Fusilier Kenneth Lambrecht
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Princess Louise Fusiliers
H9157
WW II
Ken was born 24 September 1924 to Emil (1890-1964) and Wilhelmina (Hein 1890-1961) Lambrecht in Morden Manitoba. He was the fifth of seven children, Carl, Emma, Lorne, Fredrick, Kenneth, Edward, and Melville, who grew up on the Lambrecht Family Farm south of Darlingford, Manitoba.
Ken was just 17 when he enrolled in the Canadian Army, Princess Louise Fusiliers (PLF) at Brandon and after basic training, Ken was sent to England where the PLF did more training. On 28 October 1943, as part of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, the Fusiliers left Liverpool for Italy, landing at Naples 10 November 1943. The PLF, a light infantry unit, were converted to a Machine Gun and Mortar Regiment in two companies. The first, the 11th Machine Gun Company (a heavy direct- fire support unit) was sent to the 11th Infantry Brigade. Ken was in the 11th on mortars. The second company, the 12th Machine Gun Company, (also a direct heavy- fire support unit), to the 12th Infantry Brigade. The Fusiliers fought their way through Italy and in 19 February of 1945, along with the 5th Armoured Division, were transferred to North West Europe to join the First Canadian Army. They landed at Marseille 21 February 1945 and proceeded to Belgium arriving 05 March. The 12th Machine Gun Company was disbanded 15 March 1945 and the 11th Machine Gun Company fought until the end of the war. Following WW II the Princess Louise Fusiliers were converted back to a light infantry unit.
Ken returned from Europe at the end of the war physically unscathed and shortly after met Katherine (Kay) Penner (1927- ). They were married 12 October 1946, in Morden. He very much enjoyed his employment at the Experimental Farm (Research Station) when he wasn’t working on the family farm. On 12 November 1947 Kay gave birth to their daughter, Linda Lou.
The Winnipeg Free Press, 24 November 1947 reported that Ken died from Coal Gas poisoning while his wife was in the Hospital. The funeral of K. Lambrecht, 22 year old veteran was held November 17th at the MB Church in Morden. Victim of coal gas poisoning. He was found dead in his home.
The family believe that Ken went home after visiting his wife at the hospital, put a pot of coffee on the coal briquette stove. The damper must not have been set correctly and he died resting on the couch. Kens surviving the war, only to die an accidental death was very difficult for the family to bear. Sadly, the family does not have a lot of stories to share of who he was and his last sibling passed away in 2020. Some have described him as a “kind gentle spirit”. He was “passionate about his Christian Faith”. “A very handsome fella”. On the back of a photo of Ken in uniform, his brother Mel wrote, “My brother was my hero, he taught me how to play Mandolin.”
Kay did remarry after a time and she and her daughter, Linda Lou, live in Alberta. They have stayed in touch with the Lambrecht family throughout the decades and Kay invited them to her 90th birthday party. Linda Lou visits family in Morden when she comes to Manitoba.
Kenneth Lambrecht died 14 November 1947 and is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Morden MB.
Information from the Lambrecht family and from the Government of Canada Official Lineage of the Princess Louise Fusiliers Infantry Regiment.
Staff Sergeant Herman Larke
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, 1939-45 War Medal, Special Service Medal (SSM), Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM), United Nations Korea Medal (International Military Decoration), Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
Canadian Provost Corps
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
WW II and Korea
08 July 1914 – 21 November 2017
Herman Larke was born 08 July 1914 in Winnipeg to Louis and Louise Larke. The Larke Family moved to Morden in 1915.
Herman married Marea Kristjansson from Brown on 18 February 1943 and they had two children, David and Brenda.
Herman enlisted with the Canadian Provost Corps in Winnipeg, 29 July 1943. While stationed in Winnipeg, he was on guard duty, street patrol and travelled to Halifax and New York to transport German Prisoners of War to a POW camp in Calgary and later that year was posted to Camp Borden with the Canadian Provost Corps.
In 1944 he was posted to the 40th Canadian Provost Corps Company in Winnipeg at Fort Osborne and promoted to Corporal. In 1946 he was promoted to Sergeant at Carpiquet Barracks (southeast corner of St. James Street and Notre Dame Avenue) in Winnipeg.
In 1947 he left the Active Army and joined the Permanent Force as a Private in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC). Reduction in rank was not uncommon for those that elected to stay in the Forces after the war years, particularly those that changed their military occupation. In July 1948 he was promoted to Corporal in the Quartermaster Stores.
In March 1952 he was promoted to Sergeant in the Quartermaster Stores. In March 1953 he went to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps School in Montreal and returned to Carpiquet Barracks later that year.
In December 1953 he was posted to 3 Transport Company, RCASC, and promoted to Staff Sergeant. He left for Korea in March 1954, serving there until December 1954 and returned to Winnipeg on Christmas Eve.
From 1955 to 1958 he was posted to 3 Transport Company, RCASC, serving as their Quartermaster (senior soldier who supervises stores or barracks and distributes supplies and provisions). In 1958 he was posted to Shilo serving as the Quartermaster for the Canadian Provost Corps School
In 1960 he was posted to Hemer, West Germany serving in the office of the Station Staff Officer.
In August 1963 he was posted to Winnipeg to 16 Regional Ordnance Depot for 1 year. During that time he went to Churchill, Manitoba as part of the team responsible for closing that base. In 1964 he retired and moved to Morden
In Morden, Herman worked as a Bar Steward at the Morden Legion until 1965, then began work at Livingston’s Furniture where he worked for 15 years. In September of 1979 Livingston’s was sold to Andy McCaughan and Herman remained there until January 1983.
During retirement Herman was active with Morden Hospital Auxiliary and served as Treasurer for 8 years. Herman and Marea built a home on 13th Street on his Dad’s property. At one point, Herman’s mother Louise, Emily Blair (Herman’s sister) and Herman and Marea lived beside each other. After Marea’s death in 2014, Herman remained in their home until June 2017 when he moved to Homestead South. Herman passed away 21 November 2017 at the age of 103 years.
The Larke family had lived on 13th Street for over 100 years. The Morden City Council has granted the honorary name of Larke Lane to 13th Street.
Information supplied by daughter Brenda Perkins, Canadian Provost Corps records, RCASC records and Wikipedia.
MASTER WARRANT OFFICER LUDWIG ALEXANDER (ALEX) SIGESMUND LARKE
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM), Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) and Clasp (2)
Royal Canadian Air Force Service Police (SP)
Construction Engineering Branch
Canadian Armed Forces
WW II
Ludwig Alexander (Alex) Sigesmund Larke was born to Ludwig and Luise (Keding) Larke on 5 December 1918 in Morden, Manitoba. He was the third eldest of 7 brothers (Herman, Willhelm, Douglas, Karl, Archie, Kenneth and Howard) and 4 sisters (Margareta, Emelie, Elsie and Helen). His father emigrated from Poland to Canada through the United States, his mother was from Russia. Growing up in the dirty thirties Alex had to quit school and find work to help support the large family as his father, a carpenter/builder, could not find work during this time.
Alex married Elsie Agnes Hill in 1939 and then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. He was trained as Service Police (SP) and was stationed at various flying bases in Canada to help safeguard the aircraft involved in the Commonwealth Air Training Plan in support of the war effort. Over time Alex and Elsie had 3 children Graham Alexander (1941), Gerald Norman (1945) and Janet Maureen (1949). Alex stayed in the military following WW II but transferred to Construction Engineering. During this time there were transfers to Namao AB, Edmonton AB, Rivers MB and Calgary AB. Alex had grown up speaking German and in January 1957 was selected for a transfer to NATO Headquarters in Trier, Germany and two years later to Royal Canadian Air Force Station Zweibrucken (3 Wing), Germany. Most of the Construction Engineering civilian workers were Germans and Alex’s language skills were an asset to the operation. Living overseas enabled Alex and his family to enjoy travel to many countries of Europe.
In 1962 Alex was transferred from Europe to Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg and served there until his retirement from the forces as a Master Warrant Officer in 1973. Alex and Elsie divorced in 1975 and he moved to Edmonton. He went to work in Construction Engineering at Canadian Forces Base Griesbach, an Army Base on the north side of Edmonton, as a civilian. He was married again to Olga Mills (1976) and remained in Edmonton.
Alex passed away, peacefully, in his sleep on 20 June 2007, he was 89.
Corporal William Frederick (Bill) Larke
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM), 1939-45 War Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
Canadian Provost Corps
WW II
William Frederick (Bill) Larke was born 17 September 1916 in the Brown District, south of Morden, to Louis and Louise (Keding) Larke. The family moved to Morden shortly after his birth. He was the second of 12 children, 8 boys and 4 girls…Herman, Bill, Alex, Carl, Margaret, Emily, Elsie, Doug, Archie, Helen, Howie and Ken.
Bill married Betty Longney on 01 June 1943, and they had 2 children, Joan and Jim.
Bill took his schooling in Morden, and as a teenager helped local farmers with the harvest. He had a few jobs before he enlisted…helping his carpenter Dad Louis build the barns at the Experimental Farm, sanding floors, and working as a lineman. He loved sports, playing baseball and was a member of the Morden Blackhawk Juniors hockey team in 1935-1936.
Bill enlisted with the Canadian Provost Corps #40 in Winnipeg on 15 July 1942. He was stationed in Winnipeg serving in the Military Police until his discharge on 11 May 1946. Returning to Morden, he went into the business of sanding floors fulltime. In June 1950 he was offered a position as Morden Town Constable. He had talked of joining the RCMP before the war, so this allowed him to follow his goal of working in a police force. In the early years of policing for the town, the constable’s duties were diverse and included reading the newly installed water meters in the downtown area. He loved all aspects of his job. He subsequently became Chief of Police, retiring in 1978 with 28 years of service.
Deciding he wasn’t quite ready for fulltime retirement, he rejoined the workforce in 1979 as a Security Officer at the new Tupperware Plant, retiring from there in 1989.
In 1977, Bill received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in recognition of his devoted Public Service for more than 25 years.
Bill was a long-time member of the Morden Legion Branch, an avid curler, and enjoyed helping with Morden Little League Baseball. Later in life, when he wasn’t gardening or visiting friends and family (especially the grandchildren), he loved watching curling, baseball and hockey.
Bill and Betty celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 1993. He was diagnosed with cancer in August 1993 and passed away 07 January 1994 at the age of 77.
William Frederick (Bill) Larke is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Morden, Manitoba.
Information supplied by the family.
Trooper Robert James Lawson
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
WW II
Robert (Bob) James Lawson was born on 20 September 1919 to Albert Lawson, who was born in New Brunswick and came to Manitoba in 1886, and Catherine Mason who was born in Scotland and came to Manitoba in 1914. Bob was born on Willowhurst Farm (east half of section 10-3-7) which was 2 ½ miles east of Darlingford on Highway No 3. He was the third oldest of seven children: Bert, Ruth, Robert, Ken, Ed, Glen (died in infancy) and Pearl.
Bob enlisted in the Canadian Military 04 January 1940 in Winnipeg. He received basic training and was shipped to England as a member of the VIII Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars a Regiment in the Armoured Corps. The regiment went to the United Kingdom in October 1941, spending time in training and coastal defence. In July 1941 the IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards were looking for volunteers to fill out the ranks and were looking for volunteers from other regiments. For whatever reason it appears that Bob left the Hussars and volunteered to rebadged and join the Guards. As a result, he saw action months before his old regiment did.
On 13 July 1943, Trooper Lawson of the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, landed in Sicily and his regiment took part in virtually every major action in the Sicily campaign, which lasted 38 days. Immediately after the capture of Sicily the 4th PLDG were sent to Italy and landed at Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland 03 September 1943. The regiment fought in Italy until early 1945 and then were sent to North West Europe landing, 26 February 1945. The regiment spent 4 months in the North West Europe campaign and lost 187 men whereas they had only lost 150 in all of 1944 in Italy. The Regiment finished the war in Rotterdam, Netherlands and was disbanded in December 1945.
Bob was discharged early 17 July 1945 to enable him to return home to the pending death of his father. His rank at discharge was Trooper and his Tradesman Qualifications were Driver Operator in the Armoured Car Division or in civilian terms a wireless radio telephone operator. As Bob was ambidextrous, he was able to receive messages and write them out in shorthand while he was sending a message with the other hand in Morse code. He was a man of few words when it came to talking about his war experiences but was proud of the fact he fought for his country and that he had two brothers (Ed and Ken) who also enlisted as soon as they were able. Unfortunately, Ken was killed in action. Bob and Phyllis were both proud Canadians.
On 12 January 1946 Bob married Phyllis Gibbs and together they had four daughters: Sandra, Jo-Anne, Roberta (Bobbi) and Laurie. They resided in a few places before they settled back on Willowhurst Farm where their children were raised. Bob was a mixed farmer and drove a school bus for many years. He was also the caretaker of the skating rink (indoor and outdoor) in Darlingford for many years. In 1981 the farm was sold and Bob and Phyllis moved to Morden. Bob was the Facilities Manager at the Access Events Centre until he retired in 1987. In his retirement he was an enthusiastic gardener, curler, golfer, and camper as well as a great Husband, Dad and Grandpa. He also became a member of the Morden Legion which is something he had spoken about doing for many years. In his later years Bob struggled with chronic health issues.
Robert James Lawson died 18 June 1998 and is buried at the Darlingford Cemetery.
Information supplied by the family and the IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guard archives.
Private Leonard Victor Longney
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45
Regimental Number 103457
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
27 August 1922 - 13 June 1944
Len was born on 27 August 1922 to William and Sarah Jane Longney of Thornhill. Edith (wife of Fred Turner) and Betty (wife of Bill Larke) were his older siblings. Len attended school in Thornhill and then boarded at St. John’s College in Winnipeg for his Grade 12. He enjoyed his early days on the farm and at age 16, he won the Championship Cup for the highest quality sample of wheat at the Manitoba Provincial Seed Fair in Winnipeg.
Len lived on the family farm near Thornhill until he enlisted with the P.P.C.L.I. on 20 November 1942 and went overseas in August 1943. After being in England a few months he went on to North Africa and then Italy. The last letter his mother received was dated 20 May 1944. In that letter he says “Did I tell you that Sam Southworth was in our company? Sam has left again to join the machine gun platoon.”
On 23 May 1944 (the day that the Canadian Forces breached the formidable Adolf Hitler Line) Len was wounded in action at Cassino, Italy. He lay on the battlefield for 8 hours in the heat of the day before he was attended to, and then transferred to the field hospital for treatment and surgery. His parents were advised by cable that he was dangerously ill. Several similar cables were received until they were advised 21 days later, that he had succumbed to his wounds. He passed away on 13 June 1944, at the age of 21.
Len is one of many veterans who have a geographical feature named after them recognizing the contribution they made to their country. Longney Lake, in Manitoba (Lat. 58 20’; Long.100 40’) was named on 10 April 1972.
Len is laid to rest in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.
Rest in Peace Len.
Information provided by Joan (Larke) Sawatzky and Jim Larke, niece and nephew.
Able Seaman Frederick William Lyne
was born 02 May 1941 at the Pilot Mound, Manitoba hospital. He was the second of five children born to Frederick and Mary (Walker) Lyne, a brother to Robert, Joseph, Kenneth and Mervin. The boys were raised on the farm at Snowflake, Manitoba and attended Valley View School for grades 1 to 8. The school was located at SE13-1-9W in what is now the Rural Municipality of Pembina. After grade school they went to Snowflake High School. Bill worked at home on the farm and also for a bridge building company before enlisting.
Bill enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in November of 1961 as an Ordinary Seaman (OS). He received his basic training at HMCS (Her Majesties Canadian Ship) Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, the basic training base for the RCN. Upon completion of basic training OS Lyne was drafted (transferred) to the Fleet School at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, where he trained as a Marine Engineer, a Stoker in Navy slang. HMCS Stadacona is also home port to the RCN’S east coast naval fleet. After completion of his training at the Fleet School 13 November 1962, Bill was drafted to HMCS Micmac, the RCN’s east coast training ship, to continue his training. On 01 May 1963 Bill was promoted to the rank of Able Seaman (AB). He was drafted to HMCS Athabascan from 17 May until 23 November 1962 for further training and then drafted back to HMCS Micmac. On 13 January 1964 AB Lyne received his Auxiliary Machinery Operator Certificate, Level 1. On 30 May he was drafted to HMCS Nipigon and served on her until 02 September when he was drafted back to HMCS Stadacona. AB Lyne had completed his three year commitment to the RCN and was honourably released 31 October 1964.
After his release from the Navy, Bill returned to Manitoba and while at a dance at the Foresters Hall in Pilot Mound he met Colleen Moore and they were married at St. Andrews Anglican Church on the Red River, 02 July 1966. After his release Bill went to work as a guard for the Canadian Penitentiary Service, now known as Correctional Service Canada at Stoney Mountain. Bill and Colleen lived in Winnipeg at this time and Colleen had a position as a grade 7 teacher for the St. James School Board. Bill left the Canadian Penitentiary Service after 3 years and got a position as a salesman for International Harvester at Oak Point Road in Winnipeg. After three years they decided to move to Colleen’s home town, Pilot Mound. Bill bought into a partnership for International Harvester (IH) at Mound Motors in Pilot Mound and Colleen got a teaching position in Crystal City, they stayed for five years. They moved back to Winnipeg where Bill went back to work as a salesman at the Oak Point IH dealership and Colleen returned to the University of Manitoba to finish her degree. In early 1977 Bill and the parts man, Bill Otto, at the IH dealership at Oak Point, made a decision to purchase the Morden International Harvester dealership from John Friesen. It had taken them two years to make the decision. Bill Lyne, Sales Manager and Bill Otto Parts Manager, were the new owners of the IH operation in down town Morden. They built a new building in 1981 on Highway 3, across from the John Deere dealership, 2 km east of Morden and renamed their business Southman Agri Sales. Additionally, they purchased a shop in Altona and operated that as well for a few years but the additional work load, with 2 shops, was too much and they decided to work only out of the Morden location. In 1997 they sold Southman Agri to the Metcalfe in Treherne.
Bill and Colleen enjoyed many years in their winter home in both Arizona and Texas. Their travels took them to New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Ireland, England and many trips to Scotland to visit distant relatives. Bill spent his retirement years in Morden, enjoying their new home, his yard, garden and even a bit of photography. His special coffee groups provided hours of laughter, reminiscing and road worthy wisdom. He was proud of his nieces and nephews and took delight in their accomplishments and dreams. The whole of Bill’s world was Colleen and caregiving, since 1990, made their bond stronger and everlasting. Bill was friendly, outgoing and quickly formed friendships. Ron Nowicki, a recruit who went through basic training with Bill, remembered him as, “The kind of person that could be in your life a mere 4 months and make a lifelong, 60-year, impression.” Traits that were contributing factors to his success as a salesman and business owner. Bill was proud of his service in the Royal Canadian Navy and was a 40 plus year member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Able Seaman Frederick William Lyne passed away 14 December 2021 and is buried at the Snowflake Cemetery.
Information supplied by Colleen Lyne and Bill’s RCN records.
Sergeant Allan Andrew Lone
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps
Royal Canadian Engineers
Allan Andrew Lone entered the world 17 July 1917, the 6th of 11 children born to Henry (Hank) and Annie Lone (Huston) of Mowbray, Manitoba. He and his siblings Howard Norman 1906-1997, William Harvey 1908-1973, Lloyd Elymer 1909-1986, Charles Alexander 1912-2002, Ivan Finley 1914-1985, James Mervin (John) 1921-1989, Doris May 1923, Elsie Irene 1926-2002, Mary Eleanor 1928, Shirley Edna 1930-1993 were raised on the farm. Allan attended the Mowbray Valley School as a child and worked on the family farm as a young man and also in the mine at Flin Flon, Manitoba. Allan enlisted in the Army, Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps, and after training was sent to England and eventually to Italy. Upon completion of the Italian campaign his unit, he was attached to the Royal Canadian Engineers, was sent to France to help push the German offensive back across the Rhine River.
Allan had met Beatrice Mary Baker while stationed in England and they were married after the war, 13 October 1945 at the Walford Anglican Church, Ross-on-Wye in Hertfordshire County, England. Allan was repatriated shortly after the wedding, November 1945 and returned to Canada on the RMS Queen Elizabeth. On 01 July 1946 Allan went to Winnipeg to meet Mary who had finally been able to come to Canada. She came from England on the “RMS Aquitania”. On 05 July 1946 Allan and Mary began their new life together on a farm east of Mowbray.
In the spring of 1950 the following was reported in a local newspaper; ”We are indeed sorry to report that Mr. and Mrs. Allan Lone lost their home and all their belongings by fire Friday evening, May 26th. Fortunately, the children were outside playing and Mrs. Lone escaped unharmed when the kerosene exploded as she was lighting the fire for supper.” The children were Howard William born 1947 and Dennis Allan born 1948. They rebuilt with the help of family, friends and neighbours. Another newspaper article sometime later stated;
“We would like to take this means of saying “Thank You” to our many friends for their kindly thought of us in so many ways, in the loss of our home by fire. It makes us realize what a most generous and kindly folk we are living among. Again, may we truly thank each and all. Mary and Allan Lone.”
In the ensuing years they had 4 more children, Joanne Mary 1951, Darlene Ann 1955, Jean Alice 1957 and Douglas Graham 1959. Life was good on the farm and they lived there until moving to Morden in 1978. They initially settled at 805 Alvey Street and in 1989 moved to Legion 2, 5th floor. Apartment living was not agreeable to Allan and Mary. They loved family gatherings and parties and the apartment just wasn’t big enough for that, so they bought a home at 370 19th Street. Allan remained there until his passing.
Allan was a long time Legion member and enjoyed curling, baseball and playing cards, especially cribbage. He and Mary loved their family and enjoyed looking after their grandchildren.
Allan Andrew Lone passed away 12 December 1995 and is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Morden, Manitoba.
Information from the Lone Family and Wikipedia.
Flying Officer Robert O. Lumgair
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Airforce
408 Squadron
27 August 1919 – 02 July 2012
RO was the 4th son born to parents Robert W. and Hanna L. Lumgair (Ching) in Free Masons Hospital Morden, Manitoba.
He was educated in Orangehill School (near Thornhill) and Wellington Junior High School, graduating grade 11. RO was by all accounts a typical boy enjoying baseball, hockey, and by some accounts getting into mischief with friends. After graduation he farmed with his father and brothers, Wallace, John, Jim and Norman west of Thornhill.
He enlisted with the RCAF, 20 December 1940 and spent the next 15 months training as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in Canada and England. While on a training flight in England, summer of 1942, his aircraft crashed. The aircraft had a crew of 4 and RO was one of two survivors. He survived a second crash in July 1943.
RO flew with 408 Squadron and by 1943 had achieved the rank of Warrant Officer. In December 1943 his parents received a letter advising them that their son had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation on which this award was made reads as follows:
“As Air Gunner Warrant Officer Lumgair has taken part in a large number of sorties involving attacks on industrial centres in the Ruhr and many other targets of importance. He is a most conscience member of the aircraft crew whose vigilance and skill have played a good part in the successes obtained during an operation against Hanover. In October, 1943, his aircraft was attacked by a fighter. In the ensuing combat Warrant Officer Lumgair displayed excellent judgement in directing the necessary evading tactics, afterwards using his guns to such good effort in unison with the rear gunner that the attacker was shot down in flames. His efforts contributed materially to the success of the sortie.”
Signed by Charles G. Power the Minister of National Defence for Air.
Shortly after being awarded the DFC, RO was commissioned to the rank of Flying Officer and by 10 June 1944 had completed his, “Tour” of 30 operations and was moved to the reserve list and was struck of RCAF strength 22 August 1944.
When RO returned home from the war one of his first priorities was to marry the lady he could not forget about. Robert O. Lumgair and Isobel Kunzelman were married 06 July 1945 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They raised 3 children Robert P. (deceased) G. Murray and Lori G. They were happily married for 47 years until Isobels passing 18 November 1992. This loss was very hard on RO.
RO lived his entire life, except for his wartime service, in the Thornhill Morden area. In addition to farming, he and Isobel cleaned the Thornhill School for many years and he also delivered the mail. He was involved in the community and served on Thornhill Coop, Manitoba Pool Elevator Board, Thornhill Curling Club, Morden Curling Club, Morden Handi Van and Legion building committee for the Legion as well as Legion I, where he and Isobel lived after retiring from the farm.
RO loved to play his "Squeeze Box" for his children and later for the grandchildren, and anyone else who cared to listen. Later he moved to the Tabor Home and had many great years there enjoying playing the squeeze box for the people and playing crib.
Robert O. Lumgair passed away 02 July 2012, he was 92.
Information supplied by son Murray and daughter Lori.
Pilot Officer Norman Andrew Lumgair
1939-1945 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) with Maple Leaf and Bomber Command Clasps, 1939-45 War Medal
Royal Canadian Air Force 408 Squadron
R157269 J86440
12 April 1922 – 15/16 March 1944
Norman was born on 12 April 1922 at Thornhill Manitoba to Robert W. and H. Louisa Lumgair (Ching). He received his education at Orangehill and Wellington Schools at Thornhill, finishing Grade XI in June of 1939. As well as working on the home farm, he enjoyed skiing and skating in the winter, and playing ball in the summer.
He enlisted and was taken on strength on February 26, 1942 and trained as a pilot at various bases in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Canadian, as well as other Commonwealth Aircrews, were trained under British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, part of Canadas contribution to the war effort. He sailed for Britain on 27 March 1943. On arrival, he took more training on military bases in Britain and was assigned to 408 Squadron 04 February 1944 as a Flight Sergeant Pilot. 408 Squadron was a Lancaster Bomber Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse. He made five operational trips in February. The sixth and fatal trip was on 15 March 1944 with Stuttgart, Germany as the target. His plane encountered German night fighters over Hillsenheim, France and was shot down. The Book, "Last Flight To Stuttgart" by Lisa Russ recalls the story of Pilot Officer Lumgair and his aircrew.
A letter received by the family, dated 30 August 1949 reads as follows;
Dear Mr. Lumgair:
A communication has just come to hand from the Graves Registration Service which states that the graves of your son, Pilot Officer Norman Andrew Lumgair, and the members of his crew in Hillsenheim Cemetery, France have been registered by that Service. The graves of your son and his three crewmates who were not individually identified are registered collectively with their names as communal grave No. 4.
As you were previously advised the graves will be reverently cared for and maintained in perpetuity by the Imperial War Graves Commission (of which Canada is a member).
It is my earnest hope that you will be comforted with the knowledge that your son’s resting place is known, and that it will be permanently maintained, and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing to you and the members of your family my deepest sympathy in the loss of your gallant son.
Yours sincerely,
W.R. Gunn Wing Commander
Pilot Officer Norman Andrew Lumgair is commemorated on Page 369 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance kept in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, as well as the Bomber Command Memorial wall in Nanton, Alberta. The Province of Manitoba has named a geographical location in honor of each WW 2 casualty from Manitoba. A Memorial Plaque in honor of Pilot Officer N.A. Lumgair was place at the mouth of Lumgair Creek (east of Waboden, Manitoba) by his brother Robert O. Lumgair.
Information supplied by Hugh Lumgair.
Lieutenant / Nursing Sister Ethel (Bayliss) Large
Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service (Malta)
Canadian Army Medical Corps
WW I
Ethel Bayliss was born 07 September 1893. Her parents, Richard Cook and Harriet (Hansford ) Bayliss lived southeast of Morden, Manitoba at Wakeham in the Rural Municipality of Stanley. Her siblings were Richard, Mable, Sophia, Johnathan, Wilfred and Nellie. Ethel’s brother, Jonathan Cook Bayliss, served with the 184 Battalion in France.
Ethel graduated from the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital Nursing School in 1916 and immediately enlisted. She served with the Queen Alexandria’s Imperial Nursing Service (QAINS) from 6 November 1916 until 6 May 1918. QAINS provided nursing services to British Army personnel across the world. Although formed in 1902, its origins dated back to the Florence Nightingale’s pioneering nursing work during the Crimean War.
From a letter written to her mother and published in the Morden Times 1917-02-01; “Here I am at last after 6 weeks, safely at Malta”. “I started to work 2 days ago I can’t say much about it yet, but I intend to try and do my bit here by helping to patch up some battered, bruised boys for their mothers, wives and best gals. I don’t mind which get them, but they deserve all we can do for them”.
In a letter written to her father in early 1918 and published in the Morden times 1918-02-14; “I have been kicking myself lately that I signed on for another term here. If I had not I might have been in France or England in closer touch with our own boys. I know I would like that ever so much better and I feel sure they would too. It would be a little bit of old Canada. Oh well, my time will be up here in April. I guess I can wait until then. After that I don’t know what will happen.”
Ethel finished her obligation to QAINS, went to England and was commissioned in the Canadian Army Medical Corps 20 May 1918. Lieutenant / Nursing Sister (Lt/NS) Bayliss served at the #5 Canadian General Hospital and the #16 Canadian General Hospital in England and was repatriated to Canada 6 September 1919. Lt. / N.S. Ethel Bayliss was demobilized 17 September 1919.
Ethel worked as a Nurse after returning to Canada and on 28 April 1933 married Raymond Joseph Large. They lived for some time in Selkirk, after his passing in 1951, she lived with her brother Jonathan at 202 Duffield Street, Winnipeg.
Lieutenant / Nursing Sister Ethel Bayliss Large passed away, after a lengthy illness, 15 February 1971 at age 78. Her funeral service was held in the Thomson Funeral Chapels, Broadway at Furby on Friday the 19th at 2:15 pm. There is a memorial for her at the Saint James Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Information from National Army Museum, Library and Archives Canada, Pembina Manitou Archives, Morden Times, Manitoba Vital Statistics, 1916 Canada Census