61 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca DILLING, Edwin John “Jack” WWI Jack was born on February 22, 1892, to John and Elizabeth Dilling of Highhampton, Devonshire, England. He enlisted on January 4, 1916 with the 226th Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Jack was sent overseas and served in France and in Belgium with the 78th Battalion at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. He was wounded and spent time recovering in hospital. On May 14, 1919, Private Dilling embarked for Canada where he received his discharge on May 30. He married Annie Ball on November 18, 1925 and they lived in Eden, Manitoba. Jack opened the Eden Harness Shop and worked there until 1944. He then assumed guard duty at #35 E.F.T.S. until his retirement to Neepawa in 1950. Jack passed away on December 30, 1960 and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Lot 28, Block 4, Range 13. DRAYSON, Gerald Edwin WWII Gerald was born on January 10, 1926, to Charles and Gladys (Hockin) Drayson on the S ½ 26-13-16, Mentmore. He received his education at Gordon and Brookdale Schools. Private Gerald Drayson enlisted in the Canadian Army with the Canadian Infantry Corps in 1944, in time to accompany the German prisoners back to Europe, at the end of the war. He then returned to the farm and worked on the roads for the municipality. He married Helen Dyck of Hallboro in 1949 and after several moves around Manitoba, settled in Winnipeg. Gerald worked for Vulcan Machinery, Powell Construction and finally Beaver Industrial until 1977, when bad health forced him to retire. After his wife died, he moved back to Mentmore. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion for 42 years from 1942 to 1984 at both Branch 23 in Neepawa and later in Winnipeg. Gerald passed away on November 8, 1984 and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Lot 15, Block 5, Range 15. DRAYSON, Percy William WWI Percy was born on November 9, 1889, to Thomas and Eliza (Austin) Drayson in Mentmore, Manitoba. He enlisted on May 23, 1916 and served with the University Battalion No. 116 of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. During his time in the war, he was gassed and wounded, which contributed to his early death. He received his discharge in 1918. On his return to Canada, Percy went back to the home farm and on November 2, 1921, he married Myrtle Whelpton. He passed away on October 21, 1934, in Brandon and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Lot 16, Block 4, Range 10.
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