Rosetown remembers Flight Lieutenant Walter ‘Wally’ Ahrens

As Remembrance Day approaches, the community of Rosetown honours one of its own, Flight Lieutenant Walter Colin Ahrens, who gave his life serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War.

Born Sept. 30, 1920, in Rosetown, Walter ‘Wally’ Ahrens was the son of Frederick Charles and Emeline Louise Ahrens. He grew up on the family farm near Camberley and was educated at Camberley Public School and Rosetown High School, completing his matriculation in 1938.

During his school years, Ahrens was active in athletics, playing softball and football, and enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, and fishing with his siblings Donald, Lloyd, Jean, Amy Louise, Wilma Marion, and Dorothy Joyce. Following graduation, he worked on the family farm before enlisting in the RCAF in Saskatoon on Oct. 24, 1940.

Commissioned in November 1942, Ahrens first served with No. 197 Spitfire Squadron. He was later promoted to Squadron Leader and took command of No. 257 (Burma) Squadron of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, flying Typhoon aircraft in low-level attacks against enemy transports and artillery over occupied France and Germany.

On July 16, 1944, Ahrens died at the age of 23 when his parachute failed to open after he bailed out of his aircraft east of Caen, France, following a low-level attack on enemy motor transport.

He is commemorated at the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery in Seine-Maritime, France, and on page 235 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa. In Saskatchewan, Ahrens Lake bears his name. His decorations include the 1939–1945 Star, France and Germany Star, General Service Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.