The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 387 THOMSON, Derwent A. “Tom” WWII Tom was born on July 18, 1924 on a farm near Springwater, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Saskatoon on July 18, 1942 and trained as an Aero engine mechanic. He served at air crew training stations at Claresholm, Alberta, Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Transport Command at Dorval, Quebec. He recalls having to keep training planes in shape requiring long shifts, from 6:30am to 10:30 or 11:00pm. The mechanic on repair has to go with the pilot on a flight check which meant having to be sure of their work for their protection as well as the pilot’s. After leaving the service in Calgary on January 3, 1946 as Leading Aircraftman, Tom has worked as a motor mechanic, machinist and medical instrument technician and he has been a member of Saskatchewan’s Legion branches at Kelfield, Elrose and Saskatoon. THORNTON, Graydon WWII Graydon was born on June 3, 1911and was brought up on the family farm near Brittle, Manitoba. Before the war, he took the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture then enlisted in July 1941, trained as an air gunner and flew a complete tour of 30 trips with 420 Squadron flying Hamden, Wellington 2s and3s. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by King George VI while an air gunner. Graydon then remustered for pilot training and flew a second tour with 427 Squadron as a pilot flying Halifax Bombers. Both tours were with Bomber Command over Continental Europe. Between his first and second tour, Graydon returned to Canada and married Gwen Ferguson of Morden, Manitoba. He left the service in 1945 as Squadron Leader. After the war, he joined Canada Department of Agriculture and worked for 25 years in food science research in Winnipeg, then moved to Saskatoon where he retired. He has a son and daughter. TOKARCHUK, Michael “Mike” WWII & PEACETIME Mike was born on April 16, 1924 in Rama, Saskatchewan and he lived on the farm with his parents until he left for Regina to enlist in the Army. In 1944, he was sent to Ottawa where he trained on driving tanks. He then went overseas to England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany with the 21st Armoured Regiment and served as a tank driver all through WWII. After the war, he stayed on for a year to perform peacetime duty in Germany. He then went home to Lintlaw, Saskatchewan where he met his wife, Jean Shirak, and they farmed for many years. Now retired, Mike lives in Kelvington, Saskatchewan. He has been a member of Lintlaw Legion Branch 23 since after the war.
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