171 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca PELTS, Ernest Edward “Ernie” WWII Ernie was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba in 1925. He was just seventeen years old when he enlisted in the Navy at the Chippawa Navy training centre in Winnipeg. Before joining the Navy, he had also been in the 12th Manitoba Dragoons for a year and attended training camp in Shilo in 1943. His initial training took place at Chippawa from February to May 1944, and he was then posted to Bytown, Naval HQ in Ottawa. Ernie was sent to HMCS Cornwallis in Nova Scotia in August 1944 and trained aboard Acadia in the Bay of Fundy. He was seasick many times. In March 1945, he was posted to the frigate St. Pierre, which was assigned that month to Escort Group 9 in Londonderry, Ireland. A frigate was bigger and faster than a corvette, travelling about 23 knots at top speed. While travelling to Londonderry, his ship ran into very rough seas with waves about 75 feet high. More sea sickness and a lot of the crew were injured, and one man was literally knocked out of his boots. On May 13, 1945, his ship plus four other Canadian frigates, left Scotland to escort a convoy to Murmansk, North Russia, but were then detached to accompany fourteen surrendered German Uboats bound from Norway.The frigates had a sub tied on each side, and Ernie’s crew was put on watch to prevent the sub crews from scuttling their subs. In September 1945, Ernie was sent to the Peregrine Naval Base in Halifax for two months, before being discharged in December with the rank of Able Seaman. He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Atlantic Star, 1939-1945 Star and War Medal 1939-1945. After his discharge, he went back to work for the CPR and retired in January 1986 after 42 years of service. In 1950, he married Edna Taylor of Minnedosa and had a son. He was a life member of The Royal Canadian Legion Minnedosa Branch 138 and enjoyed cribbage at the clubrooms, swapping stories with the boys, and gardening. Ernie passed away in 2016. PETTERSON, Victor H. WWII Victor was born in Bracken, Saskatchewan on March 2, 1923. He enlisted in the Navy in Saskatoon on August 4, 1943 and served on the east coast. Able Seaman Victor Petterson was discharged in Regina on December 10, 1945. He and his wife Anne had a son, Clarence, and a daughter, Lorritta. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Flin Flon Branch 73. Victor passed away on July 17, 2006.
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