HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-11-09, Page 34PAGE 16 -REMEMBRANCE DAY -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 9, 1994
George Miller
Don Muir
GEORGE MILLER
George Miller served from 1939 -
1945 with the 86 Bridge Co.
attached to the 21st army group. He
was in the D -Day invasion at Lille
Normandy and helped put the first
Pontoon and Bailey bridge across
the Rhine River at Enricke. He
found it rather rough at first
because they would be working at
night getting a few sections of
bridge built and the Germans who
were also working at night would
come along and blow them up.
Eventually they got two bridges
across the Rhine, one for going to
the front lines with supplies and the
other for coming back.
Don Murray
Ken Murray
Peter Murray *
Peter J. Murray *
W. MITCHELL
Sgt. W. Mitchell joined the Brit-
ish Army early in 1944. After basic
training he was posted to 'C' com-
pany 2nd Baty Cameronians Scot-
tish Rifles. He landed in France ten
days after D -Day and fought his
way through Holland, Belguim to
and through Germany our final
action the taking of Willemshaven
Germany. After the war was over
he was sent to the middle east as a
peace keeping force.
DON MUIR
Don Muir was . a Private from
March 1951 to April 1952 with the
Princess Patricia Canadian Light
Infantry. His regiment was the only
non -American one to win a citation
in the conflict, for holding the
enemy at bay for two days in the
Battle of Kapyong. Mr. Muir, who
now lives on James St., revisited
Korea in 1981 as an Ambassador of
Peace.
Robert Newnham
Vivian Newnham
John Neilson
Ian Nesbitt *
Dave Netzke *
Harry
Nesbitt
HARRY W. NESBITT
Harry W. Nesbitt V-90087 of the
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer
Reserve joined the Canadian Nav`y
on July 10, 1944 at the age of 17
and was discharged on Nov., 1945.
His basic training was at London,
Ont. at H.M.C.S. Prevost a building
on Richmond Street which is long
gone. From there he went to
Cornwallis on the Bay of Fundy for
further training. He remembers the
first time he saw the effects of the
tide. At night the water was about
level with the docks and in the
morning the water was down at
least 20 feet. (The Bay of Fundy
has the biggest tides in the world he
believes). After a period of about 2
months of gun drill, rope -tying (he
never mastered it), semaphore
signalling etc. their group was
posted to different areas. He was
posted to the H.M.C.S. Ottawa, a
destroyer anchored at Dartmouth
Nova Scotia and doing escort duty
for troop ships going to England.
This ship and others would escort
about half way across the Atlantic
and there be met by English ships
to take them to England. The ship
would then return to Halifax.
On March 11, 1945 the ship,
Ottawa, crashed into the Stratford,
a minesweeper, causing severe
damage to the bow. The Stratford
was eventually scrapped and by the
time the Ottawa was repaired the
war was over in Europe.
AFTERMATH - About 1989 the
crew of the Stratford held a reunion
in Stratford Ont. He was invited as
a special guest because of the
previous encounter with the
Stratford. Many a good laugh was
had at this time but in March 11,
1945 it was not a laughing matter.
In 1990 a reunion of the Ottawa
was held in Calgary. About 75
sailors and their wives attended.
In 1992 the third Ottawa came to
Cornwall at a naval reunion. All ;-
members
members of the Ottawa were
invited with their wives to come
aboard at Cornwall and sail down
the -St. Lawrence to Montreal. They
boarded at eight in the morning and
spent a wonderful day aboard ship.
It was quite interesting going
through the locks.
Some major differences on the
third Ottawa was a helicopter, the
dining area with three kinds of
cooked meats, salad section, dessert
section. (The navy has always been
well fed). The heads quite large.
Finally they have been told when
the 4th Ottawa is built (not
completed yet) they will be invited
to Halifax to once again 'Board'.
Sincere Best Wishes
to Branch 156
Royal Canadian
Legion
for your
Outstanding Service
to our
Community
from the staff of
SEAFORTH
CREAMERY