A Christmas Encounter

Canadian Armed Forces members gather at London’s Beaver Club, a wartime social hub that offered servicemen and women a taste of home with Canadian sweets, CBC radio broadcasts, and holiday comforts.

Neil Edwards

Paris Independent Contributor

Two Paris boys had a chance encounter in December 1942, while they were both on Christmas leave from their duties during the Second World War. Both were in military service in Britain at the time.

One was Wally Creeden, the acclaimed Canadian fighter pilot. He was one of the youngest fliers in the RCAF and his daring and ability were soon recognized. He was credited with the destruction of three Axis ships, playing an important role in the attack on the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau off the Dutch coast. For his courage and skill, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal during the Battle of Dover. He was congratulated by Air-Vice-Marshall and the Honourable Vincent Massey and the High Commissioner for Canada in London. A British film company made a movie, Coastal Command,  in which his squadron played a major role.

The other Paris boy was Lead Aircraftman Art Wilson. He served with the No.410 "Cougar" Squadron, which was formed as an RCAF night fighter squadron at the RAF Air Base in Ayr, Scotland. The squadron was initially equipped with the Boulton Paul Defiant fighter plane. Its role was to defend central Scotland and the Northeast of England from night bombing attacks. As a Lead Aircraftman 1, Art would have been responsible for helping to keep the airplanes in the squadron in fit condition to fulfill that role, just as others did for the planes Wally flew.

 It was reported in the Paris Star in January 1942 that Wally had written in a letter home that he hoped he would get his Christmas leave. And Mrs Thomas Wilson also reported in the local newspaper that her son, AC1 Art Wilson, who was also on Christmas leave, met his Paris friend, Wally Creeden, at the Beaver Club in London, located in Spring Gardens near Trafalgar Square. So clearly Wally got his wish.

It would be interesting to know what these two Paris boys talked about. They both knew airplanes, so they must have talked shop for a while. But they both grew up in Paris, had been active and popular in Paris, went to school in Paris and surely had friends and memories in common. The Beaver Club in London was a social and recreational center for Canadian servicemen on leave during the war. It provided a Canadian atmosphere and home comforts, including access to sweets from home, CBC radio broadcasts and so on. It would be the perfect place at the perfect time -- Christmas -- for two friends to reminisce. Two friends, a long way from home at Christmas, during a brief interlude from their duties serving their country.

Of course, they could not know what the future held.  Art Wilson would survive the war and return to Paris to raise his family. He married Ann Robb in 1956, and they raised five children. Art was a jack of all trades, working at various times as a mechanic, labourer, watchman, bartender, retailer, and entrepreneur. In 1966, he and Ann launched Anco Sales, a family-run carpet business. Though his hockey playing days slowed as he raised a family, Art’s love for the game never wavered. He devoted countless hours supporting his children’s athletic pursuits, traveling across Ontario as a passionate fan and proud father. Art died in 1992.

And Wally? His plane was shot down on May 16, 1942, just five months after meeting his friend Art at the Beaver Club. He is buried in Great Burcham (St Mary) Churchyard in Norfolk, England. Mount Creeden in the Yukon has been named after him. And also, a street in Paris.

Two Paris boys. Two heroes. Serving in a country across the ocean, protecting Europe and protecting us. And there are many other stories of men and women in Paris who have done, and are doing still, the same job. Fighting in war and protecting us in peacetime. Homes of Heroes wants to tell all of their stories. Do you have a story to share? Then please share it at info@homesofheroes.ca. Their stories will ensure that our heroes will not be forgotten. If you have questions, please email them to neiledwards51@gmail.com.