Force: Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS)

Born in 1922 in Buffalo Lake AB, Agnes Dahl was the daughter of Anders Jacobson and Kari (Tiegen) Dahl who were originally from Norway. Agnes and her brother and sisters attended Buffalo Lake School. Serving with the WRNS during WWII for two and a half years, she was posted in Eastern Canada. After the war she taught school in Progress BC where she met her husband, Eric Carlson. They were married in 1950, and moved to a farm in Fort St. John BC. The Carlsons had two children: Valerie and Renny. Agnes passed away at age 95 in May 2017.

Source: Buffalo Trails pp. 15-16, Photo p. 16
La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 101, Photo p. 315
AGS website – Obituary Index (Under “Carlson”)

Regimental No.: R-105922
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

Neil Dalgleish was born on July 5, 1918 in Leduc, AB to parents Alex and Margaret Jean Dalgleish. At the time of Neil’s enlistment with the RCAF in July 1941, the family had moved to Grande Prairie. Tragically, Neil was killed in a plane crash on December 20, 1942, and he was buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.

Source: Alberta Genealogical Society – Grande Prairie Cemetery Records ( File no. 510.03.22
Attestation Papers
Herald Tribune – Dec. 24, 1942 p. 1 c. 5 (plane crash)

Regiment: 49th Royal Edmonton

Born circa 1915 in Bellingham, Washington USA, Cal Dana was the son of David and Margaret (McLennan) Dana. In 1920 the family with 3 boys moved north to a homestead by the Smoky River in the Bezanson AB area. When the boys attended school, they travelled five miles one way. Cal joined the 49th Royal Edmonton regiment on September 10, 1939. His older brother, Thomas, also served in WW II. After the war, Cal worked in the far north on DEW lines (Distant Early Warning) which was a network of radar stations. He died in September 1976.

Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 – name in Roll of Honour
pp. 23-24

• List of Recruits

Gene Dana, the youngest son of David and Margaret (McLennan) Dana, was born in Bellingham, Washington, USA circa 1917. In 1920 he moved with his parents and brothers to a homestead in the Bezanson area. The school where the brothers attended was 5 miles away. Gene’s brothers (Thomas and Cal) served in WW II. On May 6, 1943, Gene married Grace Doreen Newman in Goodwin AB. For the first 2 years, they lived by the Simonette River, and operated a sawmill. Gene also briefly managed the Co-op store in Goodwin with his friend, Fred Darnton. Acquiring a quarter section (SE 26-71-W6) in 1945, the couple built a house and began cattle ranching. Later, Gene also worked for an oil company as a scout. Gene and Grace had a family of 4 children: Wayne, Lynne, Chris, and Pat. In 1973 Gene started Dana Contracting company which did clearing and seismic land slashing. After selling the business to his son, Chris, in 1986, Gene did consulting. He died on June 15, 1995. Grace passed away October 25, 2016.

Regiment: Princess Patricia - Engineers

Thomas Dana, who was the oldest son of David and Margaret (McLennan), was born circa 1912 in Bellingham, Washington, USA. In 1920, the family with 3 boys moved to the Peace River country and settled on a homestead by Bezanson AB. The boys attended school which was 5 miles away. Thomas married Eileen Newman before WW II, and then he enlisted with the Engineers and was posted overseas. His brother, Cal, also served in WW II. After the war, the couple went into farming in the DeBolt area. Gene retired in DeBolt, and he passed away in June 1985.

Source: Across the Smoky – p. 347 name in Roll of Honour; pp. 23-24

From Poplar Hill

• Recruits Leave for Edmonton

Regiment: Princess Patricia

Fred Darnton was known as an Englishman, who once camped out on the property of David and Margaret Dana near the junction of the Simonette and Smoky Rivers. It was the fall of 1930, and he was only passing through the area. He had nothing but the clothes he was wearing, and stayed overnight by his campfire. After investigation by the family and neighbors, Fred, “the crazy young guy”, soon came to be a close friend of the Danas and was like a son and brother to them. Fred filed on a homestead for $10 (SW -2- 72-2-W6) on December 23, 1930 in lived in the Goodwin area for the next 20 years. During WW II, he enlisted with the Princess Patricia Regiment and was posted overseas. Severely wounded during the D-Day landings in June 1944, he returned to Canada. Eventually he found a job with the Department of Highways and worked for 25 years.

Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 – name in Roll of Honour; p. 24; p. 140-141

Romain D’Auteuil was born in 1918 in St. Mathieu de Rimouski (Quebec (?)). He moved from Montreal to the west to work on the construction of the Alaska Highway. In 1943 He arrived in Girouxville AB where he had 2 brothers, Philippe and Vezina, and a year later he acquired some land west of Girouxville. In the summers he cleared the land, while in winter he worked at lumber camps in Prince George BC. During WW II Romain served in the Canadian Army. He rented out his farm in 1958, selling it in 1969. He passed away on May 20, 1970 at age 52, in Prince George.

Force: R.C.A.S.C.

Bill Davidson was born in Baldyquash Cottage Parish, County of Aberdeen, Scotland to parents Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Sr.) Davidson. The parents and 3 sons, William, Norman, and Charlie, arrived in Canada on May 7, 1928, first moving to Spirit River, AB, and then in 1929 to White Mountain where the family farmed. The 3 boys attended White Mountain School, and they also did janitorial work for the school in the 1930’s. In 1938 the family moved to the Willowvale district where Charles Sr. had taken up a homestead. Bill and his brothers all served overseas for 4 years in WW II. Bill was in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. He was married to Dorothy (“Dot”) in BC, and they lived in Burnaby and New Westminster BC

Source: Memories and Moments of White Mountain, Willowvale, and Bridgeview p. 85 (story); p. 276 (photo)
Chepi Sepe Spirit River p. 184 (photo); p. 341 (story)

Regiment: Sherbrooke Fusiliers – Tank Corps

Charles (Jr.) Davidson, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davidson, was born around 1916 in Baldyquash Cottage Parish, County of Aberdeen, Scotland. On May 7, 1928, the Davidsons arrived in Canada. They lived for a year in Spirit River, and then moved to White Mountain where Charles Jr. and his 2 older brothers, William and Norman, attended school. The boys also took turns being janitor for White Mountain School in the 1930s. In 1938 the family had their own homestead in the Willowvale district. All 3 sons served for four years overseas in WW II. Charles, who enlisted in the Tank Corps in 1942, was active in Normandy on the D-Day (June 6, 1944) Invasion. He also battled in Caen and Falaise in France, losing three tanks within 3 months. Discharged in 1946, Charles married Elsie Jean Burton in January 1947 in Edmonton. Obtaining land in White Mountain area from Veteran’s Land Act, they farmed until 1979, and then retired to Spirit River. They had 5 children: Phyllis and Donna (twins), Marlene, Edith, and Ronald. Charles died in December 1991 at age 75 in Grande Prairie, and Elsie died in December 1998.

Source: Memories and Moments of White Mountain, Willowvale, Bridgeview pp. 85-86 (story); p. 276 (photo)
Chepi Sepe – Spirit River p. 184 (photo); p. 341 (story)
AGS – Obituary Index

Regiment: Tank Corps

Norman Davidson, whose parents were Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Sr.) Davidson, was born in Baldyquash Cottage Parish, County of Aberdeen, Scotland. Arriving in Canada on May 7, 1928, he and his family moved first to Spirit River, and then in 1929 to White Mountain AB. Norman and his brothers, William and Charles, attended White Mountain School, and also did janitorial work for the school. The family moved to a homestead in nearby Willowvale in 1938. When WW II broke out, all 3 brothers served overseas for 4 years. Norman, who was in the Tank Corps, was wounded in France (?) and sent to England. He was married to Bernie, and they lived in Kelowna BC. Norman died in September 1982.

Source: Memories and Moments of White Mountain, Willowvale, Bridgeview p.85 (story); 276 (photo)
Chepi Sepe - Spirit River p. 184 (photo); p. 341 (story)

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Rank: Private
Enlistment Date: November 1940
Served with the Canadian Red Cross Hospital on Lady Astor's estate in England.

• On Leave

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Date of Birth: 24/02/1914

Carman Deluke was born Feb 14 1905, in Ottawa, Enlisted Oct 6 1942, Discharged Jan 10, 1946. Died May 4 1978. Regimental #M104360. Served in England, Europe, Italy and Canada.

Regiment: 48th Highlanders of Canada
Regimental No.: M/16024
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Army (R.C.I.C.)
Grave Ref. V.D.2.
Cemetery: Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy

David or “Pat” Denard, son of Robert and Ellen Boyd Denard, grew up in England as an orphan in the Bernardo Home. The date he arrived in Canada is uncertain; he filed on a homestead on SW – 25-73-9 in 1927 in the La Glace area (Old Post district). He was friendly and outgoing, visiting other settlers, and he worked for neighbors to earn money to buy himself farm machinery. In the early 1930s Pat was Secretary for the Meadowville School District. As soon as he heard about the war, Pat enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1939 in Edmonton, being posted to England and Italy. While in England, he married Hilda Nelson (who was an Air Raid Warden in Manchester) in September 1942. Tragically, Pat was killed in action in Ortono, Italy in December 1943 at age 39. Hilda came to Canada in 1945 to take over the homestead, and she raised cattle and lived there for many years.

Source: Photograph 2005.53.02. (1943) No. 3 Platoon C. A. (B.) T. C. No. 132
Commonwealth War Graves
Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Photo)
Buffalo Trails pp. 241-241
La Glace Yesterday and Today pp. 156, 278-279, Photo p. 279

.

• War Brides Collection

79-23-W5, 1952

Date of Birth: 23/01/1917

Date of Birth: 19/10/1912

Lived in Demmitt

• List of Recruits

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections p.243

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections p.243

Branch: RCAF

Date of Birth: 08/03/1922

Branch: Calgary Highlanders
Lived by Clairmont

• Home on Leave

From Demmitt

• Recruits Leave for Edmonton

Date of Birth: 1913

Branch: Fifth Armoured Division

Regimental Number: L-108077
Date of Attestation: 10-1-44
Rank: Private
79-26-W5, 1959
Born March 11, 1922 in Rocconville Sask. Enlisted 1943, Discharge 1946
Served Canada, England, Italy and N.W. Europe.

• Donaldson Family Collection

Date of Birth: 11/05/1918

Rank: Sergeant Service No:M/45559Date of Death: 19/08/1944
Regiment/Service: 7th/11th Hussars, R.C.A.C. 2nd Armd. Bde. H.Q. Sqn. Grave Reference: VIII. C. 14. Cemetery: BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: 06/05/1941
Notes: 79-23-W5, 1946

Date of Birth: August 24, 1914
Place of Birth: Hanna
Date of Enlistment: 1940
Regiment: M45567
Force: Army
Regiment: Southern Alberta Regiment
Married: August 23, 1945 in Rowledge, U.K.
Date of Death: Nov. 27, 1977 in Grande Prairie, Alberta

• War Brides Collection
• Photographs of Vi and Arnold
• Violet Dryer fonds
• Gravestone

Regiment: Loyal Edmonton
Force: Army
Sources: Across the Smoky pg.345, Smoky River to Grande Prairie pg.426, Legion Album

• Recruits Join the Colors

Force: Army

Regiment: P.P.C.L.I.
Force: Army
Source: Legion Album

Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Married Dorothy Edith Blair of Devon, B.C.
Source: Legion Album
Across the Smoky: pg 345
Smoky River to Grande Prairie pg. 426

• Recruits Join the Colors
• Severely Wounded

Branch: Army
Married: Jean McCaig
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pg.1129

• Recruits Join the Colors

Place of Birth: Clover Bar
Branch: RCAF
Date of Marriage: June 1946 in Grande Prairie to Alice McCaig
Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pg. 540

Date of Birth: 28/05/1926

Regimental Number: R76773
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Date of Birth: 30 Oct 1921
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Killed in Action: 6 Sept 1942

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Date of Birth: 21/06/1923

Date of Birth: 01/02/1918

From Hinton Trail

• Enroute to Enlist

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

From Sexsmith

• Recruits leave for Edmonton

Date of Birth: 05/02/1923

Date of Birth: 26/03/1917

Date of Birth: 1907

From Crooked Creek

• List of Recruits

Notes: sw29-80-6-W6, 16-9-46, V Ag Lease

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

From Grande Prairie, served in an
Edmonton Regiment

• Recruits Visit Family on Leave

Killed in Action

Regimental Number: M65102
Regiment: Westminster Regiment (Motors), R.C.I.C.
Rank: Private
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta Date of Birth: 8 Apr
Killed in Action: 24 May 1944
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta Date of Birth: 8 Apr 1922

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: January 1917

From Sexsmith

• On Leave

Regimental Number: M102011
Regiment: Canadian Provost Corps
Rank: Private
Date of Birth: 22 Jun 1916
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Killed in Action: 28 May 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Branch: Regina Rifle Regiment

• In Nova Scotia

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 01/04/1921

.

• Recruits Join the Colors
• Sexsmith Recruits (1940)

Ray was born May 14, 1921 in Trauers Alberta. Regimenental # R131829, Enlisted July 19 1941 Discharged May 8 1945, Rank Sgt RCAF.

Date of Birth: 29/09/1922

Date of Birth: 27/05/1923

Date of Birth: September 1916

.

• War Brides Collection

Place of Birth: Scotland
Branch: Air Force - Cook
Married: June 9, 1945 to Jack Drsdale

• War Brides Collection
• Photographs of jean

From Crooked Creek
Source: Across the Smoky pg. 221

• Joins Army

War Bride. Mavis was born Sept 28, 1921 in England. Service #W310366, enlisted Feb 12 1943, Discharged Oct 25, 1943. RCAF (WD) Decoration VSM.

Regimental #M36180, Born Aug. 4 1917. Enlisted 1939. Disharged 1946. Served Canada, Sicilly,
England and N Europe. Jubilee Medal 1985. Legion life membership.

Notes: 79-24-W5, 1954

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Date of Birth: 14/07/1900 or 07/07/1915

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 13/12/1908

Branch: RCAF

• Leave to Join RCAF

Date of Birth: 07/01/1907

Date of Birth: 23/06/1907

Branch: RCAF

Calgary Highlanders, Regimental #M104859, born in Nanton, Alberta Feb 22, 1908. Died Apr 19 74 Serve Canada, England and N Europe
Filed in township 77-26-W5, 1948

Date of Birth: 1925

Notes: nw 13-81-8-W6, 2-1-59, VH

Date of Birth: 1917

Date of Birth: 11/03/1915

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Regimental Number: R142518
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Warrant Officer Class II
Date of Birth: 7 Dec 1921
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Killed in Action:
Service Nmber: R142518

• Joins Air Force
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

From Sexsmith

• Joins Up
• On Leave

.

• Recruits Join the Colors
• Sexsmith Recruits (1940)

Date of Birth: 1900

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley

WCAAF

• Joins WCAAF

Date of Birth: 25 Oct 1919
Date of Death: 18 April 2015
"Bubs was born on Oct. 25, 1919 in Fort. Saskatchewan to Walter and Josephine Wood. She was the fourth child of five. She was quickly nicknamed Bubbles and became known as Bubs for most of her life. Growing up in Radway, Alberta by the railway tracks, the train would always remind her of the comfort of home. Bubs joined the WRCNS in 1943 at Edmonton, and was sent overseas to Britain. These were days of immense pride for Bubs. She always spoke of the comradery, companionship and honour that serving her country had given her, and was faithful in her Remembrance Day attendance."

• Josephine's Funeral
• Obituary in the Edmonton Journal

Dominique was born April 15, 1925 in St Alphonse, Manitoba. Enlisted March 1943, Discharge Aug 1946. 25 General Transport, 3rd Division. Filed in Township 78-26-W5, 1946.

Date of Birth: 21/07/1922

Date of Birth: 12/02/1918

Thomas Gass served as a mechanic in WWII. When the war ended he came back and farmed near Hythe. Thomas didn't marry and is buried in the Hythe Cemetery.

• Gass Family fonds 631
• Leaving for Edmonton

Date of Birth: 22/08/1915

Date of Birth: 29/06/1925

Date of Birth: 13/11/1912

Date of Birth: 29/06/1925

Enlisted: February 1942
Branch: RCASC

• On Leave

From Dimsdale

• Leaves for Edmonton

Source: Buffalo Trails pg. 136

Married Larry Thornington
Source: Buffalo Trails pg. 136

Married Gretha

• War Brides Collection
• Gerow Wedding Photograph

Lived at Buffalo Lakes
Source: Buffalo Trails pg. 136

Regimental Number: J12273
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Date of Birth: 19 Nov 1920
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Killed in Action: 22 Oct 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Service Number: M104398
Rank: Private
Branch: RCASC
b. 1912
d. 1951
Burial: Halcourt Cemetery, Halcourt, Alberta
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Rank: Gunner

Birth Date: 23 Feb 1921
Birth Place: Grizzlybear, Alberta
Residence: Hythe, Alberta
Service Number: J12225
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flying Officer
Killed in Action: 17 Feb 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Regimental # M65908. Married Marie Burroughs on Dec 25, 1940. Had a daughter named Gail in 1942 who married Leo Trudell. Donat enlisted in 1942, was killed in Sicily in Oct 1943. Marie later married Delbert Campbell.

Notes: 79-26-W5, 1946

Date of Birth: 28/10/1919

Date of Birth: 22/10/1919

Date of Birth: 14/06/1922

From Grande Prairie

• List of Recruits

Regiment: Edmonton Regiment

• Recruits Visit Family on Leave
• On Leave (1940)

Date of Birth: 28/09/1924

Rank: Sapper
Enlisted: February 1941

• On Leave

Date of Birth: 05/03/1922

.

• Recruits Join the Colors
• Sexsmith Recruits (1940)

Date of Birth: 22/06/1917

Notes: 77-26-W5

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Date of Birth: 26/01/1921
Branch: Air Force

• On Leave

Bruce was born May 9, 1919 in Decker, Manitoba. Enlisted Edmonton Aug. 9, 1940.
RCAF-Cpl. Regimental #R121836, Discharged June 28, 1946, Jubilee Medal 1986.

For King in Country poster located in Wembley, Saskatoon Reflections p. 146-150

Date of Birth: 1902

Regimental #C51649. RCAF, Atlantic Submarine Search, 1940-1945. RCAF Flying officer F Engineer. Service in Canada. Born March 17. 1919 in Cibbs, Sask.

Notes: sw 7, nw 6-80-5-W6, 21-8-58, V Ag Lease

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 151

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 151

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 151

For King and Country poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 151

Date of Birth: 1900

Date of Birth: 1921

Source: Pioneer Round Up pg. 356

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Frank joined the Air Force as a mechanic.

• Jons Air Force Unit