A Second War Canadian Group to Flight Sergeant Leonard Percival Fry
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Canadian Centennial Medal 1867-1967; and Canadian Forces' Decoration, George VI with Ten Years' Additional Service Clasp (F/S L.P. FRY). Naming is engraved on the reverse of the suspension bar on CFD, the other three medals are un-named as issued. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, replacement ribbons, traces of tarnishing evident on the CFD, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of Attestation Paper, Service Records and Discharge Certificate.
Footnote: Leonard Percival Fry was born in London, Middlesex County, Ontario on March 13, 1914. Fry completed Grade 11 at London Technical School in a Matric Course. He left school in 1937, at the age of 17 and showed interest in numerous sports, including golf, soccer, baseball, tennis and swimming. He attended McMaster University Night School for one year, taking a course in Stationary Engineering, and also took a correspondence course in Aeronautics that he did not complete. His work history consisted of being a Manager for four years with Dominion Stores in London, as a Foreman for six years with Kraft Containers in Hamilton and three months as an Agent with Crown Life Insurance Company in London, before enlisting as an Aircraftman 2nd Class with the Royal Canadian Air Force on September 11, 1939, seeking employment as an Aero Engine Mechanic. Fry signed his Attestation Paper with No. 114 Bombing Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (18034A, which was later changed postwar to 20880), on September 22, 1939 in London, at the age of 25, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Clara Eleana Fry (nee Webb), stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Anglican and that his trade was that of Auto Mechanic. He was posted to Manning Pool at No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto on October 18, 1939, then posted to No. 1 Technical Training School in St. Thomas, Ontario, on November 11th. He was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class on April 1, 1940, then posted to No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden on May 2nd, where he again promoted, this time to Leading Aircraftman on October 1st. Two weeks after his promotion, he was transferred to No. 1 Wireless School at Montreal, Quebec on October 15, 1940. Fry was promoted to Acting/Temporary Corporal on July 1, 1941, posted to No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton on July 26th, then transferred to A.I.D. School at Toronto on September 3rd, where he was promoted to Acting/Temporary Sergeant on November 8th, before being transferred again, this time to No. 12 Training District at Toronto on November 9th, where he would take an Aircraft Inspection Course. He was promoted to Acting/Temporary Flight Sergeant on March 1, 1943, then to Sergeant on October 1, 1944. During his tenure with the RCAF, he would train and graduate from various courses and serve as an NCO. His career during the war and postwar would see him being in charge of a section of aero-engine and airframe inspection and maintenance at various stations, obtaining the highest grouping. Fry was posted to No. 4 Release Centre in Toronto, Ontario, August 10, 1945 and was discharged from active service upon "completion of a term of voluntary service during an emergency", on August 13, 1945, at No. 4 Release Centre in Toronto, having served one month shy of six years with the RCAF. He was subsequently transferred to the Reserve, General Section, Class "E" and tentatively accepted a job as a Fireman with the Canadian National Railway. He married Ruby Jane Watson on March 15, 1946 in London. Two days after his marriage, he was taken on strength from the RCAF (Reserve), General Section, Class "E" to the RCAF (Reserve) Special Section, on March 17th and officially enlisted on March 18th at Trenton as an Aircraftman 1st Class (20880). He was posted to No. 12 A.I. District at Toronto on March 23, 1946, then to No. 1 E.D. at Weston on September 16, 1946. He was transferred to the RCAF (Regular) and promoted to Sergeant on October 1, 1946, before being posted the following Spring to RCAF Station Centralia, a training base near Exeter, Ontario, on April 2, 1947. After one year at Centralia, he was posted to Camp Borden on April 3, 1948 and was promoted to Flying Sergeant on April 1, 1951. He was posted to No. 1 ITSU at St. Laurent (Montreal) on August 29, 1952 and was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class on April 1, 1954, before being transferred to No. 6 Repair Depot at Trenton on July 2, 1957. Fry was transferred to RCAF Technical Wing Headquarters, from March 14, 1960 to January 9, 1961, then saw his final promotion, this time to Warrant Officer 1st Class on September 1, 1961. He was posted to No. 12 T.S.U. at Weston on July 30, 1962, then retired from service on September 27, 1969. Postwar, Leonard Percival Fry served with the Royal Canadian Air Force for twenty-three and a half years, from March 17, 1946 to September 27, 1969. Adding in his wartime service, he served almost twenty-nine and a half years with the RCAF.