65 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca DRYSDALE, Magnus Charles “Charlie” WWII Charlie was born in 1919 to Philip and May (Minshull) in Lansdowne Municipality, east of Neepawa. He attended Union School. In 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and took his training in Portage. He also trained in Red Deer, Alberta and Valcartier, Quebec. His unit went to Kiska, Aleutian Islands when the Japanese were setting up a station there. There was no fighting and the Japanese left in a hurry when the Canadian ships were coming. He was stationed there from July 1943 to January 1944. This was a rugged spot to spend a winter, protecting the Pacific Islands. Upon returning to Canada, Charlie spent some time at Vernon, BC and then was moved to Debert, NS. He was hospitalized there with bronchitis and could not go with the rest of his unit when it was sent overseas again. Charles moved to Halifax when released and assisted with the loading and unloading of ships. In the fall of 1945, he was home on harvest leave and then returned to Winnipeg where he received his discharge in February 1946. After the war, Charlie bought the family homestead through the Veterans’ Land Association. In 1948, he married Leween Singleton and they farmed in the Union district. Charlie passed away on September 26, 2004, and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Lot 7, Block 12, Range 24. DRYSDALE, Stanley M. “Stan” WWII Stan was born on July 31, 1922, to Dave and Lillian (Farnell) Drysdale in Neepawa. He graduated from High School in 1939 and farmed with his father until 1942. In November 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and received leave until January 8, 1943 when he left for Brandon #2 Manning Depot. In April, he was sent to #2 Wireless School in Calgary for a seven-month course and in November of that year he went to B & G School in Paulson, Manitoba where he received his wireless Air Gunner Wing. After a short leave at home, he went to Lachine, Quebec, and in February, he proceeded to #111 O.T.W. Nassau, Bahamas, returning to Dorval, Quebec on May 23, 1944. On June 9, he left by plane, B-24, for India with stops in Gander, Newfoundland; Angors, Rabat, Casso Benito, Cairo, Shiba, and Harachi, India. Stan was stationed at Nord Malaio and proceeded to #200 Squadron Madras to start his operational tour. On August 30, 1944, he was transferred to #159 Squadron at Gigby, 90 miles east of Calcutta, and he finished up his tour of ops in January 1945. After taking a short ski course in the Himalayas, he started the long journey back, with stops in Bombay and Bournemouth, England. Stan arrived home in August 1945 and received his discharge in September 1945. He returned to the home farm and in 1947 he married Pearl Eros. They moved to Neepawa in 1960, but continued to farm until 1967, when illness forced him to sell out to his brother, Douglas. In 1988, they moved to Calgary, Alberta to be closer to their family. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Neepawa Branch 23 for 27 years from 1961 to 1988. Stan passed away on November 6, 1988, in Calgary and was buried there.
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