Dingwall, Jack

Jack attempted to enlist although he was under age when war broke out. His medical checkup revealed he had a hernia. He couldn't afford the operation so went to work with a farmer for a year to earn the funds. At the end of the year, the farmer refused to pay him. The doctor took pity and did the surgery for free. Jack enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was a member of the last class to receive their 'O Wing' for Observer as well as Navigator; all trainees following would be called Navigators.  Since air crew were so desperately needed, class time was condensed and Jack graduated in record time. In 1942 he was in Wick, northern Scotland as a navigator on a weather plane. This service allowed Britain to predict what its weather would be. At times, the crew would see German weather planes and the men would wave to each other.

As a veteran he was able to attend college paid for the the Canadian gavernment. He attended Guelph College (now the University of Guelph). While there he became ill with tuberculosis (which he contracted while serving overseas) and had to drop out. He spent a year at the Sanitarium in London, recuperated, and graduated in 1951. He married Irene Elizabeth Ann May in 1951. They moved to Lakeside where he opened a veterinary practice. They had 4 children: Penny, Bill, Dale and Don. Jack died in 1998 and is buried in Lakeside Cemetery On The Hill, Lakeside, Ontario.