Over 1.1 million Canadians served in the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. While records from the First World War are more accessible, records of individuals who served in the Second World War are restricted under the Access to Information and Privacy Acts. The only World War II records available to the public today are those related to individuals who lost their lives in the conflict, offering a poignant glimpse into the profound impact of the war on Canadians.
A list in the Vernon News from March 5, 1942, reveals that at least 616 men from Vernon were serving overseas—a number that would be even higher if it included those in non-combat roles and women. Many members of the Okanagan Indian Band also served abroad, with their names included among this list.
Edward James Tronson (1914-1972) served overseas in World War II as one of five Tronson brothers who enlisted. According to Q’Sapi: A History of Okanagan Peoples as Told by Okanagan Families, their mother, Louisa, was so worried for her sons that she passed away just four months before the war ended. Thankfully, all her sons returned safely. Following the war, Tronson became a dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion, where he served for many years.
Leslie Sparkes (1913-1942) had served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for five years when he tragically died in 1942 in a crash caused by engine trouble on a Ferry Command bomber near Montreal, en route to Labrador. The accident claimed the lives of fifteen others, including two civilian crew members, nine RCAF airmen, and four civilian passengers, with Sparkes being the only individual from British Columbia. A group service was held in Montreal to honor the victims, and later, Sparkes was commemorated with full military honors at a funeral in Vernon.
Gunnar Robert Sheffield (1923-1943) was just 19 years old when he died of pneumonia at Camp Debert in Nova Scotia. Before enlisting in 1942, he had been working at Bulman’s cannery. His passing left his parents and three siblings grieving, including his sister Catherine, who was serving as a private in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.
Tank gunner William Swift (1905-1944) was killed in action in France when his tank was struck by a shell. He was laid to rest in the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France. For his service, he received the 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, all of which were sent to his mother in Vernon. At the time of his death, Swift’s brother Jeff was also serving overseas in Italy.
Thankfully, like Tronson, many Canadians who served in various roles returned home after the conflict. For both those who came back and those who did not, we will remember them.
Archives Manager, Gwyneth Evans