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.,*1*** Page 4 West Vancouver Historical Society November 2004 Jack Leyland 1922-2004 Jack died on September 14, 2004 following a short illness. On Saturday, September 18'*' his funeral was held in West Vancouver Baptist Church, a spacious, sunny place, which was packed. Two of those present were fellow 1940 graduates of West Van High School, Moira (Wallace) McCarthy and Joan (Marentette) Crickmay. Jack was seven or eight years younger than his sister Josephine Frances (“Josie”), who was the top graduate of her class in 1932 at WVHS. Not only was she a “hard act to follow”, but his dad was as well. Joseph (“Joe”) Bentley Leyland was West Vancouver’s reeve from 1930 to 1940. He was universally admired. Had it not been for Joe Leyland and AJT Taylor’s efforts, it is likely the Lions Gate Bridge and the development of the British Pacific Properties would have been delayed for years. A side-effect of launching the projects forthwith was that Joe Leyland kept the municipality out of receivership. Were it not for the purchase by the Guinness family in 1932 of 4,700 acres of land for $75,000, West Vancouver would have been thrust into in bankruptcy. This was a deal Mr. Leyland was instrumental in negotiating. Despite the “hard acts”. Jack Leyland went on to live a life which served as an example to all. The war was his first challenge, and he rose to it magnificently. He was lucky: he survived. Four of his classmates did not. The graduation class of 1940 lost more of its boys to the war than any other at Inglewood. Jack Leyland came close to being the fifth. We include here snippets of the lives of Jack and several of his fellow graduates during the war. Jan 13,1940 Two of Jack’s Grade 12 friends, Moira Wallace and Joan Marentette, are named as editors of the new school newspaper. The Westerly. May 3, 1940 Maureen Stevenson, treasurer of the 1940 Student Council, gives the toast to the teachers at the WVHS graduation ceremonies. Moira Wallace gives the class prophecy. May 15, 1941 Joan Marentette and Moira Wallace, as members of the Girls’ Auxiliary to the Barbarians Rugby Club, attend a kitchen shower to honour Marion Blair on her upcoming marriage. March 26, 1942 Jack Leyland, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Leyland of 2848 Bellevue Avenue, and Jack McLeod, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman McLeod, of 2295 Mathers Avenue, are both promoted to the rank of Sergeant- Pilot in the R. C. A. F., and are presented with their wings at Claresholm, Alberta, by Wing-Commander Kennedy. In several days they will leave for Trenton, Ontario, where they will take a two-months’ course as instructors, at the end of which they expect to have a month’s leave. May 28, 1942 Sergeant-Pilot Jack Leyland, R. C. A. F, is spending two weeks’ leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Leyland, 2848 Bellevue Avenue, before taking up duty as an instructor at Virden, Manitoba. June 25, 1942 Pilot-Officer N.J. Gibbons, R.C.A.F., who has been spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbons of 2355 Marine Drive, has returned to duty. July 31, 1942 LAC Ernest Albert (Bert) Seeds dies while serving in the RCAF. He had marked his twenty-first birthday six days earlier. Sept 24, 1942 Flying Instructor John Leyland, R.C.A.F., has arrived from Virden, Manitoba, and is spending ten days’ leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Leyland, 2848 Bellevue Avenue. (While home he attends his sister’s, Josephine Frances’s wedding to John Monroe Gunn.) Oct 31, 1942 birthday. Jan 7, 1943 Bob Sheffield marks his twentieth Jack Leyland marks his 21st birthday. Feb 25, 1943 W02 Robert Alfred Philip (Bob) Sheffield is killed while serving with the 458 Sqdn, RCAF. In school his ambition was to become a commercial photographer. April 2, 1943 Lieutenant Maureen Stevenson, C.W.A.C., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Stevenson, 2130 Argyle Avenue, graduates from McDonald College in Quebec, and is posted to the training staff at the College. Aug 5, 1943 W02, John Leyland (pilot) son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Leyland of 2848 Bellevue Avenue, receives his commission as a pilot officer in the R.C.A.F. Aug 5, 1943 Lt. Maureen Stevenson marries Lt. William D. Cabell of Virginia. Sept 16, 1943 Pilot Officer Jack Leyland, R.C.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Leyland of 2848 Bellevue Avenue, leaves for eastern Canada after spending a furlough at his home here. March 23, 1944 Flying Officer N. J. Gibbons wins the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill and devotion to duty in a large number of sorties, as stated in his citation. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbons of 2355 Marine Drive.