213 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca SWANSON, John K. SPECIAL DUTY AREA John was born in Selkirk, Manitoba in 1935. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and served in Canada at the Training Command. John has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion for forty years. SWEENEY, Gordon R. KOREA Gordon was born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1929. He joined the Canadian Navy and served in Canada on HMCS Naden. Gordon has been a member of Wheat City Legion Branch 247 for more than thirty-five years. TAYLOR, Ernest E. “Ted” WWII Ted was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1924. He joined the Army’s Winnipeg Highlanders when still underage and made it to Halifax before returning to Winnipeg to re-enlist with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, this time at the age of majority. Ted served in Europe and he had a special regard for the Red Cross for their work there during the war. He became a loyal blood donor, raising several thousands of dollars by walking from Winnipeg Beach to Gimli. Ted received the War Medal 1939-45 and the Operational Service Medal. A Legion member for 66 years, Ted was first with St. James Branch 4 and St. Vital Branch 16 before retiring to Winnipeg Beach in 1981, transferring to Branch 61 where he became a Life member and served as President and Treasurer. Declining health saw Ted and his wife, Margaret, return to Winnipeg but he still made the trip to Winnipeg Beach when he could. Ted passed away in July 2006. TAYLOR, Alma “Margaret” WWII Margaret was born in Waskatenau, Alberta in 1925. Alma joined the Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force in Edmonton on September 8, 1943 and served in Canada. She trained in several Canadian locations and transferred to Winnipeg where she packed parachutes. She met Ted, the love of her life, in 1944, married and left the Air Force in 1945 to raise a family. Margaret is Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary Winnipeg Beach 61, Past Secretary for the Men’s Branch and has been a Life member of Winnipeg Beach Legion Branch 61 for twenty-eight years. Margaret has made countless pairs of mitts for the Red Cross, school children and Izzy dolls for soldiers to give out in other countries. She currently lives in Dakota House in St. Vital and still finds time to go for coffee with the gang at St. James Legion Branch 4.
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