Volume 6 - Legion BC/Yukon Command Website

British ColumBia / Yukon CommandCollver, H. RossRoss was born in Simcoe, Ontario on August 20, 1896. He enlisted with histwin brother, Roy, in the 133 rd Battalion of the Canadian ExpeditionaryForce (CEF) in Simcoe, Ontario on December 23, 1915. He was sent toEngland in November 1916, where his battalion was absorbed into the 23 rdReserve Battalion, CEF. Ross eventually served with the 14 th Battalion(Royal Montreal Regiment). He was captured after volunteering for daylightobservation duty in an observation post far in advance of the allied front lineon April 21, 1917. After returning to Canada, Ross spent several years withthe Air Cadets of Canada as Flying Officer of the 66 Fort William Squadron.He presented his son, Joseph, with his wings after he graduated from flighttraining at Service Flying Training School Brandon. Unfortunately, Josephwas killed on July 29, 1944, returning from a bombing mission overHamburg, Germany. Ross died in November 1952.Collver, Joseph Beemer (Joe)Joe was born in Fort William, Ontario on November 12, 1925. He enlisted inthe Royal Canadian Air Force at 18, and after completing pilot training, hisfather, FO H. R. Collver of the 66 Fort William Squadron, Air Cadets ofCanada, presented him with his wings. Joe was posted to the 431 (Iroquois)Squadron in England as the Pilot/Commander of a Halifax bomber. Because hewas only 5 feet 6 inches tall, Joe needed extra seat cushions to be able to seeproperly over the instrument panel and would have had to also place his feetagainst the panel of a Handley Page Halifax in order to obtain enough leverageto perform evasive manoeuvres such as dives and corkscrews. Joe met hissister, Lieutenant Elizabeth Collver, a nurse at a Canadian army hospital inEngland, several times before he was lost on July 29, 1944, returning from amission over Hamburg, Germany. That night, his squadron lost eight Halifaxbombers. Joe was one of the youngest pilots lost by the RCAF in WWII.Collver, Roy WardRoy was born in Simcoe, Ontario on August 20, 1896. He enlisted with histwin brother, Ross, in the 133 rd Battalion of the Canadian ExpeditionaryForce in Simcoe on December 23, 1915. He and his brother went to Englandin November 1916 and Roy served on the Western front in France, Belgium,and Germany. Roy returned to Canada after the Armistice was signed in1918.www.legionbcyukon.ca89