LEST WE FORGET 247 MANN, Ronald Percy “Ronnie” WWII Ronald Percy Mann was born on December 26, 1921 in Regina, Saskatchewan. His father, Henry Edward Percy Mann, served in the British Army from 1914 to 1919. While serving in the army he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in action. He loved to perform in the army, singing for the troops in his special English style. He came to Canada in 1920 and joined the RCMP. Marjorie and Percy were married in Regina in 1921. Percy was in the “Musical Ride” in the early years and had duties at the Government House. His real police work started at Fort Qu’Appelle in 1932. There were three boys and one girl by that time. In 1940, the family moved to North Portal, then to Radville where two more girls were added. When the war broke out, all three boys enlisted: Ronnie in the Air Force, Quin into the Army and Jack into the Navy. In November 1941, the dreaded telegram was received to say the oldest, Ronnie, was reported “missing in action” and later presumed dead. Ronnie had served with the Royal Canadian Air Force attached to No. 405 (City of Vancouver) Squadron (Ducimus) as a Sergeant (Air Gunner). Based at RAF Pocklington, Yorkshire, England, the No. 405 Squadron flew Vickers Wellington bombers over the Bay of Biscay and in France and Germany. On November 30, 1941, Sergeant Ronald Percy Mann died following air operations to Hamburg, Germany, when his Wellington aircraft crashed into the Wadden Sea off the Frisian Islands. One of 181 aircraft that took part in the bombing operation on the Hambug shipyards, the No. 405 radioed that they were returning to RAF Pocklington when they were lost without a trace. He was nineteen years old. Mann is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England, for airmen with no known grave. He is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, Alberta, and on the North Portal War Memorial in Saskatchewan. MARTIN, Cyril E. WWI &WWII Cyril was born in England on February 18, 1900. With the outbreak of the First World War, Cyril enlisted with the Canadian Army. Soon he was sent to England where he received further military training. He was then sent to France where he was posted to the 7th Canadian Railway Troop Regiment. Cyril fought at the Battle of Ypres and Passchendaele in Belgium. When the Second World War broke out, Cyril again enlisted in the Army. In 1942, he was sent to England for intensive military training. He was transferred to the 17th Field Regiment, RCA in 1943. He was honoured by receiving “The Medal of the Legion of Honours.” Cyril passed away on November 17, 2003 at the age of 103.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==