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A Sergeant and a Sapper of the Royal Canadian Engineers, Canadian Army Overseas, have been commended for attempting to avert injury to Can adian Infantry personnel when an ex plosion threatend during night assalt exercises in England, May 19th last. They are: Sergeant William McGre gor Hunter, 32, of Swan River, Man., and Sapper John Samuel Fox, 27, of Carman, Man. Sergeant Hunter was a stoker em ployed at Swan River before being taken on strength of the Canadian Active Army on September 19, 1939 as a Sapper. He was born at Killarney, Man. in 191] and his wife, Mrs. Nova Hunter resides at Swan River. He pro ceeded overseas as an acting lance-or poral on August 21st, 1940 and event ually rose to his present rank. The citation covering the award of the Commendation is: “During 34 night assault exercise, May 18th, 1944, on the River Trent at about 1 39 a. m. Sergeant Hunter, assisted by Sapper Fox was throwing explosive charges into the water to simulate battle noises. From a thrown slab of TNT the the lighted fuze, detonator and prim er became detached and fell into the grass very close to boxes containing 30 pounds of explosives. “Assaulting infantry were passing nearby and both men realized that the primer might detonate the boxes of explosives in the stock pile, with serious consequences to infantry per sonnel. Showing complete indifference towards their own safety Sergeant Hunter and Sapper Fox attempted to locate the burning fuse in the long grass, but were unable to do so in the safe distance. Before this could be completed the primer exploded near Sapper Fox seriously injuring him in the face. These two men risked their lives by attempting to avert posssible danger to others”.
Newspaper Details
Swan River Star
Swan River, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Sep 07, 1944
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Glen M.
