Born 27/10/1920 in Merlin, Raleigh Twsp., ON. the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. and Ella Fay Pierce of Merlin, sister to Tpr. Charles Douglas A59795 (Killed 18/07/1944), also sisters June (Atkinson), Irene (Halliday), Lynn, Ethel and Murray.  Beryl was educated at Merlin Public School and the Chatham Vocational School before being employed by the T. Eaton Co. in Chatham as a cashier.

She enlisted in the RCAF Womens Division 2/09/1943 in Toronto, ON reporting to Rockcliffe, ON. the 10^th of September to begin her basic training. She was posted to No. 4 Training Command 6/11/1943 at Calgary AB. Then back east to No. 1 Training Command, Toronto 4/07/1944 as a teletyper. From Toronto, Beryl was posted to Canadian Joint Staff – Washington DC., USA. ‘on loan’ to the Royal Australian Air Force in Nov. 1944.

The MS 2 March, 44 reported that AW1 then stationed at Calgary AB. was spending a two week leave at her home in Merlin. The MS 13/07/44 reported that AW then stationed at RCAF-Calgary for some time was to be transferred to RCAF-Toronto.   The Merlin Standard 20/07/44 reported That AW1 Pierce of No. 1 Training Command RCAF-Toronto was spending a week with relatives in Merlin and friends in Detroit, Michigan. 

From Toronto Beryl was posted to Canadian Joint Staff – Washington DC., USA. ‘on loan’ to the Royal Australian Air Force in Nov. 1944.

Returned to Canada 28/12/1945 she was posted to Canadian Air Force HQ., Ottawa as a teletype Operator in the Signals Branch. She was finally discharged from the RCAF at Lachine, PQ. 30/08/1946.

After the war she married her first husband George Cunningham and they had three children Cheri, Bill and Kirk. Her second marriage was to Gus Coppers and they had two children Gus Jr. and Kim.

Ethel passed away 6 April, 2005. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

ZCWI-RH, MD-RH, BFL-B, PA/GWI, RCLM, J.Currie-notes

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