Hugo Farner was born in 1922, the son of Frank Charles Farner (born in Dresdan, Germany) and Florence (nee Mitchell, born in Newcastle, England) Farner of 106 McGibbon Street, Sarnia. His parents, Frank and Florence, were married in February 1914 at St. George’s Rectory in Sarnia. Father Frank was an engineer with the Canadian Natioanl Railways. Hugo had two brothers: Richard Herbert (born 1914, who would also serve in England) and Vernon Charles (born 1918), who would later move to Cleveland. His brother Richard would enlist in June of 1942, going overseas in December of that year, arriving in Italy with the Canadian Signal Corps. When Hugo was three years old, he and his brother Vernon returned from a visit to England with their mother. They left Liverpool, England aboard the passenger ship Megantic, and arrived in Quebec on September 12, 1925. Their home address at that time was 412 Davis Street, Sarnia. Hugo was a pupil at Sarnia Collegiate for three years, and during his time there was prominent in junior athletics. He won a medal for life saving and the Jack Newton championship trophy for swimming. He also played on the junior rugby teams. Before enlisting, Hugo was employed at Electric Auto-Lite. At the age of nineteen Hugo would lose his mother, Florence, who died in 1941.

Hugo Farner enlisted in November 1941 in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and received training at Toronto, St. Thomas, Crumln, Trenton and Ottawa. He graduated and received his commission as Pilot Officer-Pilot on November 7, 1942 at Dunnville. On the following day, Hugo would marry Miss Betty Ash, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Ash, of 355 ½ Maxwell Street, Sarnia. While Hugo was serving away from Sarnia, his wife Betty Farner would live with her parents on Maxwell Street. Hugo then served for a time at Moncton, New Brunswick where he taught instructors to fly Harvard trainers. In January 1943, he was made instructor at RCAF #2 Service Flying Training School, Uplands, Ontario. When Hugo was transferred to Ottawa, Betty Farner would move there to join her husband in late January 1943 where they resided in Hogsback, Ontario, near Ottawa.  In late summer of 1943, Hugo and his wife Betty were expecting to have their first child together.

On September 24, 1943, Pilot Officer-Pilot Hugo Farner would lose his life when his Harvard aircraft #3293 crashed on an instruction flight at St.Jacques, East Quebec. He was killed instantly, the cause of the flying accident listed as obscure. A student pilot, Warrant Officer A.E. Frazer from Edmonton, Alberta was also killed in the crash.

Pilot Officer Hugo Farner and Leading Aircraftman-Pilot Leonard Meere (who died September 23 in a crash in Western Canada and is included in this Project) were buried barely a wingspan apart in Sarnia’s first double military funeral. Hundreds of relatives and friends attended both services, which drew thousands to the streets, around the churches, and lining the routes of march to Lakeview Cemetery. Pallbearers, honorary pallbearers and a firing party came from R.C.A.F. flying school at Centralia. The Sarnia Air Cadet Squadron band played at both funerals and they also provided an escort party. The service for both began at the Robb Funeral Home, then for Hugo Farner was continued at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church with Rev. J.M. Macgillivray officiating, while the service for Leonard Meere was continued at St. George’s Anglican Church by Rev. F.G. Hardy. From the churches, led by the firing party, the band and the escort party, the corteges started for the cemetery at a slow march. At Lakeview, they again slow-marched to the gravesides, with the band playing the “Dead March in Saul”. After the services at the gravesides by the ministers, the firing party delivered three volleys, with the band playing “Abide With Me” between them. Then the two buglers who accompanied the firing party from Centralia, stepped to the end of the graves and sounded the “Last Post”.

Twenty-one year old Hugo Farner is buried at the Sarnia (Lakeview) Cemetery, Sarnia, Ontario, Section E. Lot 137. On Hugo Farner’s headstone are inscribed the words, The Lord bless thee and keep thee. Beloved husband of Betty Ash. Eight months after Hugo’s death, his wife Betty would give birth to their baby daughter, Connie Lea Farner, born May 13, 1944. Connie Farner would never know her father.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, 2C, 2D