but cash is what they needed for tax
and cash is what was received from these English Boys.
It was all great fun till word came their beloved England was at war with Germany. Overnight British Columbia changed. This source of revenue that had supported many Pioneers through a time when cash was hard to come by.
We lost rents, food sales, labor. We lost them and for allot of them they lost their lives. In any event most did not return.
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