We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Clifford Oliver “Buster” Mandville (Ret’d) of Ponoka AB in 2000.*
Clifford was born in Hanna, AB and was working as a coal miner in Rosebud, AB when the Second World War broke out. He was 26 years old when he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in Calgary in June 1940. After completing basic training in Camp Borden, ON, he served in England and in Northwest Europe with the 2nd Battalion, RCE, part of First Canadian Army Troops. In England, his unit continued with personal training while constructing home defence facilities including bunkers, roads and airfields.
Clifford advanced through the Sapper trades from Pioneer, Driver/Mechanic, Sheet Metal Worker and then as a Mechanic. He was in charge of the Battalion Workshop for 11 months. He arrived in France on 27 July 1944. The unit was employed primarily in the construction of permanent bridges across France and into the Low Countries. Clifford was discharged in Calgary on 20 August 1945, a month after leaving Europe.
After the war, Clifford continued his mechanics training and completed a diesel engineering course in Canada before starting employment in Millet, AB, He was working as a mechanic at the Reuben Plant when he retired.
Clifford is buried in the Millet Community Cemetery. {dcApr2018gd} [zbd]
*exact date unknown
