2011 Convention – Penticton, BC - Legion

www.legionbcyukon.ca
Gunson (nee Ward), Daisy C.
In 1942, when she was 18, Daisy tried to enlist but was discouraged by her mother.
She did enlist in the Air Force at 19, and then went to Regina for exams and testing
before taking basic and office training at Rockcliffe, ON. She was then posted to
Brantford, ON at the Service Flying Training School #5 (SFTS) then to #6 RD at
Trenton, ON, typing DRO’s and maintaining personnel files. Three months later, she
was transferred to the 8 th Bombing and Gunnery Station at Hagersville, ON where
she arranged the documents for those who finished their training and were being
discharged. She then went to #6 B&G at Jarvis, ON until it closed and then to
Lachine, QC. She volunteered to go to Europe to help “mop up” but her commander
refused to let her go. She spent the time discharging returning soldiers, and once the
bulk of personnel had been processed, Lachine was closed and Daisy went back to
Trenton until she was discharged on December 18, 1946. She now lives in
Cranbrook, BC and is a member of Legion Branch #24.
BRITISH COLUMBIA / YUKON COMMAND
Grinstead, Bernard (Bernie)
Bernie was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1931. He was employed in the
printing industry after graduating from high school but decided to join the
Royal Canadian Air Force when he was twenty. He took basic training at
Aylmer, Ontario and was selected to take an Airframe Technician course at
Camp Borden, Ontario. Over the next three years, he then divided his time
between Trenton and Hamilton, Ontario working on Mustang aircraft. In
1955, Bernie was posted to No.1 Fighter Wing in Marville, France and in
1959, to Winnipeg before being posted to St. Jean, Quebec in 1967 as an
instructor in basic training. After three years there, Bernie was posted to
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he retired as a Master Corporal in 1971.
Following his retirement, Bernie became a newspaper publisher, pub owner,
and music publisher. He has been a Legion member for twenty-eight years
in both the Langley and Cloverdale Branches in BC.
Haine, Robert Gordon
Robert joined the Army on July 22, 1941 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, did his
basic training in Petawawa and then was assigned to the 67 th Battery, a light
anti-aircraft unit. Overseas, his unit spent some time in Northern Ireland then
saw service in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Robert was also a
military switchboard operator in England. One of his experiences was in
Germany where literally thousands of Germans were surrendering and being
disarmed in Aurich outside of Emden, Germany, not far from the North Sea. He
recalls it being quite a sight with acres of arms, ammunition, and thousands of
prisoners. Robert’s medals include the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany
Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and the 1939-1945 War
Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf, for being mentioned in dispatches. Robert was
honourably discharged in 1946 and now resides in Cranbrook, BC. He has been
a member of Legion Branch #24 in Cranbrook for forty-seven years.
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