Editors note: This story was submitted by Gord Radcliff, son of Wing Commander Stanley Roberts Radcliff who resides in Clearwater, B.C. Canada
There are many war stories for World War II but here is one Canadian war story that parallels in some ways the novel and the Hollywood movie “Saving Private Ryan”.
It all began in Elbow, Saskatchewan in 1910 with the birth of Francis Gordon Radcliff, in 1913 Stanley Roberts Radcliff and in 1920 Kenneth Edward Radcliff to Mr. Henry Francis and Laura Elizabeth Radcliff.
Their father and mother and five other female siblings helped in the family Radcliff Hardware Store during their formative years. The family soon moved from Elbow to Chemainus, British Columbia to escape the prairies and enjoy the comforts of a small seaside community during the Depression of the 1930s.
Prior to World War II, Gordon worked in the Victoria Sawmill’s Chemainus Division while Ken and Stan were in high school. Living in Chemainus had its high and low points in the early 30s. But when conscription rolled around, all three boys decided to join the Royal Canadian Army and Air Force.
Francis Gordon Radcliff, (known as Gordon), Ken and Stan knew where their real calling was in life.
Like so many young men during this beleaguered time in history (1939 -1945) there was a call for adventure. But in actuality, the Radcliffs were known as a very loyal and patriotic Canadian family.
The parallel to Saving Private Ryan is this…
In the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, a small group of American soldiers is deployed overseas during WWII to locate Private James Ryan so he can return home safely after his three brothers were killed in battle.
The interesting fact is that there were many families in Canada and throughout the world who had multiple soldiers in a single family. The dread to these parents was that all their sons would be killed if they were sent off to fight in the war.
Kenneth Edward Radcliff commenced his military career with the First Battalion Canadian Scottish Regiment in 1939 and then transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He graduated as a Warrant Officer Class 2 and pilot in 1942. Later that year Ken left for active duty overseas. While on a mission flying over the North Sea near Holland, his Wellington aircraft was shot down and he was killed on April 29, 1943. His body along with his flight comrades was never recovered. His name is listed on the Runnymede War Memorial in Englefield Green, Runnymede, Surrey, England.
Francis Gordon Radcliff started his military career in 1939 with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, Royal Canadian Army and worked his way up through the ranks to Lieutenant by 1944. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Gordon and his men stormed Juno Beach and successfully made their way inland 1 kilometres through German machine gun cross-fire. Unfortunately, while making their way inland, he was killed in action in the Bur du Mer area, on June 6, 1944. His remains are interred at Beny-sur-Mer, Canadian War Memorial Cemetery, Reviers, France.
Stanley Roberts Radcliff started his military career in 1937 and was promoted to Petty Officer, Pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944. As luck would have it for whatever reason, military or otherwise, he was detained in Ottawa for the duration of the war until its end on Sept. 2, 1945. Stan never had to leave his family and serve overseas. This action by the Royal Canadian Air Force spared the potential loss of all three sons to war for his father and mother. Stan’s whole career was with the Air Force, and he retired in 1965 as a high-ranking Wing Commander. Stan died on February 22, 1981, with his ashes being spread over Hole #9 at the Royal Victoria Golf Club, overlooking Juan de Fuca Strait, (now named the Salish Sea) in Victoria, B.C. He left behind his wife Alberta (deceased 14 years later), five children and numerous grandchildren.
Luck Favours the Brave. “fortuna adiuvat fortes”. As family tradition would have it, the Baby Boomer Radcliffs that followed post WWII were named Gordon Roy, Richard Stanley and Kenneth Francis Radcliff in honour of their father and their two uncles.
