133 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca GRANT,William Angus WWII Wiliam Angus Grant, the only son of Hazel and James Grant, was born in October 1919, on the family farm in the Cameron District, north of Minnedosa, Manitoba. After taking grade twelve at Minnedosa Collegiate, he enrolled at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Science, majoring in Chemistry. He wrote to his mother that when he was in the chemistry lab, he was in “seventh heaven”. However, it was the days when there was little money and few jobs. He decided to leave university and work for a year in order to finance his education. He finally found work in the Vancouver shipyards, at fifty cents an hour. One day, by working until 2:00am, cleaning out the ship’s tanks, he earned $13,50. But there was a war on, and so, in October 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. During training, he was stationed in Fingal, Ontario; Toronto, and Ancienne Lorette, Quebec, where, on August 28, 1942, he received his Air Navigator Wing standing second in his class with an average of 90. After a brief two weeks’ leave at home with his family, he sailed from Halifax and arrived in England on October 9, 1942. He was stationed at Stratfordon-Avon and Topcliffe, attached to #408 Goose Squadron, whose motto was “For Freedom”. There they flew Halifax bombers. On the night of May 4-5, 1943, a crew of seven Canadians failed to return from a bombing mission over Dortmund, Germany. The following is the telegram received by his parents. “J. M. Grant – R.R.3 Minnedosa. M9639. Regret to advise that your son Pilot Officer William Angus Grant J two two two naught four is reported missing after air operations May fifth stop Letter follows. R.C.A.F. Casualties Officer.” Flying Officer W. A. Grant’s name in inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial in Enfield Green, Egham, Surrey, England, with the names of 10,000 other young men who have no known grave. In his memory, the family have endowed the Minnedosa Collegiate with a scholarship called “The William Angus Grant Memorial Award”. IN MEMORIAM In loving memory of our only son, Flying Officer W. Angus Grant, who lost his life over Dortmund, Germany, May 5, 1943. And they cursed the god of battle on the grim stage of war. who decreed that this should be Through adversity to the stars was in their time, but they never faltered. Their motto, and their creed, Many of these young men went missing And near to the stars they met their end and only the stars knew when and where Mother. or how they played their final scene Grant received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal 1939-1945. GRASSIE, Chesley Reginald “Ches” WWII Chesley was born in Neepawa, Manitoba on March 22, 1922. “Ches” as he was affectionately known by his pals, was educated in Neepawa Public School and Collegiate. He was employed in the Neepawa Post Office for a short time before taking a position with the local Canadian Bank of Commerce for a year and a half. He was transferred to Virden for a year before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1942. He trained in Winnipeg, Brandon, Souris, and Regina, rising to the rank of Flying Officer in a comparatively short time. In play as in work, Ches gave his best. He played on the collegiate hockey team. His clever, clean, and gentlemanly conduct on the ice won the esteem of both players and fans. When returning from their target, Hamburg, Germany, two Lancaster aircrafts collided mid-air and crashed at Skegness, Lincolnshire, England. F/O Grassie and six of the crew, not Canadians, were all killed in aircraft. Chesley died on November 11, 1944, at the age of 27. He is commemorated in the Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Grassie of Neepawa, Manitoba. Grassie Lake (64F/06) was named after him on December 16, 1994.
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