45 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BRACKEN, John Maxwell “Max” WWII Max enlisted in the R.C.N.V.R. on June 4, 1942, at age 23. He was sent to Esquimalt, BC for training, as a Stoker Second Class. Max had married Ida Caroline Erlandson in 1941, and while he was stationed at Esquimalt, Ida was able to live in Victoria for a few months, allowing Max to “live out”. The winter of 1942 was bitter cold, and as Ida wrote, “We must have been practising conservationists at that time as our only source of heat was through fireplaces and all we had to burn was paper and catalogues! (Maybe we couldn’t afford coal and wood!!)” Max was stationed in Sydney, NS in 1942 and served onboard many tugboats and ships. His active service began on July 2, 1942. From October 2, 1942, to October 11, 1942, he was on Divisional Strength back to HMCS Chippawa. Then on October 12, he was back on Active Service aboard Chippawa, Naden, Stadacona, Cornwallis and Protector. On July 12, 1943, he was promoted to Stoker First Class. Listed on his Certificate of Service were the ships Stadacona, Protector and Peregrine. He was discharged on August 21, 1945, at HMCS Chippawa. Ida writes, “Looking back it was okay being married to a sailor as long as I could be with him. But when he was at Halifax (at the time of the big explosion [July 18, 1945]), we were miles apart. I was at Virden. It was a very lonely time.” So, Max hung up his bell bottom trousers and after his discharge leave, he returned to his job with the C.P.R., which was his employer when he enlisted. He worked out of Minnedosa as Conductor, and after 39 years with the Company, he finally retired in 1978. Ida and Max had two children, a daughter Sally Ann and son James George. Max drove the handivan for several years and served on the Town Council for two terms. He enjoyed gardening and golfing. In winter he curled and played cards (he loved Rummy). He and Ida travelled, enjoying visits to see family members in BC. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Gen. Hugh Dyer Branch 138 in Minnedosa. Max passed away on June 30, 1986. Max received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939-1945. BRANNAN, Percival H. WWII Percival was born on May 29, 1912, in Fort Frances, Ontario. He enlisted in Winnipeg with the Lord Strathcona Horse Regiment on May 5, 1941, serving in Canada, the UK, Central Mediterranean area and Continental Europe. He had 58 months of total service in the RCAC serving as a fully trained trooper, driver and driver mechanic being employed as a tank and truck driver throughout the war. He spent 51 months overseas in the UK, Italy and N.W. Europe and was wounded at Ortona, Italy, on February 17, 1944, and was promoted to Sergeant on December 29, 1944. On VE Day, he was in service in Holland. Percival was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. He was discharged on February 27, 1946, and returned to his home and family in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Percy passed away on March 30, 1970, and was a member of Sioux Lookout Branch 78 of The Royal Canadian Legion for 23 years.
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