Spearn, Vernon Arnold

Les Allison of Roland, Manitoba had this to say, "On Feb 20/44 I was on leave in London, England with my best friend, Howard Kelly of Barrie, Ontario. We were staying at the Canadian Legion Club on Southampton Row, Russel Square and at supper we met FS Spearn who had gone to school with Howard and lived across the alley from the Kellys. We had separate dates arranged for the evening, and, with no telephones, it was impossible to change. We were in adjoining rooms so said we'd see each other after our dates or next morning for breakfast. Spearn never showed up. He had finished Operational Training and Conversion Unit training and was ready for Operations. He knew the casualty statistics and like all of us was scared of his future. A couple of weeks later his parents were informed he was Absent Without Leave, and later a deserter. Kelly and I were called in by the service police as a letter home said we'd all met on Feb 20. We told our story. He was never foundl Was there an air-raid to make him disappear? Or did he, like a few others, decide to become a civilian again. Kelly and I have often wondered what really happened over all these years.