James Ronald Vincent

J 'Ronald' Vincent was the son of John McCallum Vincent and Jennie Blanche Smith and according to his obit, the call of the blue open skies was too much to resist and he set sail for England to join the Royal Air Force just before WWII and unfortunately died there.

courtesy of Frank Grant - Find A Grave

Medicine Hat Daily News, Mon, 2 May 1938

James Ronald Vincent was born in Calgary, Alta, in December, 1911.  Along with the family, he came to Medicine Hat in 1920, took his High School course here, and for a number of years was a clerk in the local Dominion Bank branch.  In 1936 he was transferred to the Moose Jaw branch. 

Ronnie, however, was too mechanically inclined, loved the open so much, and was too active to remain in an indoor job, so in August of 1937, he went overseas and joined the Royal Air Force.  He loved that experience and felt that aeroplane flying was part of his very nature.  He was getting to like Old England, and was establishing a great connection of friends over there.  His letters home drew vivid and charming pictures of his experiences.  His particular chum was Brock La Pointe, from Victoria, BC, apparently a young man very similar to himself.  The two of them together had been very successful in their training and had reached the senior period of their flying instruction. 

On Thursday morning, April 7th, they took out a large plane and went on as usual but had not gone many minutes which they were observed to be in difficulties; their engine failed to function; they were not high enough to permit of readjustment, and soon their plane crashed to the ground.  Brock La Pointe was killed instantaneously; Ronald was badly injured, never fully regained consciousness and died peacefully in the Cottage Hospital, Malmcebury, Wiltshire.  Full particulars in very sympathetic letters have been received. 

The funeral was conducted on the Saturday following by the chaplain and the local Presbyterian Minister in the quiet little cemetery of Hullavington, surrounded by the spring beauty of Old England in Wiltshire.  A variety of pictures of the cemetery, the gathering at the service and the general situation will be received in due time.  The news of this tragedy came as a very sever shock to the family here and to the whole community of Medicine Hat. 

A Memorial Service was held in Fifth Ave United Church on Sunday morning, May 1st, conducted by the Minister Rev J W Bainbridge, Ronald, along with his family, was quite active in this church.  He attended the Sunday School for years was a member of the boys' groups, later became an usher, and sang in the choir.  The minister delivered a comforting and very suitable message based on Psalm I: 1 to 3.  Mr Harry Leece, a fellow choir member, sang Ronnie's favorite hymn as a solo, "Some Day We'll Understand." 

His father, Mr John M Vincent, predeceased him in February, 1933.  He is survived by his mother, one brother, John Smith and one sister, Frances Aileen.  The whole community extends its sympathy with the family in this tragical bereavement.