Mann, Victor John

Sgt. Victor John Mann, gallant warrior son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray H. Mann, 126? Alfred Street, had, from the time of his Boy Scout days in the Tenth Brant Troop, proved to be a natural leader. In the East Ward community where he lived, he headed 25 young lads who called themselves the East Ward Gang, and who, like himself, were all Boy Scouts, members of the Church and Sunday School and who grouped together for leisure-time fun. There was no hint of juvenile delinquency in such a company, because under Victor's guidance there was always a well-arranged program of activities. So it followed that when war came, and Vic, as his friends called him, enlisted on July 10, 1940, with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he embarked on a successful army career. After serving at Niagara-on-the-Lake and Nanaimo, he was posted to Jamaica and later to England. One by one his stripes were awarded to him, until he reached the position of sergeant. He was then sent to the Officers' Training School near Brighton but finally declined to take his commission, not wanting to leave his friends. In the Western European invasion, he was sergeant in command of a platoon, and it was in

Bergen-op-Zoom, Holland, that he lost his life on October 29, 1944. In that terrific battle of the Schelde he stood out among his men and by his example and courage saved the lives of many comrades and enabled them to take their objectives. He was buried by his sorrowful friends at the scene of the battle. Born in Brantford, January 1, 1921, Victor was the eldest of a family of 15 and his death meant the first break in that circle. He was educated at Alexandra and Dufferin Schools, and as an Anglican, was baptized at St. James' Church, attended St. Jude's Sunday School and the St. Paul's A.Y.P.A. Before his enlistment he was employed at the Brantford Leather Products Co. Sgt. Mann's valor and efficiency as a soldier were recognized posthumously when he was officially Mentioned in Dispatches on June 20, 1945.

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