LEST WE FORGET 361 WARREN, Earle Freeman WWII Earle and his brother Doug settled in Radville along with their parents, John and Mae Warren, in 1928. Doug and Earle were excellent sportsmen, both playing in hockey, softball, baseball, rugby, soccer, tennis and track and field. One old Radville Newspaper headline states: “Doug Warren Sweeps all Events Entered” after one of the annual Sports Days. Many sports found the brothers playing side by side as Earle was also a gifted athlete. In 1928, their father John left the family and moved to Saskatoon to find steadier work. He remained there for a year at which time he sent a letter saying he was heading west in search of work, and not to write to him at this address anymore. The family never heard from him again. His fate remains unknown. In 1941, both boys went to enlist in the RCAF together. Earle was accepted but Doug was turned down because of a possible heart murmur. Earle went on to enlist and after training as an Air Gunner, he arrived in the United Kingdom in June 1942, joining 15 Squadron. He was seriously wounded to the face, neck, arm and leg during a mission. The following is a letter written to his mother from Earl’s flight captain: “We were attacked by two enemy fighters and their first burst got Earl across the forehead, a bit in his lower lip and a small bit in his neck. A cannon shell then exploded in the fuselage and a couple of small fragments hit his leg. Earl didn’t mention that he had been hit until after the fight, when he called me and said someone should take his place because he couldn’t see to fire due to the blood from his wounds. The fellows bandaged him best they could, but he bled badly all the way home. Not once did he complain, even though he must have been in a great deal of pain. He even insisted on walking off the plane. Where he got the strength, I do not know. The medical officer who fixed up Earle told me he has never seen anything like it. He has been highly recommended for the Distinguished Flying Medal, and I know of no one who deserves it more.” Earle was awarded the DFM on January 12, 1943, by King George at Buckingham Palace. He joined the 156 Pathfinders Squadron on March 5, 1944. On May 7, 1944, 156 Squadron reported that Lancaster Aircraft ND 449, with a crew of seven failed to return from an operational attack on Mantes Gassicourt, France. Of the seven onboard, three were killed, one being Earle. He was 21. He is buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery in France. Also in 1944, Earle’s brother Doug again tried to enlist in the RCAF, this time being successful. He arrived in England in 1944, too late to reunite with his brother Earle who was missing in action just a few days earlier. Doug was a Tail Gunner, flew several missions and was one of the lucky ones to live to tell about it, although he never did. He said it was a time he didn’t want to relive. He was Honourably Discharged from the RCAF in October 1945 after returning to Yarmouth, NS, to have his aircraft refitted for Pacific duty. Luckily the war had ended. WEBER, Vince WWII Vince born in Scott, Saskatchewan, in 1926. He served in the Army during World War II in England and Scotland. He was a seventy-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 88 in Kerrobert. Vince passed away in 2017.
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