15 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca ARMSTRONG, Thomas Edwin “Tom” WWI Tom was born in Science Hill, ON in 1891. He studied Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto for three years. He joined the Royal Canadian Army in 1915 and served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force until 1919. Tom was a signaler; he helped string telephone wires and also delivered messages by horse for the army. He served in France, Ypres and Vimy. While in France he was gassed and spent some time at the hospital in Manchester where he met his future wife, Sylvia Taylor. Tom was a Life Member of Virden Legion Branch 8 and served as the Welfare Officer for a number of years. Thomas passed away in 1976. ASHCROFT, Frank M. WWII Frank was born in Hamiota, MB in 1921. He joined the Royal Canadian Army and served in the Canadian Armoured Corps with the Lord Strathcona’s Horse and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa in England, Holland, Belgium and Germany. He has been a member of Birtle Legion Branch 55 for 54 years. Frank passed away in 1999. AULD, C. W. WWII C. W. Auld was born in 1924. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II and served in the North Atlantic. He has been a member of Fort William Legion Branch 6 for more than forty years. ASHTON, J. Hilton WWII Hilton was born in 1919 in Mulvihill, Manitoba. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 at the age of 22 and attended flight training in Camp Borden, ON before being attached to RAF Squadron 137 and serving in Europe. He flew the Fleet Finch, Yale, Harvard, Whirlwind and Hurricane and did mostly low level night flying called hedgehopping, which gave rise to his nickname, “Bug eyes”. In September 1943 as part of Operation Ramrod, Pilot Officer Ashton attacked a set of lock gates near Hansweert, Holland and returned to base with holes and debris in his wing. For his part in the attack, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George on November 25, 1943. Later, he was transferred to 401 Squadron of the RCAF where he flew Spitfires. His last flight from B78 to Dunsfold was recorded in his log as “This is the trip for me.” Hilton was a member of Virden Legion Branch 8 for many years before he passed away in 1996.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==