Pièce 2008.024.c009.A - Bagan, Alex

1 audio cassette (=1 audio file)

Was born on ?????? (cannot hear) 14 , 1901 in a village of Peremeliv of the Huchatyns’kyi povit. He is a Greek-Catholic. Had 2 older sisters. After serving in Polish army, came to Canada in 1927. During WWI was fighting in the Halyts’ka Ukrains’ka armiia. Had 4 grades of education (in a village school). He was almost 17 when he was forced to go to the Ukrainian army. Was fighting in Zolochiv, Babyna Hora, Pidhaichyky in 1918. Ran away home from the front. The Poles came and occupied them. He was forced to join the Polish army. He was then near Warsaw in 1922. There was, though, no discrimination against Ukranians in Polish army. He chose to go to Canada because the family had no means to survive. There was his extended family in Canada (left in 1899). He loaned money for the trip from wealthier villagers and had to pay back 70% interest. He made sure not to work on a farm but for a company (only during the Depression he would work on farms). On May 8, 1927 he already came to Edmonton. They did not let them get off in Winnipeg but made them go to Edmonton for an additional price of $7. Was lucky to get a job in a forest. Then work on harvesting. went to Lamont and got a job on a farm of an Englishman; then on a border between Alberta & Saskatchewan. Then worked in Genek (???). Then went to Winnipeg in the fall of 1928. During the Depression he belonged to the Ukrainian organization “KROV” (???)
When was forced to join the Ukrainian Army in 1918 he was charged with desertion, and got 25 beatings.
During the Depression he had multiple little jobs that paid little. He married a Ukrainian woman in 1937.