Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 55 continued ... Cecil Laurence 'Pat' Duffey was born in Truro on 22 September 1919 to Patrick and Annie (Richards) Duffey. He enlisted in the 2/Mancs on 28 April 1939 and was wounded in France in May 1940 as his battalion fought a rear-guard action during the retreat to the Dunkirk beach head. In 1941 he transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment and went on to serve in Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe. He married Margaret Woods of Auchinleck, Scotland, before his return to Canada. Margaret arrived In Halifax in early 1946 aboard the SS Scythia. They had 3 children and two grandchildren. After the war Pat joined the Halifax Fire Department. He died on 28 May 1981 and is buried Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. Charles 'Norman' Eisener and Ralph Stanley Eisener were the sons of Charles and Eva Eisener of Woodside. The brothers enlisted in 2/Mancs on 28 March 1939 and assigned service numbers 3530830 (Norman) and 3530831 (Ralph). While in France, the brothers volunteered and served in the short-lived 5th (Ski) Battalion Scots Guards for the period of January - March 1940. Both brothers survived the rearguard fighting back to the beaches of Dunkirk in June. In 1941 Norman and Ralph transferred to the Canadian Army. They went on to serve in in Sicily, Italy, and Northwest Europe. After the war Ralph was employed with Canada Post becoming Supervisor, Administration Services, Nova Scotia Postal District. Ralph died in 2005 at age 85. Norman married Averil and died in Middleton in 1995 at age 78. Earl Wilfred Falkenham was born on 30 May 1919 to William and Margaret (Wagstaff) Falkenham. He enlisted in 2/Mancs on 20 February 1939. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, he opted to transfer to the CanadianArmy and was posted to the Royal CanadianArmy Service Corps. He served in Northwest Europe and returned home to Canada in 1945. Earl re-enlisted in the army for service during the Korean War. He died on 17 June 1992 in Vancouver. John 'Jack' Noble Foster was the son of John 'Noble' and Pearl (Taylor) Foster and was born in Sydney on 5 October 1915. After high school Jack attendedAcadia University and was later working on the Canadian National Steamships ‘Lady Boats’ when he heard the BritishArmy was recruiting in Halifax. He left Halifax in mid-March 1939 and enlisted in the 2/Mancs on 28 March. Jack was part of the rear-guard action during the retreat to Dunkirk. He was evacuated from Dunkirk and was still with 2/Mancs when they arrived in Bombay, India, in June 1942. 2/Mancs were ordered to Dimapur, in Assam, in April 1944 and at once took part in the bitter fighting which resulted in the relief of Kohima on 20 April, and the junction with the British and Indian Forces at Imphal on 22 June. Jack fought in the Battle of Imphal-Kohima, to repel the Japanese invasion of India, during the period of March-June 1944 (many military historians consider this battle as the greatest battle fought by Commonwealth forces during WW II). In November the 2/Mancs commenced the advance towards Mandalay. After four months of hard fighting, 2/Mancs entered Ava on the outskirts of Mandalay. During a month in the volcanic hills to the west of Mandalay and Meiktila, platoons from "D" and "A" Companies assisted the Royal Scots in one of the most skillfully planned and executed ambushes of the campaign. Jack returned to England prior to most of the regiment - perhaps due to wounds or illness. He was discharged from the British Army in 1945. Jack signed on with the Canadian Merchant Navy for passage home to Halifax. The postwar years were not kind to Jack. Access to professionals for what we now refer to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was largely unavailable, leaving the individuals to deal with situations the best way they could. Jack had a sad, tormented life because of alcoholism. He was often estranged from his family and friends, sometimes disappearing for extended periods. A lost soul. Jack passed away in Halifax in February 1980 at age 64. He rests with his parents in the Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax. continued ...
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==