Transcona & the Second World War 75th Anniversary

Rededication of the Transcona Cenotaph, 2011. Photo courtesy of Transcona Museum & Archives.

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2020, we are honouring those 42 men from Transcona who died during the war of 1939 - 1945. Their names appear on the Transcona Cenotaph at Memorial Circle Park. Provided below is the complete listing of their names along with a date of death, the cemetery or memorial, grave reference number for each individual, and page commemorations within the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Individual reference links have been provided to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (where applicable).

In 2011, the Transcona Cenotaph was re-dedicated on Decoration Day. The names of previously missing Transcona soldiers from both the First and Second World Wars were added to the cenotaph at this time. Since that day, an additional 3 names have since been noted as missing. Their names have been added to the Transcona Museum's Second World War Book of Honour.

Lest We Forget.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

We will remember them."

- "The Act of Remembrance"

Research: Information has been provided through Service Files of the Second World War - War Dead, 1939 - 1945 (Library and Archives Canada), the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Veterans Affairs Canada), and the Transcona Museum Archives. All abbreviations follow the Military Abbreviations used in Service Files (Library and Archives Canada).

Note: An asterisk (*) indicates a name currently missing from the Transcona Cenotaph.

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1937

P/O Wilfred Lawrence Warner - Killed in Harrow I K6950 Aircraft Accident on April 29

• Elmwood Cemetery (Winnipeg) - 16A-G0741

• Commemorated at Yale Avenue Playground (Transcona)

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No casualties from the war in 1939 from Transcona

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1940

P/O John Frederick Edward Andrews - Missing, Believed Killed on June 13

• Harpswell (St. Chad) Churchyard (England) – Row C. Grave 6.

• Commemorated on Page 602

AB Joseph Leo Paul Marcotte - Killed in Action aboard H.M.C.S. Fraser on June 25

• Halifax Memorial (Canada) – Panel 4.

• Commemorated on Page 15

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1941

AC2 Stuart Frederick Walters - Died of Accidental Death on January 13

• Winnipeg (Elmwood) Cemetery - Sec. 12A. Grave 1363.

• Commemorated on Page 47

Sgt Henry “Harry” Westbrook Blackwell - Killed in Whitley Z9279 Aircraft Accident on November 26

• Kinloss Abbey Burial Ground (Scotland) - Grave 20. Row A.

• Commemorated on Page 24

Pte Ralph Clifford Maxwell - Killed in Action on December 19

• Sai Wan Memorial (China) - Column 26.

• Commemorated on Page 37

Pte Michael "Mike" Kasijan - Killed in Action on December 22 *

• Sai Wan Memorial (China) - Column 26.

• Commemorated on Page 34

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1942

Flt/Sgt William “Billy” Alexander McCann - Killed in Action on June 28

• Marham Cemetery (England) - War Graves Plot. Grave 21.

• Commemorated on Page 95

Flt/Sgt Leo Joseph Regimbal - Killed in Action on July 13

• Buxton Cemetery (England) - Grave 4184.

• Commemorated on Page 109

Sgt Alfred Kirby - Killed in Action on August 8

• Fettercairn Cemetery (Scotland) - Sec. D. Grave 17.

• Commemorated on Page 87

Sgt Leslie Ernest Hurst - Killed in Action on August 19

• Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-Sur-Mer (France) - B. 18.

• Commemorated on Page 83

Flt/Sgt Joseph Armand G. Larche - Killed in Wellington BJ846 Aircraft Accident on November 11

• Dishforth Cemetery (England) - Grave 33.

• Commemorated on Page 88

Flt/Sgt Ernest Frank Stammers - Missing, Believed Killed on December 6

• Rheinberg War Cemetery (Germany) - 8. A. 20.

• Commemorated on Page 116

SBA Duncan Ross MacMillan - Died in Knights of Columbus Hostel Fire on December 12

• St. John’s (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery (Canada) - Sec. C. Plot 19. Grave 2.

• Commemorated on Page 93

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1943

Flt/Sgt Bertram “Bert” Edwin Atwood - Missing, Believed Killed on January 13

• Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Germany) - 2. G. 11.

• Commemorated on Page 132

Flt/Sgt Roy Stanley Greengrass - Killed in Halifax W1241 Aircraft Accident on March 10

• Ripon Cemetery (England) - Sec. H. Grave 363.

• Commemorated on Page 165

L/Sto Antoni “Anthony” Lopuck - Killed in Action aboard H.M.C.S. St. Croix on September 20

• Halifax Memorial (Canada) - Panel 10.

• Commemorated on Page 182

Pte John Robert Muir - Killed in Action on December 14

• Moro River Canadian War Cemetery (Italy) - IX. D. 7.

• Commemorated on Page 197

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1944

Pte George Turcotte - Killed in Action on January 16

• Moro River Canadian War Cemetery (Italy) - I. F. 11.

• Commemorated on Page 466

Cpl Albert Alfred Wylie - Killed in Action on January 28

• Moro River Canadian War Cemetery (Italy) - VI. F. 4.

• Commemorated on Page 484

F/O Hryhory “Harry” Moroz - Killed during a Flight Operation on March 23

• Runnymede Memorial (England) - Panel 247.

• Commemorated on Page 398

O/S Ronald Keith Phillips - Killed in Action aboard H.M.C.S. Valleyfield on May 7

• Halifax Memorial (Canada) - Panel 12.

• Commemorated on Page 417

P/O George McDougall - Killed in Action on May 10

• Clichy Northern Cemetery (France) - Plot 16. Row 7. Grave 2.

• Commemorated on Page 385

F/O Joseph Octave Arthur “Remi” Tetrault - Killed in Action on May 23

• Le Mans West Cemetery (France) - Plot 38. 1939-45 Row C. Grave 37.

• Commemorated on Page 459

Cpl Roger Joseph “Sonny” Firman - Executed while Prisoner of War on June 8

• Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers (France) - XIII. D. 13.

• Commemorated on Page 304

F/O Austin Gordon Gamsby - Missing, Believed Killed on June 16

• Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen (France) - Joint grave 4. E. 1.

• Commemorated on Page 312

Tpr Tom Huntington Widlake - Killed in Action on June 24

• Assisi War Cemetery (Italy) - V, E, 6.

• Commemorated on Page 477

Rflm Harry Magas - Killed in Action on July 6

• Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers (France) - IV. A. 7.

• Commemorated on Page 376

Flt/Sgt Joseph Arthur William Sutherland - Killed in Action on July 25

• Runnymede Memorial (England) - Panel 255.

• Commemorated on Page 456

Tpr Michael “Mike” Moroz - Killed in Action on August 9

• Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery (France) - VI. D. 2.

• Commemorated on Page 398

AB Alan Thomas Turner - Killed in Action aboard H.M.C.S. Alberni on August 21

• Halifax Memorial (Canada) - Panel 11.

• Commemorated on Page 466

Pte Andrew Kostyk - Killed in Action on August 29 *

• Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery (France) - XVII. F. 8.

• Commemorated on Page 355

Pte Elliott L. Swanton - Killed in Action on September 13

• Coriano Ridge War Cemetery (Italy) - I, A, 11.

• Commemorated on Page 456

Sgt Joseph Belanger - Killed in Action on September 16

• Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles (France) - Plot 3. Row D. Grave 33.

• Commemorated on Page 246

AB Joseph Neil Johnston - Drowned during the Grounding of H.M.C.S. Skeena on October 25

• Reykjavik (Fossvogur) Cemetery (Iceland) - C49. 14.

• Commemorated on Page 347

P/O Victor Lewis Valde - Killed in Action on November 2

• Rheinberg War Cemetery (Germany) - Coll. grave 7. B. 14-18.

• Commemorated on Page 467

F/O Arthur John “Jack” Bate - Missing, Believed Killed on November 6

• Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (Germany) - 25. C. 18.

• Commemorated on Page 244

PO Howard Norman Parsons - Killed in Action aboard H.M.C.S. Shawinigan on November 24*

• Halifax Memorial (Canada) - Panel 5.

• Commemorated on Page 412

Capt James Gordon Wilson Savage - Died of Wounds on November 27

• Brookwood Military Cemetery (England) - 51. G. 10.

• Commemorated on Page 437

Pte Lawson Dillabough - Killed in Action on December 17

• Cassino Memorial (Italy) - Panel 13.

• Commemorated on Page 291

F/Lt George Douglas “Doug” Robinson - Killed in Action on December 26

• Adegem Canadian War Cemetery (Belgium) - XI. G. 12.

• Commemorated on Page 430

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1945

Lt Allen Haigh – Killed in Motorcycle Accident on September 18

• Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery (Netherlands) – XV. A. 16.

• Commemorated on Page 521