Latest News
A poppy engraved road sign of Gage Road.
Screen grab from Google Maps
In honour of our soldiers: Donald Irwin Gage
By Samuel Cheng
Published 10:58 PST, Fri December 8, 2023
—
In a series of Richmond’s ‘poppy’ street signs in memory of our fallen soldiers, we share the story of Gage Road.
On January 20 in Bow Island, Alberta, a little boy by the name of Donald Irwin Gage was born. He was 12 years old when he and his family moved to Richmond. Upon arrival, he attended Mitchell School before graduating from Richmond High School later on.
Unlike most young adolescents, Gage did not immediately find a job elsewhere, but instead, started his career by working for his father, Ernest Carlton Gage, for a couple of years. The Gage family used to own a poultry farm.
It wasn’t until the January of 1941, when Gage found another job opportunity with Buckerfields, in which he worked as a driver and laborer for five months. In the same year, he married Blanche Lorraine Lauder and went on to join the Canadian Army on June 19, 1941, a mere five days after his wedding.
Gage was enlisted with the 4th Fortress Company stationed in Vancouver, where he served as an engine hand. Engine hands are responsible for the daily routine of keeping, maintaining and cleaning of the engine room on a ship. It is a vital role that works closely with engineers to make sure the functionalities and operations of a ship run smoothly and kept up to date.
About 11 months later, Gage was discharged from the 4th Fortress Company and he then joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Gage became an official member of the R.C.A.F. on June 1, 1942.
Upon enlistment with the R.C.A.F., Gage was stationed in Edmonton and became one of the many airmen. An airman is a small but vital position of the air force as they are responsible for a multitude of duties ranging from repairing and maintaining mechanical equipment, including but not limited to missiles, engines, automobiles and more.
Gage was promoted to lance corporal in 1942 and pilot officer by April of 1944. He was quickly transferred to be a part of the bombing crew that was responsible for bombing Germany after his training in Manitoba in 1943.
On May 12, 1944, things took a turn when Gage and his crew, Lancaster Bomber #ND 919 went missing on a night of an operation against Louvain, Belgium. His body was never recovered nor found. Up until this point, Gage successfully performed 30 operational flights and the 31st flight, was the one he was tragically killed in. Gage was survived by his wife Lorraine and daughter Vicky Lynn Gage.
Today, Gage Road can be found on the north side of Bridgeport Road, east of Garden City Road and nearby Highway 99.
2 Hours of free financial consulting
Jai Xin Planning Ltd.
C$120.00 C$0.00
Use any of our home staging service and get a second month rental for free!
MiiX Interiors
C$500.00 C$0.00
Get 10% off any order
Phantom Screens Lower Mainland
C$200.00 C$180.00
