Obituaries

A Civilian worthy of mention. Dorothy Arscott (Nurse)
My wifes professional mentor passed away at the age of 86 last month.
She was born in 1921 and at the outbreak of WW2 joined the Red cross serving in London as a nurse throughout the war she worked in East End docks area during the height of the blitz risking her safety to care for others.
A member of the red cross for over 60 years she was a stalwart fund raiser and champion of the nursing profession.

Most definitely worthy of mention!

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/pilot-who-strafed-rommel-7872.html
Honorary Colonel Charley Fox carrying the torch at 87 | The Maple Leaf - Vol. 10, No. 34 | National Defence and the Canadian Forces

Charlie Fox was killed today in a motor vehicle accident not many details are known
Charlie flew Spits with 412 Sqn was the guy acknowledged as the the one who bagged Rommel and was also tail end charlie in the last operational flight in the ETO in may 45. Charlie was Honorary Colonel of 412 sqn and very much of an advocate for acknowledgement of Polish Veteran deeds in the Northwest Europe and Italy. He was the colour man for our airshow and will be missed by me
A painting of the last patroll in the ETO

So sorry to hear this sad news, Neil. I know you were a friend of his, and it is hard to know he went that way.

TO

Sorry to hear this Neil.

Private Leo Major
MONTREAL–Family and friends of Leo Major describe him as a humble man who wore his battle scars with grace.

The residents of the Dutch city of Zwolle remember him as a hero.

Major is the only Canadian to have received two Distinguished Conduct Medals, the second highest award for gallantry in action after the Victoria Cross, for accomplishments in World War II and the Korean War.

He died in Montreal on Oct. 12 at age 87. His funeral was yesterday.

In 1940, at 19, the French-Canadian from a tough Montreal neighbourhood joined Le Régiment de la Chaudière.

After losing an eye to a grenade on D-Day on the beach in Normandy, he refused a medical evacuation. He claimed he could still sight a rifle with one eye.

But it was his bravery on a cold, rainy April night in 1945 that won him his first medal and the lasting respect of the people of Zwolle.

On that night, Major single-handedly liberated the city.

It was April 13, 1945, when Pte. Major and another French-Canadian soldier, Willie Arsenault, were sent to scope out the German presence in the town, about 120 kilometres northeast of Amsterdam.

Arsenault was killed by German machine-gunners. But Major, using a combination of luck, cunning and guts, was able to capture Zwolle from the Germans by killing them when he could and setting off enough grenades to create the impression a large Canadian force had entered the city. By early morning, they had fled the town.

Since Major died, the town hall flag in Zwolle has been flying at half-mast, a register has been opened so townspeople can record their condolences, and Lt.-Col. Henri J.L. Schevers from the Dutch embassy attended his Montreal funeral yesterday.

Betty Redemeyer's stepfather, Hendrik van Gerner, met Major that night. It began a lifetime of friendship as Major, in his later years, frequently travelled back to Holland to speak to schoolchildren about his experiences.

"Because of Leo, (the Allies) knew they didn't need to bomb the city, the Germans were gone," she said.

Redemeyer recalled Major's visits back to Zwolle with fondness.

"He could have been my grandfather," she said. "He was so sweet."

She added: "He will never be forgotten. To us, he really is a hero."

Major's son, Denis, said his father rarely spoke of his exploits. In fact, he only told his family in the late 1960s about some of what he'd accomplished.

"Even my mother didn't know," Denis said.

In the Korean War, Major won his second medal for bravery after leading a company to capture a key hill.

Rest well, Soldier.

The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 10/20/2008 06:08:49 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ga.—Col. Robert B. Nett, who won the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in the Philippines during World War II and later served in the Korean War and Vietnam, has died at 86.
Fort Benning spokeswoman Elsie Jackson said Nett died Sunday after a brief illness.

Nett, a New Haven, Conn. native who enlisted in Connecticut National Guard in 1940, was sent into combat on Christmas Island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was soon sent to Fort Benning and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1942.

Nett was a company commander in December 1944 when he led an assault on a Japanese stronghold. He was seriously wounded three times during the attack but killed seven enemy soldiers with his rifle and bayonet. He later rejoined his unit and fought on Okinawa.

He helped train South Korean soldiers during the Korean conflict and was an adviser to Vietnamese troops during the war in Vietnam.

After 33 years of military service, Nett retired and spent 17 years as a teacher in the Columbus school system.

He is a member of the Army Ranger Hall of Fame and received the USO's Spirit of Hope award.

Nett was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame in 2007 and the leadership hall at Camp Rell, built in 2004, bears his name.

"Colonel Nett served bravely and honorably throughout his distinguished career," Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said. "His contributions to his fellow soldiers and community are the hallmarks of dedication. Connecticut is justifiably proud of this native son."

Nett is survived by his wife, Frances, and a son, Dr. Robert Nett Jr.

A funeral service is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. at Fort Benning's Follow Me Chapel, with burial at the post cemetery.

There are now 99 living reciepients of the MoH, the lowest total since the Civil War.

to private Leo Major.

Obituaries
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• Funeral Home Directory Obituaries - Oct. 21, 2008


FOX, Charles - Suddenly as the result of an accident, on Saturday, October 18, 2008. Charles "Charley" Fox DFC, CD of London, Honorary Colonel of 412 Squadron of the Canadian Air Force, in his 89th year. Beloved husband of the late Helen (Doughty) (1995) and dear father of Jim (Cheryl) of Kitchener, Sue (Doug) of Thamesford and Adrienne (Bruce) of Budd Lake, N.J. Dear grandfather of Kristi, Todd, Steven, Ryan, Amy, Katie, Travis, Jeff and Jen, their spouses and step-grandfather of Dominique, Frank and Veronica. Also loved by six great-grandchildren. Sadly missed by three sisters-in-law, Mary, Barb and Christine; many nieces, nephews, and some very special ladies who were additional daughters to Dad. Predeceased by two brothers, Ted and George. Charley served his country as a decorated Spitfire Pilot during the Second World War. He ended his tour of duty in January, 1945 but became active in the London-based 420 Reserve Squadron after the war. On April 30, 2004, he was named Honorary Colonel of 412 Squadron, passionately devoting his time and energy to honour the veterans, past and present. Throughout his working career, Charley contributed 30 years to the success of Tender Tootsies and Lyons of London. He will be missed by family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched. Visitation will be at the Harland B. Betzner Funeral Home , 177 Dundas Street, Thamesford, on Wednesday from 7 - 9 p.m. and on Thursday from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at East London Anglican Ministries, 2060 Dundas Street East, London on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11 a.m. Rev. June Hough officiating. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be given to the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association, Stevenson Children's Camp, or the Children's Hospital Foundation of Western Ontario.

Believe he is the one creditted with shooting up Rommel

To both Col. Nett and Mr. Fox, rest well, soldiers, you've earned it!

another article same gent

Second World War fighter pilot Charles "Charley" Fox, the Guelphite who wounded one of Nazi Germany's most feared and respected military officers, will be laid to rest Friday.

A London resident for years, Fox was killed last Saturday in a car crash near Tillsonburg. He was 88.

Fox strafed and seriously injured the infamous Erwin Rommel during the Allied invasion of Nazi-held Europe in 1944. The field marshal was called the "Desert Fox" for his battle successes in Africa before defending fortress Europe from Canadian and other Allied warriors in the summer of 1944.

That's where fate brought him into the gunsights of the other Fox.

The spitfire pilot, raised in Guelph, let loose with a barrage of cannon and machine gunfire on Rommel's convertible car, which careened into a ditch, badly wounding him.

Rommel later died by his own hand after a plot to kill Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler surfaced and it was revealed he was involved.

Fox went on to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross for valour in the skies, including more than 150 strafing missions supporting Allied troops during the war.

His exploits included air support for the Allied fight to free occupied Holland, fierce fighting portrayed in the movie "A Bridge Too Far."

"Certainly the tributes are flowing in. It's somewhat overwhelming," son Jim Fox of Kitchener said yesterday.

It's ironic, he said, because his father never wanted the limelight, preferring to play a background role on history's stage.

The veteran pilot and his late wife Helen (nee Doughty) had three children: Jim, Sue Beckett of Thamesford, and Adrienne Black of New Jersey.

Born and raised in Guelph, Fox returned here after the war. He worked as a store manager and vice-president of a manufacturing company. The family moved to London in 1952.

He was writing a book called "Why Not Me" at the time of his death. Jim said his father believed he survived the many dangers of his war missions because he was destined to tell the story of Canadian veterans who sacrificed so much to defeat the enemy.

Jim said all his life, his father praised the efforts of Canadian soldiers in the Second World War, the current United Nations mission in Afghanistan and Canadian peacekeeping efforts around the world.

The family intends to complete the book.

Visitation at the Harland B. Betzner Funeral Home in Thamesford is 7 to 9 p.m. tonight and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow.

The funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the East London Anglican Ministries, 2060 Dundas St. E. in London. Interment follows at London's Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens

...wonder....is there any way to keep tabs on that book's progress? I'd LOVE to read it once its published...

I reckon PB might be able to keep tabs, Rabid.