211 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca TESTER, Donald G. WWII Donald was born in Arden, MB in 1923. He joined the Royal Canadian Army in the Fall of 1943. He had hoped to serve with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps, but the war ended shortly before he finished his training. Donald married and had three children. In civilian life, he worked with the North American Lumber Company where he had a managerial position. Donald passed away in September 1997 and is buried at the Souris Valley Memorial Gardens in Estevan, SK. TESTER, Ernie G. WWII Ernie was born in Arden, MB in 1923. He joined the Royal Canadian Army in the summer of 1941. He received his basic training in Manitoba, Vancouver Island and Debert, NS. In August 1942, he sailed to Glasgow, Scotland and at the time of the Invasion of Europe was a gunner of Staghound. His regiment fought their way across France, Belgium and Holland. They entered Germany traveling southeast of Nijmegen in the area of Groesbeek past Kleve and through the Hochwald Forest. On March 5, 1945, Ernie’s Stag hit a mine and was disabled before being attacked by mortar and machine gun fire and he and his two comrades were killed. Ernie is buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. THIESSEN, Cornelius V. WWII Cornelius was born in Altona, MB on February 24, 1919. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy on November 30, 1944. He was sent to Toronto, ON for basic training and then served in the Security Division of the Royal Canadian Navy. In December 1944, he married Sergeant Ellen Groening in Toronto and they had three children. After his discharge on July 15, 1946, he took up teaching in Grunthal, MB before working in the Fort Garry School Division in Winnipeg as a teacher, principal and superintendent until his retirement. TESTER, Norman WWII Norman was born in Gladstone, MB on April 8, 1920. He joined the Royal Canadian Army in the summer of 1941 and served with the 18th Armoured Car Regiment and the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. In August 1942, he sailed to Glasgow, Scotland. At the time of the Invasion of Europe, Norman was a driver of a staghound. After the liberation of Holland, they entered Germany traveling southeast of Nijmegen through Hochwald Forest. On March 5, 1945, he saw his brother Ernie die before his eyes. He received the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. Norman was discharged on July 29, 1946. After the war, Norman married a girl he met in England and returned to Canada where they had two children. Norman lost his battle with cancer on January 17, 1992 and is buried in Gladstone Cemetery.
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