11 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca ADVENT, John A. WWII John enlisted in the Army and served in the 7th Med. Battery, 5th Med. Regiment, during World War II. He spent three-and-a-half years in the Artillery taking part in the defence of Great Britain and in the invasion of Italy. After discharge, he purchased a farm through the Veterans Land Act and ran it very successfully for 25 years. John passed away on July 22, 2009. AKINS, Frank WWII Frank joined the Army early in the war as a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He spent some time in England before taking part in the invasion force in Sicily and in the Italian campaign. At war’s end, he was with the Canadian Forces in Holland. After the war, he settled on a farm near Manson, MB. Frank passed away in 1967. ANDREW, Robert Vernon “Vern” WWII Vern was born in the Rural Municipality of Miniota in 1904. He was educated at Virden Collegiate and Brandon College. He joined the 20th Border Horse in January 1931 as a 2nd Lieutenant. In May 1940, he enlisted in the 12th Manitoba Dragoons which had amalgamated with the Border Horse. In September 1942, he went overseas with the 18th Armoured Car Regiment and saw action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. In September 1948, he served as a representative of the regiment at the dedication of the Canada Bridge in Bruges. The city also presented them with a medallion window “in grateful appreciation of its liberation, September 12, 1944.” The medallion window was installed in St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Virden and dedicated on October 20, 1952. Vern was President of Virden Branch 8 from 1948 until 1950 and was a member until his death in 1961. He is buried in the Virden Cemetery. The insurance and travel business founded by his father still operates as a fourth generation agency. ANDERSON, Thomas A. WWII Thomas was born in Birtle, MB in 1925. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy at H.M.C.S. Chippawa in early 1943. Thomas spent three years on board the H.M.C.S. Dunvegan, most of which was spent in the North Atlantic. During the war he lost two good friends: Francis Pound and Wayne Colbeeks. Thomas has been a member of Virden Branch 8 for over 40 years.
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