Looking Back: Distinguished Flying Cross
With David McIver
100 years ago - Oct. 22, 1925
Driving on the highway south of town on the night of Oct. 17, Dr. S. Moyer saw a car stalled on the side of the road. He was slowly driving past it when Robert Johnston of Elrose, previously obscured by the auto, suddenly stepped out into Moyer’s path. The front wheel passed over Johnston’s head and a rear wheel over an arm. He was unconscious for a short time but came to and had only scratches on his face.
Herschel United Church opened on Sunday, Oct. 18. People filled it at morning and evening services and at its first fowl supper on Monday.
80 years ago - Oct. 18, 1945
Flt. Lt. Lorne Coulter, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Coulter, recently returned from the West Coast, had been promoted to squadron leader and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He’d not received an official notice nor citation, having learned the news in the daily press.
Cleland-district people honoured returning servicemen. They gave a chesterfield and footstool to Sgt.-Major A. Donald, a Gruen wristwatch to Leading Signalman Gordon Card, another Gruen watch to Mrs. N. Hopkins for son Pte. Les Hopkins, expected home soon, and a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. W. H. Niccolls in memory of son Pilot Officer Harry Niccolls, killed in an aircraft accident in 1940.
70 years ago - Oct. 20, 1955
Ads for Rosetown’s annual town-wide sale on Oct. 20-25 included ones for the Rexall one-cent sale at Gordon Drugs and items like wrought-iron tables at Graham Bros., refrigerators at C. E. Conlin’s, girdles at the Robinson store, and clothing, including Yaeger’s furs, at King’s Ltd.
John Michel Sr., “very active and enjoying excellent health,” celebrated his 93rd birthday on Oct. 14.
Senator Walter Aseltine shot a blue-winged teal near Milden on Sept. 10. The bird had been banded on Aug. 4 in South Dakota. Why was it flying north then, wondered editor John Pinckney.
The Rosetown Lions Club were presenting a play that evening at the community hall: Two for Company, starring Eric Christmas and Anna Reiser.
50 years ago – Oct. 22, 1975
Two 17-year-old Rosetown boys captured escapees from the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., penitentiary. On Oct. 13, an RCMP car stopped a truck for a routine check. The two convicts, Charles Albert Lacorde, 21, in for non-capital murder, and Donald James Savard, 29, in for Criminal Code offences, ran off, leaving a female passenger behind. The boys, who had been advised by police to report sightings of the escapees, spotted the pair and ended up taking them into their car. Seeking guns, they brought the convicts to a house where one youth obtained two rifles. He gave Lacorde an unloaded rifle and, as they returned to the car, loaded his own and ordered Lacorde and Savard to lie on the ground at gunpoint. Five RCMP officers arrived to find the youths kneeling on top of the escapees. The boys’ names were withheld at their request, and they were to receive official RCMP commendations.
A postal strike was announced that same morning.
30 years ago - Oct. 16, 1995
Diane Javens and Judy Ledding had won by acclamation seats on the Midwest Health District board.
A photo showed Mark Hendricks of Calgary, formerly of Milden, using a pitchfork to put wheat into a threshing machine while Curtis Jensen and Dan Martin helped in the background during Heritage Days at Milden.
20 years ago - Oct. 17, 2005
Due to declining membership, the Rosetown Health Care Auxiliary disbanded. Disbursement of remaining funds resulted in several donations. Photos showed members June Wickett, Mary Holliday and Vi Brown presenting cheques to Wheatbelt Centennial Lodge, Wheels for Wheels and nursing wing representatives.