Air Gunner. Rank: Sergeant. Service No. 2129.
Early life:
Emery was born on October 1, 1916 at Fisher Branch, Manitoba. His parents were Alderic and Rose Savage and he had three brothers Leo, George and Victor and one sister Cecile. He was baptised at the Immaculate Conception’s Church at Festier Branch, Manitoba, as ‘Joseph Henry Emeric Savage’ on December 3, 1916 with godparents Henry Lesperance and Anna Charret.
In 1924 he began his schooling at Fisher Branch Public School, leaving in 1934/35.
At the age of 17 in 1933, he was shot in the chest by a .22 gun and spent four weeks in hospital. He was discharged and returned to school a month later.
He left school at education grade X.
War service:
Emery was a qualified motor mechanic when he enlisted in the RCAF on April 17, 1937 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, although at the time he was working as a clerk in a general store. He was fluent in French, single and 5 feet 4 inches tall with interests in model aircraft woodwork and he had played baseball for Fisherton Lumberjacks and Hodgson Colts for four years. He was also keen on swimming, skating and football and a lover of all sports.
He became aircraftman class 1 on June 1, 1938, leading aircraftman on October 17, 1938, and a corporal on August 1, 1940. He trained on aircraft types Battle and Norseman and reached the rank of sergeant on September 19, 1943 after completing his training as an air gunner. He was deployed to New York on October 8, and reached the UK on October 16, then to RAF Bournemouth to number 82 Operational Training Unit on October 27 for Wellington bomber training.
Whilst serving at 82 O.T.U., he was killed as crew of Wellington Bomber BK387, on a training flight which crashed at Tewitt Hall Wood, Oakworth Yorkshire, on 2nd January, killing all those aboard. Buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery on 8th January. He was 27 years of age.
Information sources:
Veteran’s Affairs Canada.
WW2 service records.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Oakworth Village Society.
