Dear List,
Thought this obit might be of interest to someone on the list.
Pam
Victoria, B.C.
G. Perry "Johnnie" Bauchman
BAUCHMAN, Flight Lieutenant G. Perry (Johnnie) WWII RCAF Spitfire Pilot (RAF
165 Ceylon Squadron) On November 26, 2008 at the age of 88, our Dad drew his
last breath while held in the loving arms of his family, as his beloved wife
of 64 years, Rosemary, finished reading him her favourite poem, which she
had written herself. Perry was a complex, passionate, brilliant and
interesting man, an intense individual who lived a huge and amazing life. In
truth, there is no way to define Perry. He was a unique individual who found
himself when he climbed into the cockpit of a Spitfire. Normal for him was
sleeping under the wing of his Spitfire, knocking scorpions out of his
flying boots before donning them, and chasing Messerschmitts after breakfast
and again before tea time, day after day, for four years. Perry was born in
Windsor Nova Scotia in 1920 to Wardlu and Florence Bauchman (Martin). He was
the third of five children, the only one born in hospital, to a profoundly
deaf mother who didn't own a hearing aid until she was 65. Growing up on a
farm during the Depression ensured that Perry became handy, thrifty, and
resourceful. These traits served him well throughout his life. Evidence of
his ingenious nature surfaced early. In order to compensate for their
mother's deafness, the boys in the family rigged up a fire alarm to the
family phone, which could be heard half a mile away, and which rang every
time any of the 13 families on the party line received a call. After
graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in
1941. He went on to become a Spitfire pilot and served in England and North
Africa. He met our mother Rosemary,(Jefferies) a member of the WAAF, while
serving on the same squadron, and they were married in short order. Gamely
she traveled to Canada with him, and despite massive culture shock, she put
down roots, and together they made a life in Canada. They had four children,
Bronwyn, Lakefield Ontario, Paul (pre-deceased 1995) (Maryanne Seward,
Halifax) Roy, Victoria, and Laurel (Paul Ceyssens), Salt Spring Island, BC,
and three grand children, Megan Mowat, Kiera Ceyssens and Callum Ceyssens.
Dad received four years of education as a discharge allowance at war's end
from the Government of Canada, and, thanks to his intense drive, managed to
complete undergraduate qualifications and law school in those four years. He
worked for Simpson Hearst Insurance in Halifax and Moncton, and for the
Federal Business Development Bank in Halifax, St. John's, and Montreal. He
successfully instituted the employment of both computers and paralegals to
FBDB at a time when such things were unheard of, and thereby revolutionized
their legal services branch. While living in Montreal, he eagerly augmented
his high school French through classes offered by his employer, and never
missed a chance to practice it, despite gentle words from native speakers
that perhaps their English was just a shade better than Dad's French. He was
a hands-on Dad who led cubs and scouts, coached ringette, taught Sunday
School, gave rides home to all our friends no matter the hour, rode horses,
fixed bicycles, eyeglasses, cars, and just about everything else, made his
own ham radios, and us stilts, pinwheels and backyard rinks, and never,
ever, called a repairman. As result there were frequent explosions in our
basement, both small and large, and a lot of electrician's tape in our
lives. Dad was very proud that all four of his children graduated from
university. He and Rosemary eventually retired to Lakefield, Ontario, and
then to Victoria BC, where they both felt very much at home. During his
retirement Dad started writing both poetry and prose, and eventually
authored his autobiography, Spitfire Pilot, described by one of his friends
as very sexy". This comment was made after our mother had ruthlessly edited
out the steamiest bits. Involved in the Canadian Authors' Association,
provincial amateur radio clubs, and their church, Dad remained active and
determined up to his last days. We found a letter he'd written the day
before his last stroke, in shaking hand, but lucid prose, to the Registrar
of Motor Vehicles, outlining why the Registrar ought to restore his drivers'
license to him. Perry is survived by his beloved wife Rosemary, his
surviving children and grandchildren, his brother Donald (Helen) and sister
Mary Manning (both of Nova Scotia) sisters-in-law Rene Rolands and Selina
Jefferies (England) many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews in
Canada, the U.S. and England. His parents and brothers Rennie and Robert and
brothers and sisters in law Harry, Harry Roy, Bill, Ivo, Daisy, Sis and Jean
predeceased him. There is no doubt that being a Spitfire pilot was the
highlight of Dad's life. Nothing else ever compared to being a Knight of the
Air. His fourteen year old granddaughter Kiera picked him to be her subject
for an essay on heroism and leadership: My grandfather and his generation
were just ordinary people trying to do what was right. Together they created
the most extraordinary victory ever achieved by humanity." Every one of us
in Canada, whether we have been here for ten generations or whether we
arrived yesterday, owe him and his generation our freedom and our lives.
Please remember what he did for us. Please remember him. Memorial Service St
Luke's Anglican Church, 3821 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria, 1:30 pm
Tuesday December 2. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Perry to
World Vision or the Alzheimers' Society of British Columbia would be very
much appreciated. Online condolences to
lb@.... 515558
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