Charles John (Jack) Cameron Norquay was born in 1923 in Selkirk. Jack enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1942. Jack’s service in the Canadian war effort was commemorated in Selkirk by the Jack Norquay Memorial Trophy.
Early Life
Charles John (Jack) Cameron Norquay was born on May 14, 1923, in Selkirk. His brother, Tom Norquay would also become part of the Dufferin Gang. As a young boy Jack joined the Selkirk scout troops. He participated in several sports such as baseball, rugby, skiing, boxing, volleyball, swimming, and boating. Jack attended Victoria and Central Schools from 1929-1937 and Devonshire Collegiate Institute until 1940.
After graduating, Jack attended Angus Business College in Winnipeg. He then worked as a checking clerk at the Winnipeg Bus Depot and later as a stock clerk for Belding-Corticelli Ltd., a Canadian textile company which operated a sales office and warehouse in Winnipeg. He married Mildred Riley in Winnipeg on July 17th, 1942.
Military Career
Jack enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1942. He trained at Brandon, Dauphin, Saskatoon, Mossbank, and Malton, Ontario as a bomber-aimer, a crew member responsible for aiming and dropping bombs. He received his bombardier’s wing at Malton in October 1942 and went overseas one month later. He continued training operations until he joined an all-RCAF crew No. 77 Squadron based in Elvington, Yorkshire, England in March 1943.
He “proved himself to be a keen and capable member of an operational crew.” – Military Records, Library and Archives Canada.
A few months later, his son was born on July 26th, 1943. Jack was thrilled about his son’s birth. His letters home told his wife how he hoped his son would have blue eyes like his mother.
Jack began operations on September 22nd, in a new Halifax aircraft where he painted ‘Millie’ on the nose in honour of his wife. Jack made two successful mission flights over Hanover, Germany. A total of 88 flights over Hanover were made by allied forces during the war. His third mission was over Kassel, Germany on the night of October 3rd, 1943. This mission was compromised, and his aircraft did not return to base.
Jack is buried with other allied members in Hanover War Cemetery in Germany.
Jack was the recipient of numerous awards, such as: the Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal, the 1939-1945 Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the Bomber Command Bar.
Jack’s service in the Canadian war effort was commemorated in Selkirk by the Jack Norquay Memorial Trophy. This trophy was presented at the annual competition in the Power Boat Races at the Selkirk Regatta.
Jack Norquay Collection
Click on images to enlarge
Selkirk Scout Troop Holds Open Evening, 1936, Winnipeg Tribune
Sources
Scott Norquay
Veterans Canada
Department of National Defence, 2021
The Free Press, 2013
Dufferin Gang’s Legacy Lives On, Manitoba Métis Federation
