13 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca ANDREWS, Lloyd J. WWII Lloyd was born in Miami, Manitoba in 1925. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and served in Canada. Lloyd was with Morden Legion Branch 11 for sixty-one years and was its President in 1961 as well as a Life Member. He passed away in 2009. ARMSTRONG, Albert John “Bert” WWII Bert was born in Hargrove, MB in 1921. He joined the Canadian Army in 1940 and served as an artillery gunner. Bert was a part of the group that attacked and freed Sicily. While in Italy, he experienced a non-exploding mortar round in a fox hole. In the spring of 1944, he was promoted to Lieutenant and was sent to England for training. The war ended before he completed this training and he saw no further action. During the boat trip back to Canada, Bert, in partnership with his good friend Ray Dakin, was the Draft Conducting Officer. He was a member of the reserve forces before being called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Bert retired as a Major and commanding officer of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons in the late 1960s. He had been a member of Virden Legion Branch 8 for 63 years. Albert passed away in 2007. ARMSTRONG (TAYLOR), Sylvia Mary WWI Sylvia was born in England in 1890. She was a nurse with the Territorial Nursing Service in Manchester, England. During that time she cared for a Canadian soldier by the name of Tom Armstrong after he was gassed in France. In 1920, she left all of her Family and came to Canada to marry her wartime sweetheart, Tom Armstrong. Sylvia was a long-time member of Virden Legion Branch 8 and the Ladies’ Auxiliary. She was also an active member of both the Virden United Church and the Virden Horticultural Association. Sylvia passed away in 1972. ARMSTRONG (REID), Bessie Marion WWII Bessie was born in Birtle, MB in 1923. She joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1944 and was a specialist in tailoring and textiles was stationed in Winnipeg, MB, Kitchener and Ottawa, ON. Bessie was a private when she left the forces. She moved back to Manitoba and married Bert Armstrong with whom she had three children and a grandson who are all associate members of the Virden Legion Branch 8. Bessie was a member of The Legion’s Ladies’ auxiliary in Virden until 1969, the Vernon, BC Auxiliary until 1988 when her family returned to Manitoba. After her return, she resumed her membership with the Virden Legion Branch 8 of which she is a Life Member.
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