Allister Grant Morden

1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal, Special Service Medal (SSM), Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)

Royal Canadian Air Force

Canadian Armed Forces

WW II

Allister Grant Morden was born in Morden, Manitoba 17 November 1921 to John Alvey and Bertha Marion (Von Paul) Morden. He had 2 siblings Eva (Berry) and George. Allister received his education at the Maple Leaf School and Morden High School.

World War 2 broke out shortly after his graduation and in 1941 Allister enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Allister was selected for aircrew and trained as a Navigator. Upon completion of training in 1942 he was transferred to England. Allister was serving with Royal Air Force, 115 Squadron in 1944. While on a bombing mission, over France, in June, his aircraft, a Lancaster, was shot down, by a German fighter, at Valenciennes, France. Of the seven crew, 5 were killed in the attack and only Allister and the pilot, Flying Officer Peter J. Anaka survived and bailed out. They landed separated but both evaded capture. Allister made contact with the French underground and was hidden for three months in Rumaucourt. The following quote is from the book, THE ONE HUNDREDTH AIRMAN by Reg Stead and Murray Straker page 254. George Simmler was an American pilot who had been shot down sometime before Al and was being hidden by the resistance and Reine’ Wiart was a member of the French Resistance.

“When the American forces liberated Rumaucourt in early September 1944, Al Morden refused to go with them, although his roommate George Simmler naturally did so. Rather, Al wished to contact the British or Canadian Armies and so Reine’ Wiart agreed to accompany him to Arras which was held by the British. From Arras Al was taken to Paris and then to Bayeux in Normandy from where he was repatriated to Britain and eventually returned to Canada.

Upon reaching home Al completed university and continued his career in the R.C.A.F., primarily as a navigator and later in air traffic control and administration. He retired in 1968.

Soon after the war, while umpiring a ball game, Al met and eventually married the catcher on one of the teams. The young lady, Dorothy Leonhardt, was born in Poplar Point, Manitoba, and was teaching in Portage La Prairie.

In the 50s while on a tour of duty with NATO forces in Europe, Al was able to take Dorothy to Rumaucourt to show her his old haunt. He was quickly recognized by his old resistance friends and, of course a party was held in his honour. The couple stayed in the village for a couple of days, even sleeping in Al’s old secret room in the Chateau.”

“Al also went to the U.S. Airforce Base at Leon in France where the Commanding Officer was Al’s old fellow Evader Major George Simmler.”

From Winnipeg the Morden’s were transferred to Zwiebruken, Germany where their children Pamela and Grant were born. Postings after Zwiebruken included Hamilton, Ontario, Goose Bay, Labrador, Baden, Germany and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. After retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces Allister eventually took a job with the Post Office in Morden and stayed until retiring in 1985. In 1974 Allister joined the ranks of “The Company”, an amateur theatre group in Morden. He performed in several plays, THE GIRL IN THE FREUDIAN SLIP, THE TOMORROW BOX and THE BLACK BONSPIEL OF WULLIE McCRIMMON. He very much enjoyed this part of his life and stayed with “The Company” until 1985. Allister was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for over 60 years.

Captain Allister Grant Morden passed away 27 May 2015 and is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Morden, Manitoba.

Information supplied by the family, Royal Air Force 155 Squadron history and from the book THE ONE HUNDRDTH AIRMAN by Reg Stead and Murray Straker.