The Saint Croix Courier: Journey Through Time edition
Issue 4 of 6: Good Times, Hard Times: 1926-1945
transcribed by Charlene Beney with permission of The Saint Croix Courier
Military News Update
February 5, 1942
Lawrence G. Callaghan of St. George, Missing, after the ship 'Lady Hawkins' was torpedoed on which he was the second wireless operator.
November 19, 1942
Howard Freemont Hooper, R.C.N. of St. George, Dead, served in the Royal Canadian Navy at Newfoundland.
November 26, 1942
Convoy Signm. James Philip McGrattan of St. George; Missing, after the ship he was on went down after enemy action. (Royal Canadian Navy)
January 7, 1943
Sgt. George K. Reardon, R.C.A.F. of St. George, received the British Empire Medal for a valiant attempt to rescue a fellow member of the crew of a bomber which was forced down at sea while returning from a raid on Munich (Received from the King).
REARDON, Sergeant George Kenneth (R73037) -
British Empire Medal - No.149 Squadron - Award effective 26
December 1942 as per London Gazette dated 29 December
1942 and AFRO 232/43 dated 12 February 1943.
Born in New Brunswick, 1916; home in St.George, New Brunswick
(chemist).
Enlisted in Moncton.
Trained at No.1 ITS (graduated 21 February 1941), No.10 EFTS (ceased
training, 29 March 1941) and No.6 BGS (graduated 7 November 1941).
Invested with award by King George VI, 6 July 1943.
Flight Sergeant Phillip and Sergeants Reardon and Fossleitner were captain,
front gunner and navigator, respectively, of an aircraft which attacked Munich
one night in September 1942.
On the return flight the engineer reported that there would only be
sufficient spare fuel to operate for fifteen minutes on arrival at base.
Flight Sergeant Phillip, therefore, obtained permission to land
at a nearer airfield.
When nearing the airfield, however, one of the engines failed and it
was necessary to descend on the sea off the coast.
Although the aircraft was kept level it broke in four parts on
impact with the water and these three airmen, together with the wireless
operator and the mid-upper gunner, were thrown into the sea.
Flight Sergeant Phillip, who is a strong swimmer, volunteered to
swim to shore alone to get help.
He abandoned this intention, however, as it was necessary to
help the mid-upper gunner, and in company with Sergeant Reardon, started to swim
to shore taking the mid-upper gunner with them.
They were picked up by a fishing boat after swimming for three
and a half hours but unfortunately the gunner was found to be dead.
In the meantime Sergeant Fossleitner, although badly shaken, had
volunteered to remain behind on one of the wings and support the wireless
operator whose spine was fractured.
He supported him for two and a half hours until eventually both
were picked up by an air/sea rescue launch.
The courage and fortitude displayed by Flight Sergeant Phillip
and Sergeants Reardon and Fossleitner were of the highest order.
NOTE: Public Records Office Air 2/4918 has original recommendation (for an
Albert Medal) dated 31 October 1942 when he had flown six sorties (27 hours 31
minutes). It differs in detail from the published citation:
Sergeant Reardon was the front gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack
Munich on the night of 19/20 September 1942.
On the return flight the engineer reported that there would only
about 15 minutes spare petrol on arrival at base.
The captain decided to land at Manston and obtained permission to do so. When flying downwind, however, the starboard inner engine failed and the aircraft had to be ditched off Margate. Although the captain managed to keep the aircraft level, the ditching was unsuccessful and the aircraft broke into four parts on impact. The captain, observer, wireless operator, mid-upper gunner and front gunner all found themselves in the water without knowing how they got there.
The captain, who is a strong swimmer, decided to swim to shore for help whilst the others stayed by one of the wings. However, Sergeant King (mid-upper gunner) was very nervous about being left; therefore it was decided that the captain and Sergeant Reardon, the front gunner (who was not a particularly good swimmer) should swim to land, taking Sergeant King with them. The captain and Sergeant Reardon set off, each holding a hand of Sergeant King. They were eventually picked up by a fishing boat after swimming for three and a half hours. On getting Sergeant King aboard it was found that he was dead.
There is no doubt that Sergeant Reardon showed an outstanding example of unselfish courage in attempting to save the life of Sergeant King, even though this attempt was unsuccessful.
SOURCE: Airforce Canada website.
Courtesy of Chris Larsen
January 28, 1943
Sgt. William Mitchell Wright, R.C.A.F. of St. George, Missing, in the 269th. Air Force casualty force.
May 27, 1943
Promotions; K.T. White of St. George- Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant
December 30, 1943
Promotions; Section Officer, Mildred Spinney, of St. George, promoted to Flight Officer R.C.A.F. (W.D.)
April 20, 1944
Pauline E. Maxwell, Lynn, Mass (formerly of St. George) promoted to Captain. She is with the United States Army.
June 1, 1944
Tpr. Jed D. Lee, of St. George, injured accidentally in Italy when petrol caught fire.
July 13, 1944
Rifleman Lawrence Scullin, St. George, Wounded in action (Carleton-York).
Flt. Sgt. Jack Burton Patterson, St. George, Missing following operations over enemy territory June 28th.
July 20, 1944
Pte. Roland S. Patterson, St. George, Wounded in left leg by machine gun fire after fighting on the beachhead in Normandy on D-Day.
July 27, 1944
Lt. Joseph W. Reardon, St. George, recently received his commission overseas. Went overseas as Trooper with the 8th Princess Louise (N.B.) Hussars.
August 24, 1944
Pte. Maurice Frederic Thorne, St. George, Killed in action in France on Aug. 8th.
Pte. John McAleenan, Bethel, Killed in action Aug. 14th.
August 31, 1944
Pte. Omar Hooper, Back Bay, wounded in action in France.
Gnr. Walter L. Smith, St. George, wounded in action in France early August resulting in loss of leg.
Pte. Albion McNichol, L'Etete, wounded in France, Aug. 15.
September 7, 1944
Cpl. Merlin E. Frost, Bonny River, wounded in France, June 27th.
Gnr. Walter Leroy Smith, St. George, died from wounds received in France, Aug. 28.
September 14, 1944
Tpr. Charles Franklin McGrattan, St. George, wounded in action in Italy (5th Armoured Regt.)
Cpl. Roy McVicar, St. George, received a broken leg in action in Italy, July 25.
Sgt. Sherman Allen, St. George, wounded in right leg while in action in Italy.
September 21, 1944
Gnr. Arnold White, St. George, awarded 1939-1943 Star with the Canadian Army in Italy.
Gnr. Ed Mullins, St. George, awarded 1939-1943 Star with the Canadian Army in Italy.
Tpr. Ronald Robert McVicar, Mascarene, died in Italy Sept. 4 from wounds received that day.
Pte. Isaac E. Stewart, Elmcroft, wounded in Italy early this month.
September 28, 1944
Pte. Kenneth F. Thorne, of Canal, slightly wounded in action in Italy
Sgt. Granville Hector McLean of Bethel, severely wounded in action in Italy Sept. 14.
A/Sgt. Keith Fisher, Bethel, with Princess Louise N.B. Hussars, wounded in Italy.
Cpl. Joseph Wallace Reardon, St. George, Canadian Armoured Corps., promoted to Lt. overseas.
October 12, 1944
Pilot Officer John Sherwood Williamson, St. George, Missing.
October 26, 1944
Pte. Roy V. Nodding, St. George, killed in action, Sept. 15 in Italy.
Pte. Clifford Richard MacVicar, Mascarene, missing.
L/Cpl. Frank H. McAleenan, St. George, wounded and P.O.W. in France.
November 2, 1944
Rfmm. Donald Walter Stewart, St. George, Killed in Action, Sept. 25 in France
November 16, 1944
Spr. Harold Allen, St. George, died in France.
Gnr. Donald W. Maxwell, Canal, Killed in Action in Holland.
December 28, 1944
Tpr. C. F. McGrattan, St. George, wounded in Italy.
Sgt. Keith Fisher, Bethel, awarded Military Medal.
March 8, 1945
WO A. A. Drysdale, St. George, Wounded in action on Western Front.
Flight Sgt. Jack Burton Patterson, St. George, was reported missing, now presumed dead
April 5, 1945
Pte. Clifford R. MacVicar, St. George, wounded in Holland
April 26, 1945
Lieut. Joseph Wallace Reardon, St. George, Killed in action in Germany
Tpr. Donald Allen, St. George, Wounded in Action in Germany
May 10, 1945
Cpl. George Octave Wilcox, St. George, wins Military Medal
Sept. 20, 1945
Capt. William Russell Tippett, St. George, awarded Military Cross.
November 8, 1945
Sgt. Garnet William Eldridge, St. George, awarded D.C.M.
Back to St. George Military and Muster Rolls
©Charlene Beney