Sergeant Cecil Alexander Younie

Cecil Alexander Younie was born at Howick on 27 July 1915, the son of John Roy Younie and Grace Elizabeth MacDonald. He attended Howick Consolidated School and worked in beekeeping with his father, also operating his own apiaries. His practical skills included carpentry and work on car, truck and tractor engines. He enjoyed baseball and swimming. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 19 November 1940, service number R-73954. After initial training at Toronto, he trained as an aero-engine mechanic at St. Thomas and served at No.3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary. He then joined No.6 Repair Depot at Trenton, working in its aircraft inspection section. He qualified as an Inspector AID at Malton in February 1944 and advanced to Sergeant in September 1944. His later assessments praised his technical proficiency, reliability and leadership. His service was entirely in Canada. During the war he received periods of farm leave to assist at Howick. In September 1945 his father and a community representative sought his early release because the apiaries required his help. He was honourably released at Lachine on 7 November 1945 and transferred to the RCAF Reserve, General Section, Class E. His awards included the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939–45, and he received War Service Badge number 434850. He returned to farming and married Gladys Luella Grills in 1946. Postwar records document assistance while awaiting farm returns and a later re-establishment payment for furniture. Younie died at North Georgetown on 3 September 1990 and was buried in Georgetown Presbyterian Burying Ground, plot NG5-19.

1915-07-27 — Born at Howick to John Roy Younie and Grace Elizabeth MacDonald. Primary attestation and corrected release medical record support this date; Howick, Quebec.
1920 to 1932 — Attended Howick Consolidated School and attained High School Leaving. Release counselling gives Grade XI completed in 1931 at age 16; school application extends attendance to 1932; Howick, Quebec.
1932 to 1940 — Worked in beekeeping with his father and operated his own apiaries; application gives employment from 1933, other history from 1932. Also had practical engine-mechanic experience on cars, trucks and tractors and part-time garage work; Howick, Quebec.
1940-08-03 to 1940-08-05 — Applied for RCAF ground duties, trade Aero Engine Mechanic Standard; interview and trade test at Montreal, with recommendation from Howick; Howick, Quebec; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-11-16 to 1940-11-18 — Medical examination: 69.5 inches, 136 pounds, expired chest 33 inches and expansion 2.5 inches. Low visual acuity was correctable with glasses; chest X-ray negative. Howick merchant L.J. Gebbie supplied a character reference; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-11-19 — Attested RCAF Special Reserve at Montreal as Aircraftman 2nd Class, Aero Engine Mechanic Standard, R-73954, for the duration of war. Single, United Church, no previous military service; father John Roy Younie next of kin; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-11-20 — Travelled by CPR from Bonaventure Station, Montreal, to No.1 Manning Depot, Toronto; taken on strength there. Vaccination and TAB inoculation recorded; Montreal, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-11-21 — Dental examination at No.1 Manning Depot: fair oral hygiene, prophylaxis required, existing restorations noted; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-11-26 — Completed anti-gas training at No.1 Manning Depot; Toronto, Ontario.
1940-12-06 — Transferred from No.1 Manning Depot to Technical Training School, St. Thomas, for aero-engine training, later described as 20 weeks; St. Thomas, Ontario.
1941-04-14 to 1941-04-26 — Aero-engine course result 85.1%; Group B eligibility dated 26 July in training report. Advanced to Aircraftman 1st Class and AEM Group C on 26 April; St. Thomas, Ontario.
1941-04-30 to 1941-05-01 — Left Technical Training School on 30 April and taken on strength No.3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, on 1 May; employed in F Flight, No.2 Squadron; Calgary, Alberta.
1941-05-20 — Occupational history: seven years in his Howick beekeeping business, High School Leaving, fluent English and plans to resume the same work after service; Calgary, Alberta.
1941-07-21 to 1941-07-28 — Seven days annual leave, permission for civilian clothes, address 1305 11th Street West, Calgary; Calgary, Alberta.
1941-07-26 — Advanced to Leading Aircraftman and Aero Engine Mechanic Group B; No.3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, Alberta.
1941-08-05 — LAC identification and fingerprints at No.3 SFTS: 70 inches, 150 pounds; left wrist scar recorded; Calgary, Alberta.
1941-08-28 — Master service record gives administrative strength at No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, from this date, preceding the recorded September departure from Calgary; physical transfer date remains distinct; Trenton, Ontario.
1941-08-30 — Entitlement to casual flying pay recorded; this does not establish operational aircrew qualification or overseas service; Calgary, Alberta.
1941-09-10 — Transfer from No.3 SFTS, Calgary, to No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton. A duplicate gives 14 September; master also gives an earlier administrative TOS of 28 August; Calgary, Alberta; Trenton, Ontario.
1941-10-01 to 1942-01-01 — AEM Group A test recorded as 81% on 1 October in training applications; formal Group A effective date 1 January 1942. One master copy reads 71%, retained as a copied-score variant; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1942-01-05 to 1942-01-22 — January leave entries were cancelled or deferred, with differing date ranges; not treated as leave actually taken; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-02-05 — Identification card and fingerprints at RCAF Station Trenton: LAC, 70 inches, 155 pounds, brown hair, hazel eyes, acne scars and right wrist scar. Uniform photograph recorded in supplied evidence; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-02-16 to 1942-02-23 — Seven days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-04-23 — Temporary duty to Kingston recorded in one service-record copy; another copy dates Kingston temporary duty 22 June, without enough detail to merge them into one continuous attachment; Kingston, Ontario.
1942-06-22 — Temporary duty to Kingston in duplicate service record; departure/return duration not supplied; Kingston, Ontario.
1942-06-24 to 1942-07-15 — Twenty-one days farm/special employment leave in service and gratuity records; a master copy instead gives 25 June–25 July. Dates and stated durations differ; Howick, Quebec.
1942-07-16 to 1942-07-27 — Eleven days leave in master record; duplicate ends 22 July, with inconsistent duration; Quebec.
1942-07-27 to 1942-08-17 — Harvest leave without pay; master gives 27 July–17 August, while duplicate gives approximately 23 July–12 August. Source day counts differ; Howick, Quebec.
1942-12-14 to 1942-12-16 — Three days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-12-31 to 1943-01-04 — Five days New Year's leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1943-04-22 to 1943-04-28 — Seven days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1943-06-03 to 1943-07-15 — Spring farm leave to work on J.R. Younie's farm, Howick. Certificate dated 5 July anticipates completion on 15 July; master/gratuity use 14 July and 42 days; Howick, Quebec.
1943-08-03 to 1943-08-14 — Twelve days special employment leave in service record; Trenton, Ontario.
1943-08-30 to 1943-09-05 — Seven days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1943-09-13 to 1943-10-11 — Twenty-nine days farm/harvest leave; gratuity treatment is amended and partly cancelled in copies; Howick, Quebec.
1943-10-20 — Subscribed $50 to Fifth Victory Loan, with six monthly $8.40 deductions; bond to father J.R. Younie at Howick; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1943-11-25 — Application for inspector training recommended: AEM Group A, five years high school, aero-engine correspondence study, beekeeping and garage experience, 26 months in AID section, E.R.S. at No.6 Repair Depot; Trenton, Ontario.
1943-12-06 to 1944-02-19 — Aircraft Inspection Course No.42, AID Inspectors' School, Malton: passed 356/500, 71.2%, fifth of 19, average, not suitable as instructor. Practical experience expected to develop his inspection skills; Malton, Ontario.
1943-12-15 — Left-foot X-ray at Christie Street Hospital showed no fracture, dislocation or other bone disease; reason for referral not established; Toronto, Ontario.
1943-12-31 to 1944-01-05 — Five days New Year's leave in duplicate record; overlaps inspector course, not assumed to cancel its attendance period; Malton, Ontario.
1944-01-13 — Spectacle prescription, apparent date, for constant wear; duplicated clinical prescription later appears in June ophthalmology report; Malton, Ontario.
1944-02-09 — Recorded as unfit for aircrew; flight-engineer application was cancelled. This is a training restriction, not a medical discharge; Ontario.
1944-02-16 — Passed LAC-to-corporal drill and ceremonial qualification, 60%, at AID Inspectors' School; Malton, Ontario.
1944-02-19 — Paid acting and temporary corporal appointments effective on the same date; qualified Inspector AID, Group A. A conflicting copied corporal year is controlled by the master and assessments; Malton, Ontario; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1944-04-12 — Personal assessment at No.6 Repair Depot: dependable, cooperative, good leadership and effective organization; recommended Temporary Corporal, no adverse conduct entries; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-04-19 — Duplicate service record annotates unfit aircrew on this date; retained alongside the 9 February medical entry without asserting another discharge or course completed; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-04-24 — Applied for $50 Sixth Victory Loan bond through Bank of Commerce, Howick, with acknowledgment to J.R. Younie; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-06-08 to 1944-06-13 — Scratched civilian glasses prompted ophthalmology referral and examination at RCAF Hospital, Trenton. Myopia and astigmatism; refraction improved vision to 20/15 in each eye, service spectacles recommended; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-06-23 — Non-medical farm-leave board: no complaints, fit for farm leave, category A4B; scheduled review on return. A left nasal polyp was noted without other significant findings; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1944-06-26 to 1944-08-21 — Farm leave without pay, 56 days in gratuity records; master ends 18 August and duplicate starts 21 June. Medical boards support departure 26 June and return review 21 August; Howick, Quebec.
1944-08-21 — Return-from-farm-leave board, no complaints, retained A4B and fit to return to duty; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1944-08-22 — Receipt and conformity of service spectacles certified; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-09-01 — Paid acting and temporary sergeant appointments effective together. Subsequent assessments and release documents support Sergeant, not an isolated copied Flight Sergeant reading; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1944-09-18 to 1944-10-02 — Fourteen days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-10-13 — Applied for $50 Seventh Victory Loan bond, subsequent pay assignments November 1944–April 1945, delivery through Bank of Commerce, Howick; Trenton, Ontario.
1944-12-29 to 1945-01-16 — Assessment rated trade proficiency superior, organization effective and loyalty dependable; ordinary promotion recommendation, no adverse conduct entries; command concurrence 16 January; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-01-12 to 1945-03-07 — Dental re-examination, restorations and periodontal scaling; exact tooth quadrants partly unclear; Trenton, Ontario.
1945-04-23 to 1945-04-24 — Eighth Victory Loan $50 bond applications and installment/payment instructions, delivery through Bank of Commerce, Trenton/Howick; Trenton, Ontario; Howick, Quebec.
1945-04-30 to 1945-05-06 — Seven days annual leave; Trenton, Ontario.
1945-05-01 to 1945-05-16 — Assessment rated trade proficiency exceptional, difficult work reliable, good leadership and harmony with colleagues; Temporary Sergeant effective 1 September 1944 recommended and command concurred; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-06-21 — Seventh Victory Loan $50 bond dispatched by registered mail to Canadian Bank of Commerce, Howick; Howick, Quebec.
1945-06-27 — Non-medical farm-leave board, no complaints, A4B, fit to proceed. Copies differ on scheduled follow-up, 31 July versus 31 December; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-06-29 — Personnel counselling: Grade XI, carpenter, bee farming chosen as civilian career, already trained; intended to purchase a farm with rehabilitation assistance and return to Howick; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-07-02 to 1945-07-31 — Spring farm leave without pay; source records state 29 days; Howick, Quebec.
1945-07-31 to 1945-08-28 — Further farm leave without pay, 28 days in records; Howick, Quebec.
1945-08-27 — Non-medical return-from-farm-leave board, no complaints, category A4B unchanged; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-09-11 — Father J.R. Younie of Runneymead Apiaries and W.F. Welch of Farmers' Telephone Company urged early release: father struggling with both apiaries, business held 800 colonies, seasonal bee work needed Cecil's return; Howick, Quebec; Trenton, Ontario.
1945-09-21 to 1945-09-24 — Voluntary release authorized 21 September to resume farming; statement dated 24 September. Seven days annual and thirty days special release leave granted; No.6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario.
1945-09-26 to 1945-09-28 — Clothing-return and release checklist entries at No.6 Repair Depot, dates partly uncertain; these are clearance steps before November discharge; Trenton, Ontario.
1945-10-01 to 1945-11-06 — Release/farm leave, address Howick; source gives 37 days in one copy and 30 special days in another; Howick, Quebec.
1945-11-06 to 1945-11-07 — Struck off No.6 Repair Depot 6 November, reported No.2 Release Centre, Lachine, 7 November; Trenton, Ontario; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-11-07 — Honourably released as Sergeant, Inspector AID, under KR(Air)195(17), completion of voluntary emergency service; transferred to General Section Reserve Class E. Primary certificate and signed release documents give 7 November; later amended gratuity/application records use 8 November; No.2 Release Centre, Lachine, Quebec.
1945-11-07 — Release medical board: no complaints, diagnosis nil, no hospital admissions recorded, chest X-ray negative, category A4B; fit for civilian employment. Dental treatment certified satisfactory; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-11-07 — War Service Badge General Service Class number 434850 received. CVSM confirmed by release certificate; medal card also marks War Medal, without clear clasp entitlement; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-11-07 — Release counselling recommended return to father's farm, excellent risk for VLA assistance, intended home Howick; referral to DVA Montreal; No.2 Release Centre, Lachine, Quebec.
1945-11-27 to 1945-11-30 — RCAF confirmed non-medical release and Reserve Class E; returned original will, birth/baptism extract and high school leaving certificate. Dependants' allowance at release nil; Ottawa, Ontario; Howick, Quebec.
1945-12-11 — War service gratuity $390 less $2 pay/allowance overpayment, net $388 in four $97 instalments. Final statement credits 1,586 qualifying days and 52 complete periods; amended copies differ. No overseas credit; Howick, Quebec.
1946 — Married Gladys Luella Grills, as recorded in existing CWVMP notes; married by his 20 December 1946 assistance application
1946-12-20 to 1946-12-30 — Applied at Howick for allowances while awaiting farm returns; supported wife, earned some odd-job income, no vocational training requested. Veterans' officer recommended approval on 30 December; Howick, Quebec.
1947-02-12 — District Rehabilitation Board, Montreal, authorized $70 monthly from 20 December 1946 through 31 March 1947, subject to conditions; handwritten note appears to refer to dairy farming; Montreal, Quebec; Howick, Quebec.
1951-02-28 — Final re-establishment credit payment $170.71 authorized for furniture, jointly payable to Younie and O. Barbeau; relationship to other payee unstated; Howick, Quebec.
1990-09-03 — Died at North Georgetown; buried at Georgetown Presbyterian Burying Ground, plot NG5-19, as recorded by CWVMP; North Georgetown, Quebec.