Eighty Years Ago, Train Kills Two Airmen

by Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw

When we think about people killed in World War Two, the assumption is, they died in battle. For many, however, their death was not glorious or glamourous. An incredible number died in tragic accidents. The Rosedale Cemetery contains the graves of men who drown or were killed in a vehicle accident.

Some of the saddest stories are about men and women killed in Canada during the War was that they performed ‘regular’, support worker jobs. Often forgotten is the suffering faced by their families, having to adjust to the loss of the financial and emotional support of a loved one.

Eighty years ago the main mode of transportation was the passenger train. The ‘train’ could be deadly.

On Tuesday, October 2, 1941 the Moose Jaw Times Herald reported the deaths of two airmen posted at Number 7 Service Flying Training School at (Fort) McLeod, Alberta. The men, L/AC Winfield Murray McHeffrey, R/60770, of 11215 – 96 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, and L/AC Merrit Malone Wyman, R/62140, age 32 of Saskatoon, worked in the ‘Maintenance Flight’ at No. 7 SFTS as aero-engine mechanics.

The two men were walking with a friend, L/AC Alex Leonard of McLeod, eastward in the center of the CPR tacks near the (Fort) McLeod Station when two of the three were struck and killed by the east bound CPR passenger train. The men died at 16:20, on October 1, 1941. It is believed they were struck by the protruding ‘piston cowling’ of the locomotive.

Number 7 S.F.T.S. Air Base was south of the railway tracks and west of the CPR Station. It was common for Air Base personnel to walk along the railway tracks when going back and forth to the Base.

Information from the Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial indicates, L/AC W. M Wyman was born in 1909 and was an aero engine mechanic. Wyman was the son of Claude Elmer and Elizabeth Bertha Wyman and was married to Eva Kathleen (Bateman). They had two children.

L/AC Merrit Malone Wyman, R/62140 is buried in the Saskatoon (Woodlawn) Cemetery, at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Grave identification is: Block H. Lot 401. Grave 7.

L/AC Winfield Murray McHeffrey, R/60770, age 28, is buried in the Edmonton, (Beechmount) Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta. The Grave reference is Block 208. Grave 6.

Newspaper clippinghttps://www.cana-

da-rail.com/galleries/alberta/macleod6.jpg

Additional Information References

The source of much of this information is from the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. It is an incredible site maintained by the Government of Canada. You are encouraged to research ‘Fallen’ relatives at this site and post any photos or information to the site. Search for CVWM and enter the information. To Post, go through ‘contact’ links.

A volunteer organization named “Picture Me” posts information to the CVWM on a regular basis. It is the source of the following information describing the accident.

The following letters are from a Board of Inquiry and were obtained from the CVWM.

Protruding Piston Cowling The Old ‘McLeod’ Station looking west – Source unknown

In memory of those who had the courage and devotion to fight for our country. We will never forget your sacrifice.

306-692-5885 • mckarrs@sasktel.net 88-2nd Avenue North West Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7W8