Cecil Ronald Jury

Leading Aircraftman, Instrument Mechanic
Royal Canadian Air Force

Service Summary

Cecil Ronald Jury enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in April 1943 in Winnipeg at the age of 18. At the time, he had been farming with his father near Minnedosa, Manitoba. He initially entered training as Air Crew at Manning Depot in Brandon but did not pass the required medical examination. He then remustered and selected the trade of Instrument Mechanic.

After only a short period of basic training, Cecil was posted to Toronto for technical instruction, followed by further training at St. Thomas, Ontario. Upon completion, he qualified as an Instrument Mechanic and attained the rank of Leading Aircraftman.

Wartime Experience

Cecil was posted to No. 3 Repair Depot in Vancouver, which served as a major Royal Canadian Air Force repair and maintenance centre for British Columbia.

He later served at Sea Island (Vancouver Airport), Pat Bay near Victoria, and Port Hardy. During his postings, he worked on a wide variety of aircraft, including:

• Spitfires

• Mosquitoes

• Dakota DC-3 aircraft

• Blenheims

• Hurricanes

• Stranraers

• Canso flying boats

• Liberators

As the war in Europe neared its end, Cecil was involved in removing and storing aircraft instruments from planes no longer required for active operations.

He volunteered for service in the Pacific theatre and completed further training, but those postings were cancelled following Victory in Europe. He was serving in Abbotsford on V.E. Day in May 1945.

Cecil was discharged in Vancouver on July 12, 1945.

Post-Service Life

Following the war, Cecil returned to Manitoba and assisted with harvest before studying Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.

He later worked seasonally in farming, travelled extensively across Canada and the United States, worked in a sawmill in British Columbia, and on a government dredge on the Fraser River before returning permanently to Minnedosa to farm full-time.

In 1949, Cecil married Leona Hutton of Bethany, Manitoba. Together they farmed the former Bob Moffat farm and raised two sons.

Cecil was deeply involved in church, civic, and Legion service. He served on Town Council, the hospital board during planning of the Minnedosa Personal Care Home, and in many Royal Canadian Legion leadership roles including:

• Branch Secretary

• Branch President

• Zone Commander

• District Secretary

He was also involved in the Legion Gardens project and became a Life Member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #138.

Cecil and Leona loved to travel, visiting much of Canada, the United States, Hawaii, Europe, and China. They also spent many retirement years in Victoria while maintaining strong ties to Minnedosa.

Leona passed away in 2014. Cecil passed away on December 30, 2019. Both are interred at Boyd Cemetery, Bethany, Manitoba.

Medals & Honours

• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

• War Medal 1939–45

• Canadian Centennial Medal (1967)