The Times Advocate, 2004-09-01, Page 5Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Exeter Times -Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
I OYEARS AGO
September 1, 1994 - After a
couple of years of searching, Rob
Essery of Centralia found the spot
in France where his uncle First
Lt. Don Newcombe piloted a P-47
Thunderbolt plane that was shot
down. Newcombe's body was
buried in Trois Mats and then
moved to the American Cemetery
at Omaha Beach where 9,386
other service men are buried.
Steve Dubarry of Huron Park is heading back to
Hamilton, New York for his second hockey season
with the Colgate University Red Raiders.
20YEARS AGO
August 30, 1984 - Fears of a strike at Fleck
Manufacturing at Huron Park were laid to rest this
week when workers accepted a new contract offer.
The new pact affects about 500 union workers
compared to the 68 who were employed when the
firm was hit by the five month strike of 1978.
25YEARS AGO
August 31, 1979 - Dashwood Industries and
Alderdice Farms of Kippen have received plaques
for their excellent participation in this summer's
Canada Manpower Student Placement program.
The Blanshard Telephone System took its first
step in the electronic digital world. In the wee hours
of Saturday morning, the cut -over to the new equip-
ment was made at the system's main office in
Kirkton.
Frank Funston who is completing a 26 year stint
with the Canadian Armed Forces has been named
manager of the Stephen Township Arena at Huron
Park.
40YEARS AGO
August 30, 1964 - The aftermath of a wild and
wooly Labour Day weekend in Grand Bend showed
itself Tuesday morning when 128 cases were
brought before Magistrate William Pearson.
The top graduates of last year's class at SHDHS
have been awarded entrance scholarships to the
University of Waterloo. Sandra Jory of Kirkton and
Dave Buchanan of Hensall both plan to take courses
in engineering.
45YEARS AGO
September 2, 1959 - Mr. Arthur Gaiser of Shipka
has purchased the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce
Biggart at the corner of Andrew and John streets.
He will move his family in at the end of the month.
Jim Tomlinson is attending Beal Technical School
in London taking a course in electronics. Simon
Nagel has also returned to his studies at Beal.
Inspection of the new ship, the H.M.C.S.
Courtenay was the highlight of a trip to Hamilton by
councillor Ross Taylor, Mrs. Taylor and son Doug.
The couple's eldest son Chief Petty Officer Kenneth
Taylor is on the Cootenay.
Miss Alexia Lostell who attended a summer
course at the University of Toronto has taken a
position on the staff of Glencoe High School.
55YEARS AGO
September 2, 1949 - Enrolled at Victoria Hospital
in London for nurses' training are Janet Kestle and
Joanne McCurdy.
Jack Drysdale of Hensall has won a $5,800 pre-
fabricated cottage at the CNE. In June he won a
complete set of living room furniture at a draw
staged by the Exeter Legion.
80YEARS AGO
September 3, 1924 - Mr. R.E. Pooley had a very
successful auction sale of his effects on Saturday
realizing $2,300.
Mr. Maurice Horney has returned to Toronto to
resume his studies at the Medical College.
1 I OYEARS AGO
August 30, 1894 - The garden party held at the
home of Mr. Wm. Hazelwood in Kirkton was well
attended. Proceeds amounted to $18.
On the Exeter markets wheat is selling for 52
cents a bushel, apples are 85 cents a bag, potatoes
are 40 cents a bag, eggs are eight cents a dozen
and geese and ducks are going for seven cents a
pound.
Charles Abbot is starting a new evaporating fac-
tory in Centralia this week and is prepared to evap-
orate any and all kinds of fruit.
The Crediton flax mills have shut down owing to
the dryness of the weather and workers were
unable to rot the fibre. Mr. Sweitzer was forced to
shut down his Shipka flax mill for lack of water.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES CO-ORDINATOR
Exeter Branch Library:
The Summer Reading Program at Exeter Branch
Library was a great success this year. Sixty-eight chil-
dren signed up for three sessions every Friday for six
weeks. They enjoyed stories, games, and crafts on the
theme "Fire Up Your Imagination."
At the wrap-up party sponsored by Exeter Lioness's
in Victoria Park, 80 people enjoyed hot dogs, cold
drinks and Tim Bits, along with goodies donated by
parents. The program generated lots of favourable
comments from all participants. Congratulations to stu-
dents Beth and Natalie for a job well done
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Shuffle Board: Wed., Sept. 15, 2004 at 12 p.m., come
and enjoy a pot luck lunch and have a game of shuffle
after. For the rest of the season, shuffleboard will be
held Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00 — 3:00 p.m.
Legion and non -Legion members welcome.
Membership fee $15.00.
Exeter Legion Auxiliary Bingo: Thursdays at 7:00
p.m. September 2,16, & 30. Mark your calendar for
these dates and help support a local charity.
Seniors' Monthly Meeting: Tuesday, September 7 at
6:00 p.m. Make arrangements for the delicious pot
luck supper with lots of desserts. Entertainment and
fellowship to follow the meal
New members welcome.
Annual Wellesley Apple Butter & Cheese Festival:
September 25 - Come for the Pancake Breakfast,
crafts, meats, cheeses, market, etc. Smorgasbord din-
ner, farm tours, cider mill tours. Apple fritters &
dumplings; sausage/schnitzel on a bun; chicken BBQ;
Local entertainment. Quilt auction, Horseshoe tourna-
ment, antique cars & tractors.
Huron Pioneer Threshers Show: September 11 - 13.
Huron Pioneer Threshers Show to be held at Blyth.
Contact Marian Hallahan (519) 523-9330 .
Centralia/Huron Park Lions Bingo: September 12.
The Centralia/Huron Park Lions Bingo will be held at
the South Huron Rec. Centre on Sunday, September
12, 2004. Doors open at 12:00 p.m. and bingo starts at
1:00 p.m.
News & Events for the
Exeter Legion Branch 167
Royal Bank Employee Eleanor Ritchie presented the
Royal Canadian Legion with a cheque for $500.00 on
behalf of the RBC Financial Group. Eleanor and her
husband Mike organize and run the Youth Dart League
at the Exeter Legion. The cheque from RBC Financial
Group Employee Grant Program is the bank's way of
contributing to charitable organizations for whom
employees volunteer. Eleanor also does volunteer work
for the Exeter Legion Ladies Auxiliary and is serving
her second term as President.
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Eleanor is seen presenting the cheque to Rick Smith,
treasurer of the Exeter Legion Br. 167
Veterans and wives of veterans, if you have problems
with issues regarding health, pensions, veteran's ser-
vices etc. please contact: Legion Service Officer Norm
Eveland @ (519) 234-6426.
Membership - This is a reminder that your 2005
membership starts in September 2004. Fees are
$38.00 until November 30, 2004 and $43.00 starting
December 1, 2004.
Men's Dart Players Required - More men are
required to play darts at the Legion on Wednesday's
nights at 8:00 p.m. For more information contact: Bob
Reynolds (519) 235-2309.
While on a car trip, the old couple stopped at a road-
side restaurant for lunch. The old woman left her
glasses on the table, but didn't miss them until they
were back on the highway. By then, they had to travel
quite a distance before they could find a place to turn
around. The old man wasn't happy about the delay
and complained all the way back to the restaurant.
When they finally arrived, as the old woman got out of
the car to retrieve her glasses, the old man said,
"While you're in there, you may as well get my hat to."
Lest We Forget:
Henry Gordon Anderson:
Henry Gordon Anderson was born on April 5, 1912
on the Thames Road, Usborne Township.
He attended Exeter High School, and after complet-
ing grade 13 and upon graduation, he
continued on with his education. He
attended Western University in London
where he studied Arts and Geology.
After he graduated, he traveled to
Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario
when he accepted a position with Kerr
Addison Gold Mines, as a mining engi-
neer. He was employed for six years
before joining the Canadian Air Force.
He then traveled to North Bay and
enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air
Force. He received his initial training
at Trenton Air Station, which is locat-
ed near Trenton, Ontario. He then was posted at
Crumlin Air Station near London, Ontario, then his
posting was at Camp Borden. He graduated with the
top ranking honors of his class with his Wings and
commissioned as a Pilot Officer.
After graduating Pilot Officer Henry Gordon
Anderson was posted overseas, arriving in Bristol
England on September 16, 1941. Bristol is located on
the British Channel, in the south west part of England.
Upon arrival at the Bristol Air Station, he was attached
to the famous Canadian Bomber Command of Bristol.
His Squadron Leader was "Moose" Fulton of British
Columbia. Henry Gordon Anderson was the pilot of
many Vickers Wellington Bombers, which tried to
intercept the flight of the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and
Prinz Eugen, while they were traveling through the
Straits of Dover, in their flight from Brest, France to
the safer anchorage of Keil and Norway. It was a terri-
ble day for flying with rain, sleet, snow and clouds.
Visibility was very poor. To bomb the ships, three lay-
ers of fog banks had to be traversed, and the ceiling
was only 88 feet. The last word received from the radio
was that they had sighted one of the ships, and they
were going on a bombing run. Nothing was heard from
the crew after that last report.
Rumors flying around at that time stated none of the
members of that Wellington Bomber, which Henry was
the pilot of, had ever been found. The co-pilot was Pilot
Officer Ferdinand Vezina from Shawinigan Falls
Quebec. The other four crew members were from St.
Thomas, Leamington, Hamilton, and Whitby.
Pilot Officer Henry Gordon Anderson was killed in
action over the Straits of Dover on February 12, 1942
at the age of 29. His name has been honoured on the
Runnymede Memorial. The Runneymede Memorial
overlooks the Thames River on Coopers Hill at
Englefield Green between Windsor and Engham on the
A308, four miles from Windsor, England.
Pilot Officer Henry Gordon Anderson was the son of
James and Louise Anderson of Thames Road, Usburne
Township. At the time of his death, Henry, was sur-
vived by his father James Anderson, a brother James
E. from Usbourne Township and two sisters Mrs.
Theron Creery of Usbourne Township and Mrs. Glen
McLean of Kippen Ontario.
Next Week Wilbur John Rowe WW1
Jim Bearss
FALL COLOURTOUR
Jim and Dorothy Chapman are hosting a six -days fall
colour tour to Washington and area Oct. 18-23, 2004.
All transportation, accommodation, admission fees, 5
dinners, five breakfasts, taxes and gratuities are
included in the cost. The trip, planned by RTO/ERO is
for the young at heart seniors and near seniors and
everyone is welcome. Sign up by Sept. 3, 2004.
Highlights include; a visit to Corning Glass, Gettysburg
Civil War Battlefield, a day in Colonial Williamsburg, a
guided city tour of Washington with time to visit the
Mall, the Smithsonian, and Arlington National
Cemetery. A guide will provide a glimpse of the lifestyle
of George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon
and there is an evening ghost tour of historic York
Town. We'll visit Monticello, the 200 year old estate
designed by Thomas Jefferson, and then drive along
the scenic Skyline Drive on our way to visit the beauti-
ful Luray Caverns and there's more that we haven't
listed. Jim is also hosting an eightday tour to Branson
Missouri, America's live entertainment capital on Nov.
16-23. Enjoy SEVEN top shows, delicious meals, and
sightseeing extras. For further details and registration
forms for either tour call Jim Chapman at 235-1644
See PERSPECTIVE page 6