GUNNER ELMER FRANKLIN KINSMAN
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA)
WW II
Elmer was born in Windygates, Manitoba to James and Annie (Kroetsch) Kinsman on 13 September 1918. He was the eldest of six children and he spent the majority of his life in Windygates.
In 1941 at the age of 23 years he joined the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Winnipeg and began his training.
On 24 December 1941 Elmer married Edna Pearl Cowan. Very shortly after their marriage Elmer shipped out to England for more training. Eventually he was deployed to southern Italy as a Driver Mechanic and later to Belgium where he remained until Peace was declared in 1945.
Upon his return home Elmer and Edna farmed in Windygates for a number of years until he took up employment as a mechanic for Peter Wolf Garage in Morden. Later he was employed by W.E. Veals in Darlingford and then was self-employed in his own garage, Downtown Motors in Darlingford. During these years of farming and working as a mechanic, Elmer and Edna had two daughters, Judi Hodgson, Kaleida and Jacqui Tickner, Darlingford.
In 1963 he and his family moved from Windygates to Darlingford where they remained until they retired to Legion House in Morden.
Elmer was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion – Morden Branch 11.
He was very proud of his Military history. Two of his brothers also served, Harvey and Orval. Harvey was killed in action in Normandy.
Elmer passed away 17 December 2006 at the age of 88 and in 2012 his daughters donated some of his military records and service medals to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. On 11 September 2017 Judi and Jacqui, along with Cousin Harvey, went to France and visited the Centre to view the temporary exhibition “From Vimy to Juno”. Included in the exhibition were family artifacts of Edward and Frank Kroetsch, uncles to Elmer and WW 1 Veterans. Also included were previous donations of records and medals of Harvey Kinsman, Elmer Kinsman, Orval Kinsman and his wife Nora Snyder. All served in WW 2.
Information supplied by Jaqui Tickner.
Rifleman Harvey Lloyd Kinsman
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Artillery
Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada
WW II
Harvey, one of six children, was born 19 September 1923 to James and Annie (Kroetsch) Kinsman. He was raised and educated in the Windygates and Darlingford district of Manitoba. Three of their children Harvey, Elmer and Orval served their country during WW II.
Harvey enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery 12 June 1942 and saw service on Kiska Island. On 06 June 1942 the Japanese had taken Kiska Island, an island of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, from the Americans. On 15 August 1943 Harvey was part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, which along with the American Forces reclaimed Kiska Island.
Returning from the Kiska operation in January 1944, he transferred to the infantry, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and went overseas in May. Harvey reached France in July and was transferred from Battalion HQ to Queen’s Own Rifles “B” Company on 01 August. Although the Battle for Normandy had been ongoing for more than two months it was far from over. On 10 August 1944 in the area of Bretteville-sur-Laize, France the Queen’s Own Rifles were shelled at 0500, which continued for much of the day and “B” Company had multiple engagements with the enemy. Rifleman Harvey Kinsman was a casualty of the day’s action.
Harvey is buried at the Bretteville-sur Liaze Canadian War Cemetery at Calvados France and is commemorated on Page 353 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower in Ottawa.
Information from family, newspaper article Sep 1944 and Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Regimental History and Veterans Affairs Canada.
GUNNER ORVAL EZRA KINSMAN
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM),1939-45 War Medal Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA)
WW II
Orval was born in Windygates, Manitoba to James and Annie (Kroetsch) Kinsman on 25 September 1925. He was the fourth in line of six children and he spent the majority of his life in Windygates, Darlingford, and Morden.
In 1942 at the age of 17 years he joined the Royal Canadian Horse artillery in Winnipeg and began his training. He never left Canada but served until the end of hostilities in 1945.
In 1950 Orval married Nora Snyder (a veteran of the Canadian Women’s Army Corp). Nora contracted polio during the polio epidemic of the early 1950’s and Orval was widowed in 1953. In later years he married Audrey Renton of Morden who predeceased him in 1999.
Upon his return home from service Orval farmed in Windygates for a few years until he took up employment as a mechanic. He worked as a mechanic in various places.
In retirement he moved to a house in Morden and finally to Legion House.
Orval was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 in Morden.
He was very proud of his and his family’s Military history, as two of his brothers, Elmer (RCHA) and Harvey (QOCH) also served. Harvey was killed in action in Normandy.
Orval passed away 15 October 2001 at the age of 76. In 2012 his family donated some of his military records and service medals to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. On 11 September 2017 son Harvey, along with cousins Judi and Jacqui (daughters of Elmer) went to France and visited the Centre to view the temporary exhibition “From Vimy to Juno”. Included in the exhibition were family artifacts of Edward and Frank Kroetsch, Veterans of WW I and uncles to Orval, Elmer and Harvey. Also included in the temporary exhibition were previous donations of records and medals of Harvey Kinsman, Elmer Kinsman, Orval Kinsman and his wife Nora (Snyder) Kinsman. All served in WW 2.
Pilot Officer George Cornelius Krahn
1939-1945 Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp
Royal Canadian Air Force
415 Sword Fish Squadron
Private Edward John Kroetsch
British War Medal, Victory Medal
184 Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
WW I
25 June 1893 – 11 October 1970
Edward joined the armed forces in Morden with his brother, Franklin. They both filed attestation papers on 18 March 1916 in Morden, MB. Edward was accepted based on his strength and rifle skills and assigned to the 184th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War One. Prior to departing for overseas, Edward spent time in Winnipeg and Camp Hughes for military training maneuvers. Franklin was assigned the role of a machine gun operator. Following their training, both brothers boarded a ship and were sent overseas to participate in World War One.
Edward was involved in intensive combat at the Somme. During the battle, he was wounded. His left leg was shot several inches below the knee. The lower part of the leg was attached only by shreds of skin. He crawled into a shell hole, took out his jackknife, cut off the lower part of the leg, then took off his belt and tightened it above the severed leg to stop the intense bleeding. Throughout the night, he needed to loosen the belt several times to let the blood flow.
In the very early hours prior to daylight, stretcher bearers located him in the shell hole and he was taken to a hospital in France. Later he was moved to London, England. His leg continued to develop gangrene and surgery was required several times to remove part of the leg each time. He spent six months in hospitals prior to being sent back to Canada. Following the war, Edward’s brother Franklin returned to Canada. He had suffered some wounds as well.
On 12 March 1925, Edward married Esther Cox from Elm Creek, MB. They resided in Morden prior to buying the valley farm south of Darlingford. The marriage resulted in five children, Rosalind, Barry, Wayne, Darlene, and Suzanne. The only surviving member of the family is Wayne.
Information submitted by Wayne Kroetsch
George Cornelius Krahn was born 01 December 1920 in Russia to the Reverend Cornelius and Maria (Neufeld) Krahn. George had 8 siblings, brothers Bernard, Neil, Fred, Peter and sisters Mary, Nettie, Katherine and Ann. He grew up on a Reinland farm and went to school in Winkler for grades 9, 10, and 11 and then attended Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Manitoba for grade 12. George enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on 10 September 1941. He began training in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan at various bases throughout Canada and on 28 August 1942 he received his Pilots Wings. Training continued until the following spring, when he was posted overseas.
In an excerpt from a letter written to his brother Fred, 14 March 1944, “I’m still getting along fine. I’m doing quite a bit of skating here. Last week we played two hockey games against different stations and we trimmed them on both occasions. Our team has seven players of my crew on it. In other words, everyone on my crew is a good hockey player and can form a team of our own. Did you beat Winkler in the game you wrote you were going to have? Well old boy, this will have to do for now so cheerio and love to all”.
George was posted overseas in the spring of 1943 and eventually ended up in 415 Torpedo Bomber (TB) Squadron. His experienced crew of 7 participated, successfully, in many offensive actions. The squadron specialized in night operations and as part of Coastal Command were responsible for patrolling the English Channel and southern parts of the North Sea. On the night of 12-13 June 1944, they attacked a large group of enemy E-Boats, high speed torpedo boats, and his aircraft, a Wellington HZ659, became a victim of intense, concentrated enemy flak and was shot down. P/O Krahn as well as two other bodies from his crew were recovered by the Dutch Red Cross the following day.
Pilot Officer George C. Krahn was killed in action at the age of 23 years. His desire to serve his country outweighed the wrath his family would endure from the religious community, as it was against their religion to fight in a war. His father was a Minister in the Blumenorter Mennonite Church, so there was a certain amount of “judgement” felt by the family once it was known that George had joined the RCAF. In spite of his career choice, his family was accepting of his decision and were very proud of him.
Pilot Officer George Cornelius Krahn is buried in the Flushing Northern Cemetery, Vlissingen, Vlissingen Municipality, Zeeland Netherlands, Row H, Grave 21.
He is listed on Page 355 in the WW II Book of Remembrance, Memorial Chamber located in the Peace Tower, Ottawa.
He was recognized by the Manitoba Government in the naming of Krahn Lake (DMS) 58*51’51”N, 100*5’54”W in his memory.
Headstone inscription, “THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN”
Rifleman Cornelius Fehr Klassen
France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp
Lake Superior Regiment
WW II
Cornelius (Cornie) Fehr Klassen was born 24 December 1925 in the Winkler area. He was the 6th of 9 children born to Philipp and Maria (Fehr) Klassen, a brother to Philip, Isaac, Peter and William and to sisters Anna, Maria, Aganetha and Elizabeth.
Cornie’s father died when Cornie was only 11 years old. The family then received widow’s allowance, not enough for such a large family to survive on. Necessity forced him to leave school and earn his own living. At 14, he left Winkler to work in Ile des Chenes as a farm labourer and carpenter’s apprentice.
On 15 April 1944, when just 18, Cornie enlisted with the Canadian Infantry Corp, alongside his brother Peter. His brother Philip had enlisted earlier and the family believes he was with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Cornie received his basic training at North Bay, Ontario and in Shilo and Winnipeg Manitoba. His Personnel Records describe him as having a “retiring and moderate manner”, and “smiling, alert and anxious to do his best”. Private Klassen served in Canada, United Kingdom and Continental Europe. On 09 March 1945 Private Klassen was transferred from the 13th Battalion to the Lake Superior Regiment (LSR) and his rank was changed to Rifleman, what Privates were called in this regiment. He continued to serve with the LSR’s until discharged 07 June 1946.
After discharge, Cornie returned to Winkler to seek employment. It proved to be a challenging task, for a former soldier, in a pacifist community. He began civvie life as a pin setter, then as a truck driver, and later as a carpenter. He was instrumental in building his first new house, of which he was immensely proud. He was a hard worker and a dedicated employee.
Shortly after returning to Winkler, Cornie met Ann Dyck. They were married on 14 September 1947 in the Winkler Mennonite Brethren Church. Their marriage was blessed with 6 children: Evelyn (Norman Janzen), Catherine (James Kesslar), Cornelius (Margaret Peters), Carol (Percy Enns), Christopher (Annie Rempel), and Angela (Brian Janeczko).
Cornie’s mild and unassuming manner, his desire to please and his eagerness to help anybody in need, earned him lifelong friends. He was never too busy to lend a hand or give a shoulder to lean on. He was kind to everyone. The twinkle in his eye revealed the playful side of him, and he was always up for harmless prank or a good joke.
Cornie was a member of the Veterans Association in Winkler and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 11 in Morden. He did not talk about the war or his time there, he put it behind him. But the Legion provided him a space where he could meet his comrades, especially Harvey Friesen and Jake Neisteter, to reminisce. Cornie enjoyed sports and loved to watch hockey, boxing and baseball. He enjoyed taking his children to Legion curling bonspiels and bingo nights.
He was an avid curler and hunter, but his greatest love was on a lake fishing. He was an active member of Winkler and District Game and Fish Association. He was concerned for young people and encouraged them to participate in positive activities. He established the Junior Awards Program, donating the first trophy.
In 1987, Cornie and Ann celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with all their children and grandchildren present. These were the times he really enjoyed: Times when he had his whole family around him, especially on camping and fishing trips around a campfire, swapping fish stories and singing into the night.
On 08 May 1989 Cornie suffered an acute heart attack. His heart stopped and his brain was without oxygen for too long. He suffered severe brain damage that left him in a coma from which he never recovered.
Rifleman Cornelius Fehr Klassen passed away 09 December 1990 and is buried at the Winkler Cemetery.
Information supplied by Evelyn Janzen (daughter) and Cornie’s Service Records, courtesy of Library and Archives Canada.