Leading Aircraftman Wesley Thomas Cairns

Before enlistment Cairns had worked as a farm labourer for about two years, as a machine operator for Broadway Amusements for about two years, and as a truck driver for W.R. Graham of Ormstown for about eight months. He had completed Grade IX and left school in 1938 at age 17 to work on a farm. His post-discharge employment plan was preferably truck driving, with the longer-term possibility of starting a business with his brothers. He married Hazel Allen after the war and they had three children, Wayne, Allan and Sharon. His attestation records that he attended Ormstown School from 1928 to 1938. His service records list hockey, football, swimming, hunting and fishing among his recreational interests. At discharge he intended to return to truck driving and possibly start a business with his brothers; the counsellor recommended truck-driving employment and noted that he might later use his rehabilitation credit to start a business. His attestation employment history identifies his farm work with Bryson Allen at Ormstown, his machine-operator work with Broadway Amusements at Montreal, and his truck-driving work with W. R. Graham at Ormstown. The occupational history records that he left his truck-driving job with W.R. Graham because Graham was selling the business. The discharge employment report states that W.R. Graham had employed him as a truck driver for eight months at $120 per month. His occupational history records that he completed Grade 9 and left school at age 17. At enlistment he indicated that after the war he intended, if possible, to return to truck driving. His attestation employment history records that he left Bryson Allen's farm work in 1940 to better himself, then left Broadway Amusements in 1942 to go back home. It lists him as still employed by W.R. Graham at enlistment; a separate occupational-history form says he left Graham because the business was being sold. His service record lists his preferred civil occupations as farming and truck driving. It names Rev. Taylor of Ormstown, W. Graham of Brysonville, and J. D. Brown of Allan's Corners as references. A September 1942 RCAF personal record dates his employment with Bryson Allen from October 1938 to 1940, Broadway Amusements from 1940 to 1942, and W.R. Graham from August 1942, marked "still employed." The same record appears to list "Diesel fitter" as an interesting occupation (handwriting uncertain). At discharge he told the rehabilitation counsellor he would try to obtain truck-driving work and might start a business with his brothers later. The counsellor recommended employment preferably in truck driving and noted that he might later use rehabilitation credit to start a business.

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Wesley Thomas Cairns BIRTH 9 OCT 1921 • Ormstown, Quebec, Canada DEATH 12 DEC 1997 • Ormstown, Québec, Canada
Marriage 6 Oct 1945 • Riverfield, Quebec, Canada Hazel June Irene Allen 1922–2008
Request confirmation number EA2026_0173086

Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 21 August 1942. He initially served in ground duties/security work, later remustering to general duties and then Armament Assistant. He served in Canada until 26 May 1943, overseas in the United Kingdom from 27 May 1943 to 12 June 1945, and then again in Canada until his discharge at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on 4 September 1945. He was discharged as a Leading Aircraftman on completion of his term of voluntary service during the emergency.

At enlistment his next of kin was his father, William David Cairns of Brysonville, Quebec. His father was a farmer; his mother was Joanna Wilhelmina Hamilton Cairns. The 1997 obituary identifies his wife as Hazel Allen; children Wayne (Elizabeth Toupin) of Cornwall, Allan (Dianne Wilson) of Kingston, and Sharon (Michael Ayotte) of Cornwall; grandchildren Shelley, Barry, Tristan, Mallory and Sarah; brothers Burton of Vancouver and Ivan (Agnes Hogan) of St. Catharines; step-grandfather to Larry, Judy and Randy; and step-great-grandfather to Chloe and Timmy.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-10-02 02:05:04 by: marc