Gordon Ferris

Gordon James Ferris

Portage la Prairie area lost another hero of the Second World War, with the passing of Gordon James Ferris on Monday, August 13, 2012.

Serving as a Driver-mechanic in the Royal Winnipeg Rifflesknown as the Little Black Devils, Gordon was a member of the contingent of Canadians who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Fighting through Normandy he along with some 60 or more Canadians, were captured during the Battle of Putot.

While being marched back of the German lines as prisoners of war on June 9, 1944 the group was ordered by a German Colonel to be taken to a field 1.5 miles northeast of the village of Fonterey. The Canadians were ordered to sit down in a grain field while the Germans moved up machine guns. The enemy opened fire and were systematically killing the Canadians. Gordon Ferris and a Cpl MacDonald of Nova Scotia decided to run for it and were successful in hiding in a grain field.

A few days later they were recaptured by the Germans and shipped to a prisoner of war camp in Czechoslovakia where they were held until liberated in 1945. When the murders were first reported, the Canadian Government had issued a directive to the German Reich that those responsible for the murders of over sixty Canadians would be dealt with and warned, that there be no more actions of this nature. The enemy was never aware of the escape of Ferris and MacDonald or they would probably never have lived to testify.

MacDonald and Gordon Ferris were chief witnesses at the trial of General Kurt Meyer, who was found guilty of the atrocities and sentenced to be hanged. He was shipped to Canada for execution, but was released and returned to Germany where he enjoyed the rest of his life.

He was predeceased by his mother Grace Adams; father James Elmer Ferris; sisters Irene Ferris, Jean McLaren, Dorothy Spearing and Frances Bingham; and brothers Elmer, Donavon and Glen Ferris and is survived by his two daughters Karen and Judy Ferris; nieces Diane (Gary) and Gail as well as many other nieces and nephews and their families. His second family in Portage la Prairie for many years were Len and Blanche Asham and their children Chris (Cathy), Ken, Karen (Andrew) Rampl and grandchildren Kayla and Logan.

A Celebration of Gordon's life will be held on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 1:00 pm at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel led by Rev. John Zondag. Interment will take place in the Veteran's section of Hillside Memorial Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Gordon's memory Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 9Z9 or to Portage District General Hospital Foundation, 524 Fifth St.SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3A8.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com