Trooper Frederick K. Allen
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
12th Manitoba dragoons
18th Armoured Car Regiment
11 October 1918 - 04 June 1996
Fred was born in the Rural Municipality of Stanley on 11 October 1918. He joined the 12th Manitoba Dragoons as a Trooper 30 December 1941 at age 22 and served with the 18th Armoured Car Regiment, driving an armoured car throughout his service. These vehicles were the leading edge of troop movement into towns and villages and were also used for reconnaissance. He served in England and Europe. During the liberation of Holland in 1945, he met Leny TenBos from Losser, Holland and after the war ended, they were married 22 December 1945. Freds unit was slated for return to Canada so he changed units while stationed in Holland to extend his stay but was eventually shipped home in April 1946. Fred was demobilized 18 March 1946 in Winnipeg.
Leny was advised the night before that the ship she was booked on would be leaving the next day. She along with many other War Brides left Rotterdam 28 August 1946 bound for Canada. She left her home and all the amenities of a city to go to a farm east of Thornhill with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no central heating and roads that were all but impassable during the winter. Fred had warned her and she was not taken by surprise.
For about a month and a half Fred and Leny lived with his mother, which presented no real problem as Leny spoke English quite well. They then moved into the same house they occupied for the next 33 years. They eventually built a new home in 1980.
The Allen’s raised six children on the farm at Thornhill – three boys and three girls, Joan 1947, Theo 1949, Marlene 1951, Fred 1953, Marianne 1957 and Marcel 1958.
In spite of having a busy household and farm to operate, Fred served on several boards over the years, Manitoba Pool Elevators, United Church and Thornhill School Board and was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Morden Branch 11, for over 50 years. Additionally Fred drove School Bus for Thornhill and Morden Schools and very much enjoyed the friendship of the other drivers.
Fred and Leny enjoyed watching their children and later their grandchildren grow up. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary 07 October 1995 and Fred passed away 04 June 1996, a short seven months later. He was followed by Leny 27 June 2001 and daughter Joan 27 April 2018.
Fred and Leny were wonderful parents.
Information submitted by Theo Allen
Flight Lieutenant Joel Hilton Ashton
Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Air Force
137 Squadron Royal Air Force
401 (City of Westmount) Squadron R.C.A.F.
Joel Hilton Ashton was born 19 March 1919 in Mulvhill, Manitoba to William and Adele (Marriot) Ashton. William came from England in 1902 and Adele had emigrated just prior to their wedding 07 June 1905. Hilton was the youngest of three sons, William Harold born 02 November 1907 and John Frederick born 11 May 1910. Hilton initially attended the Butler Union School in the RM of Pipestone and then finished grade school and high school in Virden.
Hilton joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 23 October 1940 in Winnipeg. He took his basic and flying training in Trenton and Kingston, Ontario flying Finch, Yale and Harvard aircraft. Upon graduation he was moved to Embarkation Depot in Halifax on 31 July 1941 and on arrival in England was assigned to 56 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Royal Air Force (RAF) Sutton Bridge for training on the Miles Master and Hurricane aircraft. On 22 November 1941 he was assigned 137 Squadron (Sqn) at RAF Charmy Down and trained on the Oxford, Miles M. 14 Magister, Whirlwind and Lysander aircraft. His first operational flight was with a Whirlwind, a twin engine, single seat fighter on 21 December 1941. Relocated to East Anglian, on the coast of Norfolk along the English Channel he continued to fly the Whirlwind on operations and learned formation flying. Operations consisted of patrolling the channel, protecting allied shipping, disrupting enemy shipping along the French and Dutch coasts and attacks on enemy activities at night over occupied Europe. He was one of the “Rhubarb Boys”, a group of fighter pilots willing to fly very low, particularly in bad weather to achieve a mission. On 08 July 1943 Hilton was transferred to No. 1 Specialized Low Attack Instructors School (S.L.A.I.S.) flying Hurricane and Oxford aircraft.
0n 23 October 1943 Flight Lieutenant Ashton was advised he would be receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross. The medal is awarded for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy”. He was awarded the medal by King George VI on 25 November.
On 06 March 1944 he was transferred to No. 1 Air Gunner School (A.G.S.) at RAF Pembrey flying Martinet, Proctor II and Spitfire aircraft, used for target towing to train gunners. On 06 December he was transferred to 53 OTU at RAF Kirton Lindsey flying Miles Master II and Spitfires. While practising aerobatics with a Spitfire IX on 25 February 1945 one of the propeller blades broke off, Hilton shut the engine down and managed to glide the aircraft in safely. In March 1945 he was transferred to RCAF 401 (City of Westmount) Sqn flying Spitfires and remained with the squadron until it was disbanded 03 July 1945. Hilton was repatriated and subsequently released from the RCAF as a Flight Lieutenant 04 October 1945.
After returning to Canada Hilton went to Brandon, Manitoba where he took electrical training and got his trade licence. Upon completion he went to Virden, Manitoba and started his own electrical business which he operated from 1950 until 1981. He married Edna June McMillan of Virden on 06 October 1951. They had five children, Richard, Bruce, Janet, Judy and Glen. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #8 in Virden and also a member of the Odd Fellows. He volunteered at the Aud Theatre in Virden looking after their electrical issues. Hilton’s wife June passed away 21 September 1993.
Flight Lieutenant Joel Hilton Ashton DFC, passed away 08 June 1996 and is buried at Virden Cemetery in Virden, Manitoba.
Information supplied by family.
Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Raymond Thomas Allen
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp
Royal Canadian Air Force
WW II
Raymond Thomas Allen was born 20 March 1920 in Killarney, Manitoba to William and Constance Allen, William had immigrated to Canada from London England. Raymond had three siblings, all sisters, Beatrice, Marjorie (Samson) and Helen. They grew up in Crystal City, Manitoba and lived there until the family relocated to Winnipeg.
Raymond enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 30 October 1941 and served until he was demobilized and transferred to the Class “E” General Reserve list, 21 January 1946. Raymond’s demobilization certificate indicates that he did serve in a theatre of war and only the CVSM is listed. This is not unusual as many medals were issued long after the members had been demobilized. In this case entitlement would probably be 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, CVSM (as above) and 1939-45 War Medal. This will be updated when more information becomes available.
Raymond married Lorraine Morden 27 December 1941, shortly after his enlistment. After his release from the RCAF they settled in Morden, Manitoba. Raymond and Lorraine had four children, William (Bill), Barry, Robert (Bob) and Barbara (Barb). He was employed with the Provincial Government as a Sheriff and Clerk for the Southern Manitoba Judicial District. Raymond was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Morden Branch 11 and served on the executive as President in 1966.
Raymond Thomas Allen passed away 14 September 1978 and is buried at the Hillside Cemetery in Morden.
Information supplied by the family.
Private Donald Munro Alsop
British War Medal, Victory Medal
107th Overseas “Timber Wolves” Battalion
16th Battalion (The Canadian Scottish)
WW I
Donald Munro Alsop was born 11 July 1893 in Inverurie, Scotland. Donald came from a large family, having 4 brothers: Bill (his twin), John, James and Alex as well as 5 sisters; Grace, Anne, Margaret, Isabella and Mary. He left Scotland in 1910, when he was 17, and immigrated to Canada to join his brother Alex, who had made the journey years before. He was given a job at the Lumgair Brother’s farm just south of Thornhill and stayed there until he enlisted for World War I. Donald enlisted with the infantry and embarked for active duty with the 107th Overseas Battalion “Timber Wolves” in August 1916. He was later transferred to the 16th Battalion also known as (The Canadian Scottish).
Private Alsop served on the “front lines” all across Europe and while he was there his battalion fought at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele (also known as The Third Battle of Ypres), Cambrai, Mons, Lens and Hill 70. Donald was returned to Canada in May 1919, he went back to Thornhill and got his old job back.
Donald had met Bessie Florence Birt while he was in training at Winnipeg. Bessie had come to Winnipeg in 1912 to join her sister Emma. They came from their father’s farm at Peakes Station, Kings County, Prince Edward Island. Donald and Bessie married in May 1920 at the Lumgair farm and set up their own farm home just east of the Thornhill corner. Here Donald worked the farm with his best friend, James Simpson Mackie while Bessie looked after the home and their 6 children, Isabella, Margaret, Douglas (Buck), Emma, Gladys and Donald (Sammy). Donald was also a mail porter (carrier) for the Thornhill area, a member of The Royal Canadian Legion and a dedicated member of the Conservative Party. He loved hockey, boxing, playing bridge, reading and telling stories.
Donald and Bessie retired from the farm in 1948 and took up residence in Morden where Donald worked for Carman Plumbing & Heating as a shop foreman. Bessie Alsop (Birt) died 27 March 1970 at the age of 78.
Private Donald Munro Alsop died 26 October 1956 at the age of 63 and is buried with his wife at the Hillside Cemetery in Morden, Manitoba.
Information from Library and Archives Canada and the family.