Regimental Number: M59217
Rank: Sapper
Jack, born on January 26, 1921 in Bezanson, was the 2nd oldest in Peter and Catherine Moon’s family of four children. He had an older brother, William (Bill) and two younger sisters, Mary and Joyce. Peter had arrived in the Bezanson area in 1912 and filed a homestead application on SW 27-71-3-W6. In 1914, he married Catherine Grant in Edmonton following which, the young couple traveled over the Edson Trail and arrived at the homestead three weeks later. The family lived in a log house with a sod roof for 10 years before a new home was built. Jack attended the Bezanson One-Room School where he completed most of Grade 9. Jack worked on the family farm until he enlisted.
On February 5, 1941, Jack enlisted in the Army – Royal Canadian Engineers at Grande Prairie. He was subsequently transferred to Calgary then to Petawawa, Ontario and lastly to Debert, Nova Scotia for training. At these various locations, he completed courses to become a Qualified Driver Class “C”, Pioneer Class “C” and a Qualified Carpenter Class “B”. He sailed from Halifax on August 23, 1941 and disembarked at Glasgow, Scotland the following day. Jack continued his training in the UK where he became a Qualified Driver Mechanic Class III before being sent to France in June 1944. Sapper Peter John “Jack” Moon was discharged on February 6, 1946 at the No.13 District Depot in Calgary. Jack served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe and received the 1939-45 Star, France Germany Star, Defense Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
Once Jack was discharged, he returned to the family farm. On April 17, 1946, he married Lena McDonald from the Crystal Creek area. Lena passed away on June 30, 1958 and was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery. Jack continued to farm but eventually sold his land to Grant and Ross Moon. He lived in his own residence that was located on Joan and Andy McNally’s land for a period of time and then lived in a little house in Earl and Allie Weegar’s yard. Jack passed away in 1981 and was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery. Jack was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion West Smoky Branch No. 244 in Bezanson for many years and also served on the executive.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Service File
Larry Fells