Floyd Mehan (1922-1945)

Floyd David Shipley was born on 24 July 1922 in Brandon, Manitoba, to Lloyd Everett Shipley (an American carpenter) and Helen Mavis Drury (known as Nellie).

In September 1922, when Floyd was six weeks old, Lloyd was killed when his truck was wrecked by a train. Nellie got remarried to Francis English Mehan (known as Frank) and Floyd took his last name. When Nellie explained the name situation to the army, she said he “wished to enlist under that name, as he had a great love and respect for his stepfather”.

Floyd attended high school in Port Coquitlam and was employed by BC Hardware as a hardwood finisher.

He enlisted in July 1940 and joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment. He lied about his age – using his sister’s date of birth (17 June 1921). In 1944, he served in the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Photo credit: Operation Picture Me via the Canadian Virtual War Memorial (https://veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/631122)

Floyd died on 16 January 1945 (aged 22) due to “accidental drowning”. He had been found floating in the Ghent Canal. He was pulled out by firemen, who attempted artificial respiration, but couldn’t revive him. There was no evidence of any improper conduct. He is buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery, Adegem, Belgium.

His sister, Patricia, published a memorial poem for him in 1947:

“The rolling stream of life goes on

But still the vacant chair

Recalls the love, the voice, the smile

Of you, who once sat there.”

In 1966, Mehan Lake, north of Meziadin, BC, was named for Floyd – part of a project to name geographic features to honour Canadians who died with the armed services overseas.