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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-11-10, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1999. PAGE 11. ■Carls on Canadas involvement First World War * Canada entered the war in 1914. * Almost 620.000 Canadian men and women served in the First World War at a time when the population of the country was only a few mil­ lion. Of these over 66.000 were killed *At the Battle of the Somme, the British Forces suffered their heaviest one-day loss, over 57,000 men. More than 700 men from the Newfoundland regiment were killed or injured during this battle. *Four Canadians were awarded the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for bravery, for their part in the taking of Vimy Ridge. * Canadian John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields while on the battlefields. * During the course of the war. Canada's naval service grew from 350 men and two ships to a force of 9,000 men and 100 ships. Second World War * By September 1939, over 58,000 Canadian men and women had vol­ unteered to serve in the Canadian Forces. * Canadian soldiers formed the main assault force for the raid on Dieppe, where over 900 Canadians were killed and almost 2.000 more were taken prisoner. * Approximately 14,000 Canadians landed at Normandy on D-Day. * The 1st Canadian Army was instrumental in the liberation of Holland in May 1945. * Over 1 million Canadians served in the Second World War and approximately 45,000 gave their lives. * Canada’s navy was the third largest in the allied forces and its airforce was the fourth largest. * By the end of the Second World War, Canada’s navy had more than 113,000 personnel, including over 7,000 women. Korean War * North Korea’s invasion of South Korea marked the first open act of aggression since the establishment of the United Nations. * Over 26,000 Canadians served in the Korean War. * The Royal Canadian Navy was the first branch of Canada’s forces to provide aid to the UN Forces in Korea. * Over 1,500 Canadians lost their lives during the Korean War. *Canada made a larger contribution in proportion to its populations than most of the nations which provided troops for the international force. A103238 Russell Fox P.T.E. - John Bailey Nesbit 1st BN-33 RD Born March 4, 1895 in Yorkshire, England Died Jan. 14, 1977 Came to Canada in the Spring of 1913 enlisted in the Canadian Army at Brucefield in August 1914. Served overseas in France and was wounded while fighting at the front lines and after a lengthy recovery he served the rest of the war as a transport driver. In 1926 he purchased a farm on Cone. 8 - 9 Morris Twp. Married Margaret Quinn in 1935 and together they raised a family of six children. They retired to Blyth in 1972. David Hastings Brussels A31063 Brussels, Ontario A former employee of CNR on the local run of Palmerston to Kincardine In 1942 he enlisted B Squadron to the only armoured 5th Division of New Brunswick Hussars. He was sent overseas in 1942. He was wounded in action in Italy 1944 and was discharged in January 1946. He once again was employed by CNR as class engineer on London to Sarnia route where he remained for 10 years until he took an early retirement. Russell is currently a patient in Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario. Ralph and Frank Shaw Morris Twp. Home on leave about 1915 Ralph joined up in Moose Jaw while teaching school there. Went overseas to England and on to France. Was wounded in his lower leg. Spent a long time in hospital. Came home and taught school in Bala until he retired to their farm, Cone. 2, Morris Twp. Frank joined up in Jamestown, went to Camp Borden to train. Went over with the 161 Battalion on to France to the front with 58 battalion, came home after four years. Married Elsie Johnston and farmed on Cone. 2, Morris Twp. in partnership with Ralph. Enlisted Sept. 8, 1939 with the 100th Field Battery RCACASF at Listowel, On. He served in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe. Discharged Sept. 8, 1945 Ken Coleman Brussels Ken Coleman, son of Alex and Annie Coleman of Brussels joined the army when he was 17 years old. Already married to Beth Bettger, formerly of Monkton, Coleman trained in Kingston and in British Columbia. He was shipped out to the Aleutian Islands and England and served as a signalman. Coleman eventually became a ser­ geant. After returning home to Brussels in 1945 he worked as a plumber and electrician for Calvin and Gordon Krauter. He was electrocuted in 1953. Karen Hastings, his first child was born in 1943, while he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. Two more chil­ dren were born after he returned home, Robert Coleman and Susan McNeil. James Herbert Stretton Brussels Born Aug, 15, 1908 Flight Sargeant Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1945 Discharged 1945, Received 50-year pin as mem ber of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 218. Died Jan, 22, 1996 Gordon Workman Brussels Having enlisted during World War II, he first served with Essex Scottish and transferred to the Navy. He was on convoy on the Prince Henry then the St. Lambert from Newfoundland to Londonderry, Ireland, escorting troops and supplies. After the war, Gordon owned a plumbing, heating, electric and home heat service in Brussels. He is retired. He also served on village coun­ cil, for a time as reeve, for a total of 21 years. Married to Isabel, he is the father of four, Bonnie, Brian, Donna and Jacquie, grandfather to 12 and great-grandfather to three.