Elmer Franklin Kinsman

1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal

Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA)

WW II

Elmer was born in Windygates, Manitoba to James and Annie (Kroetsch) Kinsman on 13 September 1918. He was the eldest of six children and he spent the majority of his life in Windygates.

In 1941 at the age of 23 years he joined the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Winnipeg and began his training.

On 24 December 1941 Elmer married Edna Pearl Cowan. Very shortly after their marriage Elmer shipped out to England for more training. Eventually he was deployed to southern Italy as a Driver Mechanic and later to Belgium where he remained until Peace was declared in 1945.

Upon his return home Elmer and Edna farmed in Windygates for a number of years until he took up employment as a mechanic for Peter Wolf Garage in Morden. Later he was employed by W.E. Veals in Darlingford and then was self-employed in his own garage, Downtown Motors in Darlingford. During these years of farming and working as a mechanic, Elmer and Edna had two daughters, Judi Hodgson, Kaleida and Jacqui Tickner, Darlingford.

In 1963 he and his family moved from Windygates to Darlingford where they remained until they retired to Legion House in Morden.

Elmer was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion – Morden Branch 11.

He was very proud of his Military history. Two of his brothers also served, Harvey and Orval. Harvey was killed in action in Normandy.

Elmer passed away 17 December 2006 at the age of 88 and in 2012 his daughters donated some of his military records and service medals to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. On 11 September 2017 Judi and Jacqui, along with Cousin Harvey, went to France and visited the Centre to view the temporary exhibition “From Vimy to Juno”. Included in the exhibition were family artifacts of Edward and Frank Kroetsch, uncles to Elmer and WW 1 Veterans. Also included were previous donations of records and medals of Harvey Kinsman, Elmer Kinsman, Orval Kinsman and his wife Nora Snyder. All served in WW 2.

Information supplied by Jaqui Tickner.