Frank and Edward Dowe

My Granddad Francis "Frank" Samuel Dowe was born on June 8th 1920 in Toronto to Jack and Alma Dow. My great-grandfather's lack of formal education led to the misspelling of his last name, something that has never been corrected. For those of you who have read "Memories of the Great War" you know that Jack had returned from the Great War in March of 1919 and settled down with Alma at 52 Dearbourne Ave. At the time of Frank's birth, Jack had found employment working as a line man at Toronto Hydro.

What his childhood was like, is unknown, so I'm going to skip ahead to the Summer of 1939. At that time Frank had just dropped out of high school after falling grade 11 for the second time. By his own admission it was not from a lack of smarts but ambition. He spent the summer working on a farm that belonged to a relative of his mother's and deciding what to do with his life.

Frank would not have to wait long. On September 1st 1939, Frank received word to report back to Toronto. As a member of the milita with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, Frank was one of the first called up to active duty.

"By an Order in Council of the First day of September, 1939, P.C. 2482, His Excellency the Governor in Council has authorized the organization of a Canadian Active Service Force, and for that purpose has, under the provision of Section 20 of the Militia Act, names as Corps of the Active Militia those Units, Formations and Detachments set out in Schedule D annexed. By the same Order in Council and under and by virtue of the powers conferred by Section 64 of the Militia Act, the Governor in Council has placed on Active Service in Canada, those Units, Formations and Detachments as set out in the said Schedule D, and those Corps and parts of the Militia as set out in Schedule E annexed hereto"

General Order 135/1939

Seeing an opportunity for three meals a day and a pay cheque, Frank happily made his way back to Toronto. 

Edward Albert Dowe was born on May 12th 1922 in Toronto, the second child of Jack and Alma Dow. Like my Granddad, I don't know much about his childhood, except that he took after my great-grandfather the most in mechanical aptitudes and an interest and hockey and baseball. When War was declared Edward had graduated from high school and was studying to become a toolmaker. Whether dissuaded by his parents or wanting to finish his apprenticeship, Edward did not follow his brother right away into the military. 

By 1941, Edward, anxious to serve enlisted as ground crew with the Royal Canadian Air Force.