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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-10-04, Page 30!LEGION ANNIVERSARYSECTION: Well Legionnaires As they celebrate their SO years of service, we are pleased to extend' ow coogratuWlona to . SEAFORT/H BRANCH 156 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION 'SEAFORTH FARMERS. CO-OP• 527-0170 MERRY CHRISTMAS' 0,ny Seaforth children got their first look at Santa Claus at the local Legion's annual party for Legion sent gifts • Like many other residents,. Frank Sills first, exposure to . the Canadian Legion was at the; annual. Remembrance. Day services around the Victoria Park cenotaph. Mr. Sills ' remembers Henry Swan, a World. War•I veteran who had been gassed in the trenches, playing the last post during the services on the same bugle he had carried as a soldier. Mr: Sills: said: he recalls. one . year it wasso cold standing ' .by the cenotaph that only two clarinets and a drum could be heard the rest of the :instruments had. frozen. He remembers' S.W. Archibald; the first Seaforth Legion president and times when the memorial services hadto be held in Cardno's. hall since it was too cold or damp outdoors Adventu re Frank Sills, a veteran of World War 1I; .said his major concern when war was de- clared was that ''it might be over before 1 got 'there." Looking back, the veteran remembers that the men who enlisted for service had an "adventurous spirit a spirit he thinks might have been fostered by reading Old Chum books with their tales. of knights and battles. He said while there was a certain amount of romance about parts Of the war, when you get into it,the carnage' isn't romantic." When war was declared in 1939, many young men in the` area already belonged to the 'shortlived Middlesex and Huron,. militia nicknamed "the. Saturday, night army" he said. However, the regi- ment was disbanded when war, was declared, so many local boys joined either. the Perth regiment, in Stratford or the Elgin regiment from St,' Thomas. Frank Sills 'said he thinks most Canadians realized there would be a war, but few realized it would last so long. He said throughout the War, members of the :Sea - forth. Legion'. were particu- larly good at sending parcels to the soldiers overseas and writing letters. RAF Since Mr. Sills was a radar technician, he often served with the RAF:: in Britain, North Africa and; in the invasions of southern France and Italy. He said he ran into a number of fellow Seaforth- ites-during his years .over- seas men like Donnie Dale, Donnie MacLean, Van Bell (!:iter killed in action), Angus M.icLean in North Africa, Harold Free and Bob Aber - hart. One of the particularly moving sights he recalls was when the Allied troops were. invading southern France, to reclaim it from the ' enemy forces. Mr. Sills said in the harbour of Toulon, France, was the entire French navy, with only 'the' spars of the ships showing above . the water line. Earlier in the war, the French navy hadde- stroyed the fleet rather than let it fan into enemy hands. CONGRATULATIONS You're 50. years young 50 years In the life of a community may not seem like much, but when :measured' In hours, days and weeks of service by DEVOTED LEGIONNAIRES. it all adds up to a resounding THANK YOU BRANCH 156-SEAFORTH ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION ROWCLIFFE MOTORS Soder* 527.1670 o members kids. This photo ' was taken about 20 years ago. (Photo by Phillips) rseas Frank :Sills' was back in. Canada by the war's end, and was on leave in Seaforth• for V -E day, which was "quite a celebration.:" He said cars were streaming. around town and people were shouting 'and hollering, with the European war over.'. • V -J day After V=J' Day, when most local servicemen returned, the town and townships com- bined to honor the soldiers with a community dinner served in thebasement of the United Church.' Frank Sills said the Cana- dian Legion was always very much in the forefront in anything done for ex- servicemen. Like many other soldiers,, he joined Seaforth Branch. 156 when he' returned . from the war,; in the days when the organization was still meet- ing above the Seaforth post office: In 1929 . .• Who would have thought Seaforth Branch 156 could have built such an enviable record of servine to the community,; • Well, they have and we pay tribute to them for thepant and their future success. We Salute Tout HILDEBR'AND Paint:, & Paper Interior & Exterior Decorators 527.1880 Seafertl Linking a Proud Past To a Promising Future SEAFpRTN'BRANCN 156 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION In an age of rapidly changing values, we pay tribute to the. Seaforth-Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for their efforts. to maintain .a value we should all ;admire:: . SERVICE. DONALD G. EATON Seafo 527-1610 KENNETH J CARDN ea (with. m the Royal Canadian Legion SEAFORTH BRANCH 3: for 50 years of outstanding service to the community'