Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 181 MESSOM, Robert Stanley WWII Robert was born in Pereaux, Kings County, Nova Scotia on March 25, 1916 to James and Ethel Blanche (Taylor) Messom. He worked with his father farming until enlistment on January 10, 1941 as Air Cadet 2 as General Duties and then promoted to AC1 in April 1941. He was a Wireless Assistant from August 1941 to December 1942. Robert was stationed at 4 SFTS in Saskatoon, until December 1941 and while there he wrote the poem “The Gunner”, featured on page 199 of this book. Robert then went on special leave from December 12, 1941 to January 2, 1942 to marry Marjorie Clara Prout of North Kemptville, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia on December 24, 1941, and they had five children. He was then posted to 417 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force, Middle East Forces in Egypt on January 30, 1942. He was wounded when he parachuted from an aircraft and landed in a tree. He injured his knee and was admitted to hospital until May 28, 1942. Robert was then transferred to No. 3 General Hospital, Suez, Egypt and discharged from hospital on June 8, 1942, returning to duty in the Middle East Pool. He remustered to Motor Transport Driver in December 1942 and served there until March 5, 1943. In a letter written on March 25, 1943, he stated that he had been on the move since leaving convalescent camp. He was in Alexandria (Egypt), Takoradi (Ghana), Ikeja (Nigeria), Kano (Nigeria), Tripoli (Libya) sometime between June 1942 to October 10, 1943 when he was posted to Sicily. Robert was stationed in Sicily until January 1, 1945. On May 9, 1945, Robert was discharged from the regular force on completion of voluntary service during an emergency (World War II), when he was transferred to the reserve unit. He received the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star and Bar, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-1945. On return to civilian life, he and his wife Marjorie purchased an active farm and started a trucking enterprise in the village of Melvern Square, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. The complete farm was destroyed by a fire in June 1963. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Kingston Branch 98 and was President in 1959. He took part in all community affairs and remained an active member until his untimely death on March 2, 1964. Submitted by Family
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