Fernie was born in
1913. He had two brothers and two sisters.
He was a student of Glebe
Collegiate and was very good at sports, winning
several awards in track and markmanship. He went
on to work for Geroge Weston Company, but
enlisted into the Canadian Army when the war
broke out. He served in Iceland and England. In
august 1943 he went back to Canada for officer
training. He returned to England in May 1944.
As British units were faced
with a need for officers, the CANLOAN program
was started in which Canadian officers would be
attached to British units. Fernie became an
Lieutenant with either A or B company, 9 Bn,
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
Fernie and his unit fought
in Normandy from June 1944. Against an SS unit
he commanded Cpl Rose and ordered him to take
out an machine gun nest. Cpl Rose did so and was
awarded the Military Medal for this action.
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