This year for Remembrance Day, we interviewed resident veterans living in Sifton Retirement Communities and learned about their experiences serving our country. We sincerely thank them for their dedication in protecting our country and respect the sacrifices they made.
Doug McConney
At the age of 22, Mr. McConney joined the Canadian Royal Navy with his sister and a friend. He served as a signalman for the navy which entailed sending signals between military ships, alerting them of the dangers ahead and keeping them out of harms way. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Bryan Anthony
Mr. Anthony was conscripted for the Korean War from the British Military in 1950 at the age of 18 years old. He had been a member of the St. John’s Ambulance brigade since the age of 12, and naturally he was assigned to The Royal Army Medical Core. He worked his way to a Sergeant and became a classroom instructor in Anatomy, Physiology, Field First Aid and Sanitation. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Sylvia O’Connell
Sylvia O’Connell and her sister Iris joined the Canadian Women’s Army Core in November of 1943 in London, England. She was assigned to work as a Stenographer in Frankfort, Germany in the American Zone. As a stenographer, she would receive information from an interpreter and then document the information in short hand, type the information and give it to the American Military. We thank her for her service and dedication!
Herb Smith
Herb Smith Served in World War 1 in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Bomber Command on a Halifax 4 Engine Plane. His rank was a Flying Officer, serving in England. Being a Navigator – Herb’s duties were to help pilots navigate their flights and provide knowledge about stars, moon, and altitudes. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Fred Hull
Mr. Hull joined the Royal Canadian Air force in 1942 at the age of 17, as a spear runner. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Leonard Lee
Mr. Lee joined the war in 1944 when he was 22 years old. He trained for 4 weeks in the Shiloh Camp in Alberta and went on to serve in the army for 2 years. He later transferred to the English army, traveling to England and India for service. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Alan Waters
Mr. Waters was in the war for almost 6 years, beginning his journey in January of 1940. His duties were to unload all the equipment being used in the war and bring it across the beach. He says that it was a heavy labour job that he took great pride in . After completing his assignment he went on to work with the Royal Engineers. We thank him for his service and dedication!
George Stenning
Mr. Stenning served in the Canadian Navy from 1942 to 1945 spending 6-9 months patrolling the waters in St. John’s, Newfoundland looking for enemy ships and protecting Canadian waters. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Malcom Quinn
Mr. Quinn served in the Korean War as a private from 1952 until 1956. During this time, his main role was a sniper. In 1957 he returned to the military to serve as a part of the Royal Canadian Mechanical Engineer. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Jack Harris
Mr. Harris joined the Canadian Royal Navy at the age of 18. As a young man he was sent to the British Royal Navy where he became an engine man on a military ship. Jack recalls feeling happy and free in those days, he never dwelled on the negatives despite the dangers he faced. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Bob Pope
Mr. Pope served in WWII in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Flying Officer serving in Britain and Europe. After extensive training, he served as a Wireless Air Gunner out of RAF Transport Squadron #271 delivering any materials the military needed, daily from Britain to the war front in Europe, in a DC3 Dakota air craft. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Bob Groves
Mr. Groves was a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force serving in France as a radio technician. He travelled all over the world in his years of service. He was awarded 2 medals for 12 years of service and a bar for 18 years of service for serving under NATO. Mr. Groves was also awarded a medallion for 37 years of service with the government. We thank him for his service and dedication!
John Van Der Wolf
Mr. Van Der Wolf served in the Netherlands Air Force. He was a pilot, helping wherever possible, even being sent to occupy Indonesia at one point. John stayed in touch with his family by mail but he states that it is was difficult as the mail would be sent to Holland and then transferred to his family in Belgium. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Carl Murray
Mr. Murray served in the Air Force for 26 years. He spent his time around the world mostly in Germany and France. He first served with NATO and then began working for UN peacekeeping. Later on, Mr. Murray worked for the RCMP as a commissionaire. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Jack Howett
Mr. Howett was part of the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Unit during WWII. He was an Acting Major having served in the UK, Middle East, India, and Sri Lanka. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Lindsay Pursey
Mr. Pursey served in the Royal Navy for 4 years and participated in World War II. He was a Leading Wireless Telegraphist mainly serving in the North Atlantic on a convoy escort. After the ending of the war in Europe, he became an instructor at the Naval School in Malta. We thank him for his service and dedication!
Norman Mayne
Mr. Mayne served in the Royal Air Force for 4 years. He served in Scotland where he ranked as a Senior Air craftsman. As an electric apprentice, Mr. Mayne performed the electrical work on the military bases. We thank him for his service and dedication
Ruth Rose
Mrs. Rose served in the Canadian Women’s Army Core during World War II. Her rank was a Corporal, serving in the Woodstock Army Camp performing secretary duties for Colonel Crouch. We thank her for her service and dedication!