67 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca EAKINS, Paris R. WWII Paris was born in Minnedosa. He was the eldest son of George A. and May Eakins of Minnedosa. Paris was employed with the Minnedosa Tribune prior to moving to Winnipeg where he became a member of the Sports Staff for the Winnipeg Free Press. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in November 1940, training in Sydney, Toronto, Victoriaville, Picton, Regina and Yorkton. Paris received his wings when he graduated from No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan on August 16, 1941. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer four days later. While stationed at Yorkton, he became the first editor-in-chief of Wings, the station’s magazine. Paris was posted overseas arriving on October 1, 1941. He soon became known as an excellent fighter pilot and was acting flight commander in charge of the many continental sweeps he made beginning in May 1942 in his Spitfire. He was slated for a permanent promotion prior to the Dieppe Raid, August 19, 1942. Paris has a premonition that he would not survive the sweeps over Dieppe and made his thoughts known to his public relations officer while on leave in London. His premonition became a reality when his Spitfire was shot down by a Messerschmitt that day. After signalling his commander that he had been hit, Paris’ aircraft was seen going out of control and crashing near the racetrack behind Dieppe. He died on August 19, 1942, at the age of 27, and is commemorated at Neufchatel-Hardelot (Neufchatel) New Communal Cemetery, in France. Eakins Lake (52 M/12), southwest of Family Lake was named after him in 1980. ELLIOT, George Richard WWI George was born on May 4, 1897, to Jack and Mary (Campbell) Elliot in Neepawa. He worked as a railroad watchman. On December 1, 1915, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served with the 226th Overseas Battalion in England and France. Private George Elliott was with the 43rd Battalion in the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) when he was killed in action in Belgium while on duty as a stretcher bearer. He was memorialized at Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial there (Panel 2426-30), as well as on his parents’ gravestone at Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, Manitoba.
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