Garth Edwards Horricks

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'Have a Job On,' Airmen Told as Wings Awarded

By F.D. VAN LUVEN. (Staff Writer, The Globe and Mail,)
Camp Borden, 28 April 1941 — Destined to pilot bombers over Germany or fighter planes in the defense of Britain, the twentieth group of leading aircraftmen graduated this evening from No. 1 Service Flying Training School.
First outdoor "wings parade" held at Borden since last fall, the ceremony was held just before sunset in a hollow square formed by yellow and silver planes on the tarmac in front of the hangars.
"You will have some rough and unpleasant moments ahead of you, but the job has to be done," the graduating class was advised by Squadron Leader Albert Carter, who presented the wings.
The group was one of the largest since the school opened. Almost without exception, since the Air Training Plan was started, the classes have become progressively larger.
Although most of the graduates were Canadians, twenty-two of them from Ontario alone, there were also five from the United States, one Free Frenchman and an Australian.
The young Frenchman did not want his name published. His father has a business in occupied France. He is still there, although sympathetic to the British and Free French cause, but the boy's mother was a proud spectator here today.
Four of the Americans had much the same story to tell. They had tired of waiting for Uncle Sam to get into the fight, so had come to Canada to join the air force.
They are R.J. Crot, Chicago; C. Kleckner, Washington, D.C.; E.W. Spradley, Oklahoma City, and K.K. Kimbro, Lubbock, Texas.

Has British Relatives
The fifth American, W. L. Johnson, New York City, has a couple of uncles in the British Army, one a brigadier and the other a colonel. The former, Brig. F. E, Moore, is on the general staff in London and the other, Col. Allen Dicks Lewis, is serving in India. Johnson's father served with the American Expeditionary Force in the last war. He has a number of other relatives in England on his mother's side, including a cousin attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. C.F.R. Manning, from Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia, was a bit lonely, as all his buddies from home, with whom he started an earlier course, have gone overseas. He was held back because of a serious illness.
"But, I'll catch up to them in time," he promised.
Among the seventeen Toronto graduates was Bill Howes, 21, of 395 Lauder Avenue, who was watched proudly by a brother, Stoker Henry, Howes, 20, of the R.C.N.V.R., and his father, Capt. H.A. Howes, M.M., who served in the Leinster Regiment, Imperial Army, in the last war.
Also attending the ceremony were Bill's mother, his sister Maureen and two younger brothers, Terry, 12, and Brian, 4; The two older Howes boys attended Vaughn Road Collegiate and De La Salle (Oaklands) together and gained early military training in the cadet corps at the latter school.

"Just Stepping Stone"
"You have done fine work here, but you're not, through yet," Squadron Leader Carter reminded the class. "You have a bit more to learn. This is one of your proudest moments, but it is only another stepping stone in your chosen service lives.
"Above all, keep yourselves physically fit, so you will always be ready and able to do your job. Keep yourselves so that you’ll be able through your skill and endurance to give your best whenever you must."
After lauding the work and heroism of the Royal Air Force in all parts of the world battlefront and praising the co-operation of ground crews at Borden, Squadron Leader Carter wished all members "Godspeed, good luck and good hunting!"
Group Captain R.S. Grandy, O.B.E., the commanding officer, added a few words of praise, said he was proud to have been their C.O., and wished them every success.
Ontario graduates included the following: F.S. Hastie, W.W.L. Beatty, K.A. MacKenzie, F. Butler, W.F. Peck, J.W.C. Langmuir, A.C. Ellis, E.A. Russell, T.H. Donnelly, S.D. Ritchie, F.S. Buck, S.S. Martin, S.R. Frankling, G.E. Horricks, W.M. Howes and H.R. Heyes, all of Toronto, C.B. St. John, Gravenhurst; R. Mendizabel, Sarnia; H.F. Crawford, New Toronto; H.A. Pattinson, Hamilton; G.W. Richter, Brantford, and H.R. Studer, Capreol.

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HORRICKS, Flight Sergeant Garth Edward (R72099) - DFM - No.185 Squadron
Award effective 29 April 1942 as per London Gazette dated 1 May 1942 and
AFRO 732/42 dated 15 May 1942.

Flight Sergeant Horricks is a fearless pilot. He invariably presses home his attack with utmost determination regardless of odds. He has destroyed at least three enemy aircraft and probably destroyed a further two.

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Photos

PL-25222 (portrait) and                                          
PL-29455 (with P/O D.W. Storms after investiture).

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