Staff Sergeant Charlie C. Quane

Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal  

XII Manitoba Dragoons, Canadian Armored Corps

18th Armored Car Regiment

WW II

 Charlie C. Quane (“Chuck”), born 09 September 1919 in Melita, Manitoba, was one of three brothers who served in the Second World War.   While his older brothers served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Merchant Marine, Charlie volunteered and enlisted with the 18th Reconnaissance Battalion in May 1941, and was eventually assigned to the XII Manitoba Dragoons.  Charlie trained in the Brandon area and became a Corporal prior to departure for England in August of 1942.   In England, he was stationed with the XII Manitoba Dragoons in Bramley, a small village in the county of Surrey, south of London, along with other units of the Canadian Army, training to defending England from a possible invasion.  In March 1943, he returned to Canada and was posted to Dundurn, Saskatchewan where he trained Canadian troops in driving and maintaining military vehicles in preparation for their eventual role in the D-Day landing and subsequent liberation of Europe.  In December 1944, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and posted to Camp Borden, Ontario as an instructor.  At war’s end, he was moved to the General Motors plant in London, Ontario to oversee the refurbishment of army vehicles being sent over to Europe for evacuation use.

 After an honorable discharge from the Canadian Army in January of 1946, he returned to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to resume civilian life and rejoin his sweetheart, Marjorie Larsen whom he had met at the Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon while stationed at Dundurn, Saskatchewan.  They were married in Saskatoon on 28 September 1946.   While living in Saskatoon, he trained as a baker, working at the National System of Baking.   In 1948, Charlie and Marjorie purchased a bakery and cafe in Morden from Al “Pop” Burgess at 320 Stephen Street and 325 North Railway Street.  They operated “Quane’s Bakery and Foodbar” at the locations until approximately 1964, when Charlie ceased baking and joined the Manitoba Highways Branch. He worked for Manitoba Highways until his death on 18 December 1981, in Morden.  

Charlie was a long time member of the Morden Legion, an avid curler and golfer, and one of the volunteer builders of the original 9-hole Minnewasta golf course in 1962.  Charlie and Marjorie raised two sons in Morden, Ross and Charles, and are now survived by them along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

Information submitted by Ross and Charles Quane