Brian Long, and Huntingdon Rec Committee members Councillor Mike Kerby, Brock Kerby and Stuart Kerby. (Photo: Brock Kerby/submitted)
Story submitted by Brock Kerby
A small gathering of community members and relatives honour, and pay tribute to, a local war hero this May 12, in Ivanhoe Ontario.
Unveiling an honorary plaque for Warrant Officer Michael Joseph Stewart Kerby, a bomber pilot during the Second World War, Stewart completed 37 air operations in the Middle East, where he had a plane crash, and survived behind enemy lines for 48 hours.
Stewart returned to England to train Canadian pilots at OTU Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, England. Stewart, on a night-time training exercise, suffered engine failure, and died along with three other Canadians on May 12, 1943 with this day marking the 75 anniversary of his death.
Brian Long and Brock Kerby (great nephew ) wished to pay tribute to this brave hero who hadn’t received this recognition. From the success of their local documentary “In The Footsteps of a Hero: The Stewart Kerby Story” they raised nearly a thousand dollars for this plaque, and towards future war hero documentary projects.
