Born at Cranbrook, BC. An eager student. Attended local schools.Craduated High School. Keen sportsman of all kinds, esp. Swimming, Badminton, Skiing. Mechanically inclined. Mother died when he was seven and he was raised by a grandmother, Mrs. Caroline M. Gill of Cranbrook. Enl. Jan 1942 Calgary. Trained at Belleville, St. Eugene, Uplands and Ottawa. Surv. widowed sister, Mrs. Betty Saatela.