Corporal Leslie Herbert Frier

Leslie Herbert Frier was born at Franklin Centre, Quebec, on 12 July 1916. He worked in farming and at Producers Dairy in Ottawa before joining the RCAF on 25 July 1941, following compulsory Army training earlier that year. Trained for motor-transport work, he advanced from Aircraftman Second Class to Aircraftman First Class and Leading Aircraftman, then became a paid temporary Corporal in October 1943. In Britain he served with Nos. 400 and 430 Squadrons and later with tactical-air-force headquarters and servicing establishments. He went to Normandy in June 1944 and served on the continent as groundcrew, including work as NCO in charge of motor-transport stores. Frier returned to Canada in July 1945 and was released at Rockcliffe on 7 September on completion of voluntary wartime service, transferring to the RCAF Reserve. His campaign medals included the 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and War Medal 1939–45. He hoped to work as a Civil Service mechanic and acquire a small holding. Leslie Herbert Frier died in Ottawa on 15 May 2004.

1916-07-12 — Born at Franklin Centre; repeated RCAF records and statutory declaration establish 1916 despite variant dates in other forms. [Franklin Centre, Quebec]
1923 to 1930 — Attended Franklin Centre Public School; educational standing recorded as high-school entrance/Grade 9 in later forms. [Franklin Centre, Quebec]
1930 to 1935 — Worked on a farm at Franklin Centre. [Franklin Centre, Quebec]
1935 to 1941 — Worked in farming for F. H. Caldwell at R.R. No. 3, Carp. [Carp, Ontario]
1940-12-10 — Army medical examination by Dr. Charles E. Daykin found him fit for Category A; address R.R. No. 2, Carp. [Carp, Ontario]
1941 — Worked for Producers Dairy in Ottawa as labourer/stableman; left to join the RCAF after approximately three months. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1941-01-10 — Enrolled for compulsory NRMA training as a Private, number C484027, with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa at No. 30 NPAM Training Centre. [No. 30 Training Centre, Brockville, Ontario]
1941-02 — In reply to a letter dated 17 February, stated that he had not joined an active-service unit. [Carp, Ontario]
1941-02-05 to 1941-02-09 — Hospitalized in isolation with German measles; discharged recovered. [No. 30 Training Centre, Ontario]
1941-02-08 — Course 3, thirty-day militia training, recorded as ending; later RCAF application gives end of training as reason for leaving the Army. [Brockville, Ontario]
1941-07-19 — Signed RCAF application for ground duties as mechanic or truck driver. Passed standard Motor Mechanic MT trade test; assessed very good and neat in appearance. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1941-07-19 — RCAF medical examination recorded height 67.5 inches, weight 134 pounds, chest at full expiration 32 inches and expansion 3 inches; medically fit for A4B. [90 O’Connor Street, Ottawa, Ontario]
1941-07-25 — Attested for wartime RCAF service as Aircraftman Second Class, R111795, and transferred from Ottawa Recruiting Centre to No. 1 Manning Depot. [Ottawa, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario]
1941-07-25 — Signed statutory birth declaration naming parents Herbert Frier and Charlotte Marian Morrison, both resident at Franklin Centre. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1941-07-26 — Occupational history recorded stableman employment with Producers Dairy, farming experience and an ambition for motor mechanics. [No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario]
1941-07-28 — Dental examination found fair oral hygiene with prophylaxis required. [No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario]
1941-08-07 to 1941-08-18 — Received several dental restorations. [No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto, Ontario]
1941-08-21 — Struck off No. 1 Manning Depot strength and transferred to No. 4 Wireless School. [Toronto and Guelph, Ontario]
1941-08-22 — Taken on strength at No. 4 Wireless School; another receiving record gives 23 August. [Guelph, Ontario]
1941-09-23 — An additional Guelph posting entry was explicitly cancelled. [Guelph, Ontario]
1941-09-27 — Struck off No. 4 Wireless School strength and transferred to No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School. [Guelph and Jarvis, Ontario]
1941-09-28 — Taken on strength at Jarvis, with a No. 2 PHU annotation in the record. [Jarvis, Ontario]
1941-10-02 to 1941-10-29 — Received temporary fillings, pulp caps and permanent restorations in upper incisors. [Jarvis, Ontario]
1941-11-01 — Struck off Jarvis strength and transferred to Composite Training School, Trenton. [Jarvis and Trenton, Ontario]
1941-11-02 — Taken on strength at Trenton. [Trenton, Ontario]
1941-11-03 to 1941-11-29 — Attended Motor Mechanic MT Course No. 14 at Composite Training School. Passed theory with 315/400, 78.75%, placed 48/68; instructor described him as a good driver, slow to absorb instruction and unsuitable as instructor. [Trenton, Ontario]
1941-11-29 — Advanced to Aircraftman First Class and classified Driver Transport, Group C; course/trade results support the classification. [Trenton, Ontario]
1941-11-30 — Taken on strength of No. 2 Service Flying Training School, Uplands, as AC1; receiving and movement forms carry nearby alternative dates. [Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario]
1942-01-23 — Character assessed good and trade proficiency satisfactory. Capabilities outside his trade included farming and plumbing; strict supervision and further observation before trade advancement recommended. [No. 2 SFTS, Uplands, Ontario]
1942-01-24 — Struck off Uplands strength to No. 1 Y Depot, Halifax. [Ottawa, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia]
1942-01-25 — Taken on strength of No. 1 Y Depot; duplicate forms carry 28 January. [Halifax, Nova Scotia]
1942-02-09 — Kit checked at No. 1 Y Depot, Windsor Street. [Halifax, Nova Scotia]
1942-02-18 — Dental treatment completed at No. 6 Clinic, No. 35 Company, Canadian Dental Corps. [No. 1 Y Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia]
1942-02-19 — RCAF returned an Army call-up order for training at Cornwall because he was already serving in the RCAF; the name on the call-up differed slightly. [Halifax, Nova Scotia and Cornwall, Ontario]
1942-02-23 — Military District No. 3 forwarded the returned call-up notice to National War Services. [Kingston, Ontario]
1942-02-26 — Struck off Y Depot strength for overseas posting; service computation begins overseas credit on this date. [Halifax, Nova Scotia]
1942-02-27 — Embarked from Canada and transferred to RAF transit/reception administration. [Canada to United Kingdom]
1942-03-01 — Advanced to Leading Aircraftman, Driver Transport, Group C; an isolated summary gives 1 February. [RCAF overseas transit]
1942-03-10 — Arrived overseas and posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. A later certificate gives 18 March; one duplicate date was read as October. [United Kingdom]
1942-04-06 — Transferred from No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre to No. 400 Squadron, subsequently documented at Odiham. [Odiham, England]
1942-06-02 to 1942-06-09 — Granted privilege leave with travel warrant. [United Kingdom]
1942-06-25 — Dental re-examination/treatment marked fit and completed. [United Kingdom]
1942-07-21 — Admitted to Odiham station sick quarters with non-specific urethritis and transferred the same day to No. 8 Canadian General Hospital. [Odiham and No. 8 Canadian General Hospital, England]
1942-07-27 — Discharged to duty after clinical cure, with three days' light duty prescribed. Repeated hospital records give 21–27 July; posting summaries give shorter dates. [No. 8 Canadian General Hospital, England]
1942-08-11 to 1942-08-18 — Granted privilege leave with travel warrant. [United Kingdom]
1942-11-10 to 1942-11-17 — Granted privilege leave with travel warrant. [United Kingdom]
1942-12-31 — Character assessed very good and trade proficiency satisfactory. [No. 400 Squadron, United Kingdom]
1943-01-05 to 1943-01-06 — Transferred from No. 400 Squadron to No. 430 Squadron; forms give 5 or 6 January and one summary gives 1 January. [United Kingdom]
1943-02-06 to 1943-02-15 — Granted seven days' privilege leave followed by 48 hours; initial day slightly indistinct. [United Kingdom]
1943-02-25 — Received dental restorations. [United Kingdom]
1943-03-09 to 1943-03-15 — A service summary records seven days' sick leave; it overlaps the subsequent documented measles hospitalization. [United Kingdom]
1943-03-10 — Admitted to Harwell station sick quarters for a feverish cold. [Harwell, England]
1943-03-12 — Measles developed and he was transferred to Abingdon Isolation Hospital. [Abingdon, England]
1943-03-29 to 1943-03-30 — Recovered normally apart from mild left conjunctivitis; discharged to his own unit on 30 March. A summary gives 31 March. [Abingdon, England]
1943-04-01 — Shadow-roster Corporal appointment recorded; paid temporary-Corporal promotion is separately established from 1 October. [No. 430 Squadron, United Kingdom]
1943-04-02 to 1943-04-08 — Granted seven days' sick leave with railway warrant. [United Kingdom]
1943-05-14 — RAF Medical Statistical Office sought details of his disposal after Abingdon measles admission. [Ruislip and Abingdon, England]
1943-05-27 to 1943-06-02 — Granted seven days' sick leave; start slightly indistinct on one form. [United Kingdom]
1943-06-23 — Special examination found him fit for all duties, Grade 1; left-index-finger flexion deformity recorded. Height 67 inches and weight 137 pounds. [No. 430 Squadron, Dunsfold, England]
1943-07-10 — Transferred from No. 430 Squadron to No. 129 Airfield Headquarters. Identification discs were reportedly lost in a fire at Ashford around this date. [Ashford, Kent, England]
1943-08-06 — Passed drill and ceremonial qualification for advancement to Corporal with 61%; examiner noted that he studied hard and knew drill well. [No. 129 Airfield Headquarters, United Kingdom]
1943-08-07 to 1943-08-15 — Granted seven days' privilege leave followed by 48 hours. [United Kingdom]
1943-10-01 — Promoted to paid temporary Corporal; motor-transport trade continued. [No. 129 Airfield Headquarters, United Kingdom]
1943-10-31 to 1943-11-08 — Granted seven days' privilege leave followed by 48 hours; an earlier summary gives a longer unclear October–November period. [United Kingdom]
1943-12-31 — Character very good and proficiency satisfactory in both assessed columns. [No. 129 Airfield Headquarters, United Kingdom]
1944-01-11 to 1944-01-19 — Granted seven days' privilege leave followed by 48 hours. [United Kingdom]
1944-01-15 — Authorized to wear the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Maple Leaf clasp; some summaries give 19 January. [United Kingdom]
1944-03-24 — Received dental restorations. [United Kingdom]
1944-04-06 to 1944-04-14 — Granted seven days' privilege leave followed by 48 hours. [United Kingdom]
1944-05-04 to 1944-05-06 — Ground-defence training completion entries recorded. Rifle, Sten and Bren training and range results were documented. [No. 129 Airfield Headquarters, United Kingdom]
1944-05-25 — Seen for right-elbow pain, initially termed lateral epicondyle periostitis, and referred through No. 52 Mobile Field Hospital for specialist examination. A duplicate gives 23 May. [United Kingdom]
1944-05-27 — Surgical specialist diagnosed right humeral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow; local procaine injection and massage gave immediate relief. [No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Bramshott, England]
1944-05-31 — Review found persistent localized pain after about two hours' relief; advised continuing work with reassessment if symptoms persisted. [Bramshott, England]
1944-06-25 — Embarked from the United Kingdom for continental service. [United Kingdom]
1944-06-26 — Disembarked in France. Award application records qualifying non-aircrew service in France and Germany from this date. [Normandy, France]
1944-07-27 — Transferred from No. 129 Wing Headquarters to No. 143 Wing Headquarters; character very good and proficiency satisfactory. [Continental Europe]
1944-08 to 1944-09 — Assessed for rectal bleeding, initially labelled haemorrhoids; surgeon found a small traumatic fissure and prescribed conservative treatment. The clinical and cover sheets differ between 9 August and 8 September. [No. 143 Wing, continental Europe]
1944-11-05 — Onset of coryza/cold and joint pains recorded; medical history gives 4 November and first-seen entries vary between 7 and 9 November. [No. 143 Wing Headquarters, continental Europe]
1944-11-11 to 1944-11-19 — A service card records privilege leave and 48 hours; the period overlaps medical investigations documented on other sheets. [Continental Europe]
1944-11-14 — Admitted to No. 52 Mobile Field Hospital for investigation of recurrent right-knee and ankle pain. [Continental Europe]
1944-11-16 — Investigation found marked bilateral pes cavus but no knee injury or arthritis; laboratory testing and sedimentation rate normal. [No. 52 Mobile Field Hospital, continental Europe]
1944-11-17 — Discharged following normal investigations; mild pain remained but no organic disease found. [No. 52 Mobile Field Hospital, continental Europe]
1944-12-30 — France and Germany Star application records a qualifying date with No. 143 Wing; the specific qualifying event is not identified. [France and Germany service area]
1944-12-31 — Character very good; proficiency superior in one column and satisfactory in the other. [No. 143 Wing Headquarters, continental Europe]
1945-02-21 — Transferred from No. 143 Wing Headquarters to No. 6441 Servicing Echelon, associated with No. 126 Wing, No. 83 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force. [Continental Europe]
1945-03-09 — Character good and trade proficiency satisfactory; advancement not recommended. [No. 6441 Servicing Echelon, continental Europe]
1945-04-22 to 1945-05-06 — Treated in No. 126 Wing medical facilities for gastritis, anorexia and post-meal discomfort. Dates vary between onset/first seen 22–27 April and chart admission 29 April. Gradually improved and discharged 6 May. [Continental Europe]
1945-06-08 — Seventh Victory Loan bond of $50 forwarded by registered mail to Mrs. Charlotte Frier, Box 108, Huntingdon. [Huntingdon, Quebec]
1945-06-09 — Character good and trade proficiency satisfactory; advancement recommended. [No. 6441 Servicing Echelon, continental Europe]
1945-06-14 — Transferred from No. 6441 Servicing Echelon to R Depot in transit; another summary gives 17 June. [RCAF R Depot]
1945-06-17 — Continuing-service declaration expressed desire for release and preference for service in the Western Hemisphere if continuing; date's precise application uncertain. [RCAF R Depot]
1945-07-08 — Repatriation movement to Canada recorded aboard Queen Elizabeth; physical sailing and arrival dates are not consistently distinguished in the summaries. [United Kingdom to Canada]
1945-07-09 — Taken on strength of No. 1 RCAF Repatriation Depot from overseas; overseas-service credit terminated on this date. [Lachine, Quebec]
1945-07-16 — Applied for discharge and transfer to the RCAF Reserve, intending residence at 262 Cambridge Street, Ottawa. [No. 1 RCAF Repatriation Depot, Lachine, Quebec]
1945-07-19 — Struck off repatriation-depot strength to No. 3 Release Centre. [Lachine, Quebec]
1945-07-19 to 1945-08-18 — Thirty-day leave authorized in repatriation orders; a service summary explicitly marks it cancelled, and a separate nine-day leave entry begins 22 July. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1945-07-20 — Taken on strength of No. 3 Release Centre. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-07-22 — Nine days' privilege leave recorded. [Canada]
1945-08-20 — Signed declaration that identification discs had been lost in a fire at Ashford around 10 July 1943. [No. 3 Release Centre, Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-08-21 — Release examination and internist referral documented appetite loss and post-meal pain; discharge chest X-ray negative. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-08-28 — Referred for gastrointestinal radiology; consultation appointment was also annotated for this date. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-05 — Gastrointestinal series showed no intrinsic disease of oesophagus, stomach or duodenum and no ulcer. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-06 — Internist diagnosed functional dyspepsia and recommended no category change. He related nervousness, nightmares and stomach symptoms to bursting shells and noise in Normandy from June 1944. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-07 — Discharged as Corporal on completion of voluntary wartime service under KR(Air) 195(17), transferred to RCAF Reserve, General Section, Class E. Service 4 years 45 days; intended address 262 Cambridge Street, Ottawa. Received General Service War Service Badge 145882. [No. 3 Release Centre, Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-07 — Release fitness assessment found him fit for heavy manual, heavy industrial and sedentary work, with no significant employment limitations. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-07 — Discharge counselling recorded Civil Service mechanic application, possible vocational training and interest in a small holding in anticipation of marriage. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-07 — Entitlement to the 1939–45 Star certified; award applications and card also established France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, CVSM with Clasp and War Medal. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-15 — Release clinical-board proceedings approved; recommended category remained A4B. [Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-17 — Release-document processing record completed after the effective discharge date. [No. 3 Release Centre, Rockcliffe, Ontario]
1945-09-22 — RCAF returned his original birth declaration, NPAM enrolment certificate and will; also notified Veterans Affairs of his completed voluntary-service release. [262 Cambridge Street, Ottawa, Ontario]
1945-09-26 — War-service-grant computation certified 1,506 qualifying service days and 1,230 qualifying overseas days, with no non-qualifying service. [RCAF records]
1945-09-28 to 1945-10-02 — Dependants' allowance enquiry recorded $25 monthly at discharge and no deductible overpayment. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1945-10-05 — Gratuity statement calculated $872.10 payable without deductions and re-establishment credit $682.50. [262 Cambridge Street, Ottawa, Ontario]
1951-02-19 to 1951-02-23 — Civil Service Commission requested service verification; Veterans Affairs confirmed service and honourable release. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1957-02-22 — Service summary confirmed Corporal rank and release on completion of voluntary service. [RCAF records]
2001-09-19 — Requested discharge papers/certificate from National Archives for personal proof of service; address Apartment 1505, 1025 Richmond Road. [Ottawa, Ontario]
2002-04-02 — Requested complete medical and service files, stating the November 2001 material was incomplete. [1025 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario]
2002-05-27 — Repeated the request for complete records in a letter with amended date; handwritten note sought documentation of France, Holland, Belgium and Germany service areas. [1025 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario]
2004-05-15 — Died in Ottawa, according to existing CWVMP biographical information. [Ottawa, Ontario]