Eva Nadkrynechny was born on January 26, 1926 in Reshnivka, Ukraine which was occupied by Poland at the time. Eva immigrated to Canada with her parents and sister in 1929, landing in Halifax on April 1. After travelling to Edmonton, they went to Glendon where her father had put a down payment on a farm. After three years, they couldn’t make the payments on the land and they left. Her father then filed for homestead in Sunset House, south-west of High Prairie. The family came to High Prairie in the spring of 1932 and travelled to the homestead along the “winter trail.”

In 1936, the family moved to Edmonton and Eva and her sister went to a regular school. Eva was an excellent student. In the spring of 1938 the family returned to Sunset House. After walking to High Prairie for her mother to receive her Canadian Citizenship certificate, Eva’s brother. Ken, was born. In June, Eva wrote the grade eight departmental exam and completed her education. That fall, Eva moved to High Prairie to work. She sent money and clothes back to her family.

Eva enlisted in the RCAF (WD) and graduated at the head of her photography class. She also completed high school. Eva spent the war in Rockcliffe, Ontario, working in air mapping. After being honourably discharged, Eva worked as a pattern and style designer in the textile industry and at the time of her death in 1977, she was teaching at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.

Eva passed away on January 20, 1977 at MacMaster Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband, Ted Murray.

Sources:
The Military Service Recognition Book, Vol. VI (p.245)
Where The Red Willow Grew (p.557)

• Blog Post

Date of Birth: 06/04/1926

Force: RCAF

Nick was born in China (probably Manchuria) to Russian parents in 1911. He had some early lessons in English at the YMCA in Harbin. The family immigrated to Canada to take up land from the CPR in 1924 and settled originally in the Ponoka area. Nick apprenticed to a butcher and learned English from the butcher’s wife.

The family moved to Spirit River and Nick followed in 1928, finding work with a butcher. He moved to Peace River in 1930 to manage a meat market. There he met Elda Searle, a teacher, and they were married in August, 1932. This was followed by a move to Beaverlodge where Nick opened a butcher shop. Their son, Jack was born in 1936. In 1939, Elda became sick and passed away. This eventually led to Nick selling the business, taking his son to his sister-in-law in Trail, and then enlisting in the Air Force in Calgary (1940 or 1941).

Nick was posted overseas in England, Belgium, France, Holland, Germany and Denmark. He was commissioned overseas and worked as an interpreter for the Russian Air Force, the RAF and the RCAF. Nick claims to have spoken seven languages including Cree. He was discharged when he returned to Canada in 1946.

Nick returned to Beaverlodge where he again opened a butcher shop. He married Eleanor Jarvis in 1947 and had four more children.

Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies, p.221

• Blog Post

Everett Nash was born on September 14, 1914 and he came to the Northfield Settlement area in 1934 where he worked until enlisting in the Canadian Army in June, 1942.

Everett served in the 7th Battery, 2nd Field Regiment Artillery. He was stationed in Sicily and Italy until he was wounded and sent back to England. While in England, Everett met his future wife, Kitty. They got married in England, and she arrived in Northfield in July, 1946.

Everett and Kitty homesteaded until 1961, when they sold out. Then they became caretakers of the LaGlace School until 1965, when they left Northfield and LaGlace.

Sources: LaGlace: Yesterday and Today (p.126) The Northfield Settlement (p. 60)

Signaller

• Signallers Left for Edmonton

Harry Nellis, the son of L.J. (Moose) Nellis, was born on March 15, 1920 on the farm in Bezanson. When Harry was six, the family moved to Grande Prairie where he started school. They moved back to the farm in 1933 where Harry went to school for two more years.

On October 3, 1940, Harry enlisted in the Canadian Army. Three of his brothers had enlisted in the Air Force. Harry learned trade-school mechanics while in basic training in Edmonton. In 1941, he went overseas and was stationed in England. There he met Grace Taylor, and on August 28, 1945, they were married at St. Peter’s Parish, Walton On The Hill. England. Harry returned to Canada in 1945 and Grace joined him in 1946.

Harry and Grace had three sons. Harry worked on the farm and in the winters at Moon’s Sawmill in Crooked Creed. He lost an arm in an accident at the saw mill in 1951. Harry also worked at the Bezanson Service Station and for the County of Grande Prairie. Harry passed away on May 9, 2005.

Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie (p. 45)

• War Brides Collection
• Nellis Wedding Photograph
• Home on Leave

Orval Nellis was born in 1912 in International Falls, Minnesota. He moved to the Grande Prairie with his family in the spring of 1917 where his parents homesteaded until 1926 when they moved into Grande Prairie.

Orval married Irene Bulford on July 15, 1940 in Berzanson. The couple lived in the Bezanson area, where their first child was born. In May, 1943, Orval joined the Air Force as an engine mechanic and they moved to Hamilton, Ontario where a second child was born. Irene moved back to the Bezanson area in 1944 until Orval was discharged on April 7, 1946.

Orval took a welding course and worked as a welder until 1974. In 1949, they bought their first home in Grande Prairie. They moved to Dawson Creek in 1966. In 1974, they bought the Wembley General Store.

Orval passed away in 1987 and is buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetary in Bezanson.

Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie, pp 368-369 (see also the entry for Lester John Nellis, pp 367-368)

Date of Birth: 21/04/1927
Regimental Number: RCASC
Rank: Corporal
Branch: Army

Date of Birth: 05/09/1923
Branch: Calgary Highlanders
Rank: Private

Enlisted May 1941

• Home on Leave

(March 4, 1925 – October 15, 2004)
Growing Up in Grande Prairie
Robert Ernest (Ernie) Nelson was born on March 4, 1925 in Grande Prairie and had four brothers; two older and two younger. The Nelson family lived in the Forbes House, a provincial historic site in Grande Prairie, from 1936 to 1947. Ernie’s father, Isaac Nelson, co-owned the Nelson & Archibald General Store where Ernie spent some of his summers working. As a child, he attended Montrose Elementary Public School and then went on to attend the Grande Prairie High School.

Air Force Training and Postings (1942-1944)
At the age of 17, Ernie Nelson (R212423) decided to join the Air Force and trained to become a rear gunner. Once overseas, he had advanced training. He was posted to 429 (Canadian) Squadron, stationed at Leeming, Yorkshire.
Ernie’s Last Operation (Nov 21, 1944)
Just before leaving on his last operation, on November 20, 1944, Ernie received his promotion to Pilot Officer (J92597). The next day, Halifax # MZ377 left the base in Leeming, England, at 15.46 hours for a raid on Castrop-Rauxel, located in the Ruhr Valley, 5 miles north west of Dortmund, Germany. The target was the oil refinery. After climbing to 18,000 feet, they set course, went over London, crossed the channel and French coast. Two minutes from the target, at 19.30 hours, over Langenburg, Germany, they were illuminated by a single searchlight. A night fighter, directly underneath, spotted them and opened fire.
Ernie, the rear gunner, opened fire and the enemy aircraft, a JU-88, burst into flames above and to starboard. They continued on to the target. After releasing the bombs, the pilot gave the order to bale out. Ernie turned in his seat, opened the door and jumped out. The aircraft went completely out of control. The port wing dropped off at the root. The pilot, hearing no response from the crew, looked into the nose to see an opened parachute. The crew could not get out. At 400 to 500 feet, the aircraft went onto its back.
The pilot was thrown out and landed less than 50 feet from the plane, badly burned. The plane exploded over a house in Langenberg, Germany and landed in the garden. The house is still standing today, in 2005. The bomber burned fiercely upon impact, killing the remaining crew members trapped inside. Ernie broke a bone in his foot when he landed. He became a Prisoner of War (PoW no. 1254) at Stalag Luft VII (Bankau) and remained a PoW until the end of the war. Ernie returned to Grande Prairie and died in Edmonton on October 15, 2004.

Date of Birth: 14/12/1920
Branch: Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
Rank: Captain

Frank was born Born Dec 1923 at St Thomas Ontario. Regimental #A105718, Unit 2 Medium RCA. Enlisted July 1942. Discharged Feb 1946. Served Canada, England, Italy and NW Europe.

Rank: Private Service No:M/104929 Regiment/Service: Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Date of Death:18/02/1945 Age:28
Notes: Son of Paul and Annie Newman, of Grande Prairie, Alberta.

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Service Number: M66416
Branch: Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps.
Date of Enlistment: 9 Oct. 1941
Lived in Grande Prairie with wife Irene
Source: A Lumberjack Remembers

Regimental #M17171. Unit PROVOT Corp. Born April 6 1918 at Clairmont. Enlisted April 3 1940, Discharged Aug 1 1945. Served in Canada England NW Europe. Died May 24, 1986 at Grande Prairie. Filed in Township 79-26-W5, 1959.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Pioneer Round-Up p.654

Pioneer Round-Up p.654

From Sexsmith

• On Leave

Date of Birth: 12/06/1909

Ted Oatway was born June 15, 1920 to Jack and Anna Oatway who had settled in the Kleskun Lake district. Ted grew up there and attended the Kleskun Lake School. Ted enlisted in the Canadian army during the war and served in Italy and Holland.

After the war, Ted settled in Edmonton and worked for Canada Post. In 1951, he married Betty Emes and they had four children, two daughters and two sons. Ted passed away November 22, 2009 and is buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Edmonton.

Sources: Daily Herald-Tribune (obituary)
Smoky River to Grande Prairie (p. 299)

Born 1923. Died in Watino 1946, buried in Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary.

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Rank: Private
Enlisted: April 1941
Served in the Service Corps in England.

• On Leave

Branch: Army
Enlisted: Feb. 1941
Died in 1963, age 46.
Lived in Valhalla, attended Molde School.

• Wounded

Served in WWII, from Valhalla.

• Hawkesworth Family fonds 633

Source: Chepi Sepe p. 711

Birth Date: 28 Jan 1919
Birth Place: Wembley, Alberta
Residence: Pipestone Creek, Alberta
Service Number: M38504
Force: Army
Regiment Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Rank: Private
Killed in Action: 6 Jun 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Notes: 79-26-W5, 1959

Notes: 79-24-W5, 1951

Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Date of Birth: 23/09/1919

Date of Birth: 1900

Notes: s1/2-11-80-8-W6, 1-1-63, VH Lease

Date of Birth: 16/11/1925

Branch: RCAF
Head filing clerk Currie Barracks, Calgary

• In the Army

Fourth Division
Branch: RCASC

• Sister in the Army

Alex Pandachuck was born to Nicolas and Eugenia Pandachuck in Regina in 1924. In 1928 the family moved to the Elmworth district where they farmed.

In 1942, Alex joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and in the spring on 1944 was posted overseas in England. He completed 32 operations as a mid-upper gunner in Halifax bombers.

Alex met and married his wife, Margaret, while in England. When they returned from overseas in 1946, they moved to Elmworth and took up farming. Alex also drove a school bus.

Sources: Beaverlodge to the Rockies (p.289)

Walter Pandachuck was born to Nicolas and Eugenia Pandachuck in 1920. In 1928, the family moved to the Elmworth district to farm.

Walter enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and was posted overseas. He returned to Canada in 1946, married Mary and began farming in Elmworth. Mary taught school in various places in the area.

Walter passed away in 1996.

Sources: Beaverlodge to the Rockies (p.290)

• Who I Will Be Remembering This Remembrance Day

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 1918

Date of Birth: 1917

Date of Birth: 22/04/1917

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Born Oct 5, 1917 Drumheller, Alta. Enlisted Feb 1941. Unit 1st Medion RECT RCA. Served in Canada, England, Italy, NW Europe, invasion of Sicily. Discharged Jan 1946. Charter member of the Eaglesham Legion, Sept 8 1947. Filed in Township 77-26-W5, 1947. Died June 8, 1980 Burial Eaglesham RC Cemetary.

Paul Paziuk was born in Wayne, Alberta May 1, 1919, Round Hill, AB. Enlisted June 1942. Regimental #M102574. Disharged Nov 1943. Served in Canada and England. Charter Member of the Eaglesham Legion, Sept 8 1947. Filed in Township 77-26-W5, 1946.

Basil Peace was born on February 6, 1910 in Firth, on the Orkney Islands. In April, 1929, Basil immigrated to St. John, New Brunswick, landing there on March 23, before travelling to Deloraine, Manitoba to look for work.

Basil arrived in the Peace country in 1930 to work on the railroad. He worked on the line from Hythe to Dawson Creek. On December 21, 1933, in the Red Deer area, Basil married Mabel Pollitt (also from the United Kingdom). They worked in the Albright area. They had two sons.

In November, 1941, Basil enlisted in the army at Calgary. He returned to Albright in time for Christmas, 1945. Through the VLA, Basil bought land in Albright and began farming.

Basil Peace passed away in 1997; his wife passed away in 2013, age 103.

Date of Birth: 20 Mar 1901
Place of Birth: Port Daniel, Quebec, Canada
Residence: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Service Number: M55560
Force: Army
Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
Rank: Private
Killed in Action: 14 Dec 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

AC2
Branch: RCAF

• Takes Toll of Nazi Raiders

Regimental Number: M35491

Date of Birth: 31 Jan 1924
Birth Place: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Residence: Heart Valley, Alberta
Service Number: J90560
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Pilot Officer

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Notes: 79-24-W5, 1951

Enlisted: January 1942
Served in Italy, Sicily & the Western Front.

• On Leave

Birth Date: 31 Mar 1923
Birth Place: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Residence: DeBolt, Alberta
Service Number: M104148
Force: Army
Regiment: Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), R.C.A.C.
Rank: Trooper
Killed n Action: 24 May 1944

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: 1918

• War Brides Collection fonds 259
• Photograph

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Rank: Flight Sergeant
Enlisted: March 1943

• Double Jinx Fails to Stop Alberta Flier

Date of Birth: 28 Nov 1916
Birth Place: Winnipeg, Man.
Residence: Grande Prairie, Alta
Service Number: J42806
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flying Officer

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Born:
April 25, 1918 Sexsmith, Alberta
Enlistment:
May 29, 1941 Edmonton, AlbertaService Number:
R/105745
Age:
25
Force:
Air Force
Unit:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Division:
405 Sqdn.

Date of Birth: May 12, 1922
Place of Birth: Sexsmith
Enlistment:
November 3, 1942 Edmonton, Alberta
Regimental Number: J/91050
Force: Air Force
Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Division: 425 Sqdn.
Killed In Action: April 24, 1944
Brother Charles was killed in action in 1943.

Frank married Mary Mable Pantel on January 20, 1941 and they had two daughters and a son.

Frank enlisted in the King’s Own Rifles Regiment on October 11, 1942. He took basic training at Camrose and Moose Jaw. He was then sent to Debert, Nova Scotia but was not sent overseas. Someone in his barracks got the mumps so everyone was isolated for 21 days. Another soldier also came down with the mumps so the isolation lasted longer.

In May, 1945, Frank and others from Debert were sent to Halifax to help suppress the VE Day riots.

After the war, Frank moved his family first to Gundy and then to the Slave Lake/Kinuso area where they lived until moving to Grande Prairie in 1961.

Frank passed away November 4, 2009 and Mary April 1, 2014.

Sources: From Tears to Triumph: The Pioneers’ Journey (p.22)
Interview with Margaret Heath. February 10. 1991
Obituaries, Grande Prairie Herald-Tribune

Place of Birth: Silverwood, Alberta
Enlistment: 1940
Force: Army
Branch: Calgary Tankers
Taken by the Germans and was a prisoner of war for four years.

• War Brides Collection
• Poirier Wedding Photograph

Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pg. 422

• Five Sons in Army

Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

Ralph was born in Oklahoma in August, 1908. He came to Canada with his parents in 1909. They settled at Beaverlodge and he attended school here. In 1932 he married Kathleen Clarke. They had a son and a daughter.
On April 1, 1944 he enlisted in the navy as a Shpt. 4th Class. He was serving on board the mine sweeper Esquimalt when it was torpedoed, just outside of Halifax, at 6 a.m. April 16, 1945. The ship sank so quickly that none of the sleeping day crew was saved.
Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

Rank: Shipwright Service No: V/87252 Date of Regiment/Service: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve H.M.C.S. Esquimalt
Death:16/04/1945 Age:36
Notes: Son of Clarence O. and Mina R. Pool, of Beaverlodge, Alberta; husband of Kathleen E. Pool, of Edmonton, Alberta.

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

Canadian Dental Corps

• In London

Rene was born May 27, 1918. Enlisted Dec 5, 1941. Regimental #M39501 Discharged May 1945. Served Canada England and NW Europe. Wounded.
Died Dec 10 1968.

Regimental #M67419. Born Aug 9, 1909. Enlisted Edmonton Reg. Dec ?. Served Canada, England, Italy NW France. Filed in Township 79-24-W5, 1954. Died Oct 9 1978.

Jim Porterfield moved to the Spirit River area from Dauphin, Manitoba, with his family in 1928. Where they took up farming in the Broncho Creek district. Jim attended school at White Mountain and then at Broncho Creek.

In 1941, Jim enlisted and received his initial training in Grande Prairie and then at Shilo, Manitoba. In November, 1941, he was sent to England for more training. In July, 1943, Jim was part of the invasion of Sicily with the First Division Artillery. In December, Jim was wounded at Ortona and returned to England and then by the hospital ship, Lady Nelson, to Canada. He was in hospitals in Calgary and Edmonton.

In 1946, Jim returned to Spirit River and took over his parents’ farm. He married Elsie Collins from Blueberry Mountain on June 28, 1947 and they had a daughter and a son. In 1956, Jim took over the Massey Ferguson dealership in Spirit River and moved to town, keeping and farming the home quarter. He sold the dealership in 1964 and worked at various places until returning to the farm in 1975.

Sources: Chepi Sepe (p. 755)
Obituary, Grande Prairie Herald-Tribune

Date of Enlistment: June 2, 1941
Age at Enlistment: 24
Place of Enlistment: Calgary
Hometown: Clarkson Valley
Occupation: Farmer, mechanic
Regiment: Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Regimental Number: V13912
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Force: Royal Canadian Navy
Postings: North Atlantic, North Sea, Dieppe, England
Date of Discharge: October 18, 1945

Date of Birth: January 27, 1917
Place of Birth: Botha, Alberta
Date of Marriage: September 14, 1946
Place of Marriage: Grande Prairie United Church
Spouse: Carmella Viola Rossi (Camie)
Date of Death: March 28, 2003
Place of Death: Edmonton
Cemetery: Lake View Cemetery, Stettler, AB

Sources: Vickie Lynne Potter (daughter); Royal Canadian Navy documents; Province of Alberta (birth, marriage, death certificates)

Notes: Settled in Clarkson Valley, AB on SE 31-70-25-W5
Spent 643 days "on the high seas"
Holds the Dieppe Bar - awarded to those who participated in the Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942 and is worn on the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal Ribbon, plus other medals

.

• Leaves to Join

Sports and news commentator for radio station CFGP in Grande Prairie.

• Join Signals in Edmonton

From Grande Prairie

• List of Recruits

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 07/04/1922

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Owned Regal Show Store in Grande Prairie
d.1966
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pg. 322

• Sexsmith Boys Send-Off

Branch: Airforce
Lived in Vancouver
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pg. 322

Branch: RCAF

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Notes: 77-25-W5, 1946

Notes: 78-24-W5, 1947

Bill Purves was born in Scotland. He had one brother, George. When his mother died, his father, William Purves, married Sarah. More children followed, including Jimmy, John (Jock), Henry, Agnes (Nan), Michael (Mick) and Bob. In 1926, the family moved to Canada, arriving in Montreal on May 1, 1926. From there, they came by train to the Peace country and settled in East Kleskun.

In 1939, Bill was one of the first to enlist in the army, joining the 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment. His brothers, Jock and Jimmy followed.

When Bill got out of the army, he took up farming. He married Anna Jantz and lived near Hythe.

Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie (p. 144)

Date of Birth: 29/03/1914

Jimmy Purves was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1919. In 1926, the family moved to Canada, arriving in Montreal on May 1, 1926. From there, they came by train to the Peace country and settled in East Kleskun.

Jimmy joined the army in 1941, enlisting in the artillery. He served in Italy, France, and Germany.

When Jimmy arrived home, he worked for farmers. In 1948, he married Jean Housman and rented his parents land. Later he bought land in Teepee Creek. When his wife had a heart attack Jimmy went with to Edmonton while Jean had open heart surgery, He was killed December 16, 1966 when hit by a hit-and-run driver.

Jimmy’s older brothers Bill and Jock also served in the army during WWII.

Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie (p. 144)
Wagon Trails Grown Over (p. 947)

Regimental Number: M17199
Branch: Army
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Rank: Lance Corporal

John (Jock) Purves was born in Hagsbrae in Gorebridge, Scotland on November 8, 1920. In 1926, the family moved to Canada, arriving in Montreal on May 1, 1926. From there, they came by train to the Peace country and settled in East Kleskun.

Jock lied about his age and joined the army in April, 1940/ He was a member of the 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C. (Regiment number M/17199). Jock served in Italy and was killed in action, December 16, 1943 "going into Ortona," Italy (from Jock's father's biography in Smoky River to Grande Prairie). Jock was buried in the Moro River Cemetery. (See link to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial below to see pictures of the cemetery and grave stone.)

Jock’s brother Bill and Jimmy also served with the army in WWII.

Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 144-147

A more detailed biography by Wanda Zenner is available at the link below.

• Recruits Join the Colors
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Canadian Virtual War Memorial
• Biography by Wanda Zenner

Philip Purves was born April 3, 1924 in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, to Stewart and Grace Purves. The family moved to Beaverlodge in 1930. During the war, Philip served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1942 to 1945 as an Asdic operator on the corvette HMCS Sherbrooke on convoy duty in the North Atlantic.

After the war, Philip returned to Beaverlodge area where in Elmworth he met and married Florence Reimer (July 9, 1948). They moved to Peace River in 1960 where Philip manages a Government store until retirement. He also worked for a few years at the Marshall Wells store.

Philip passed away March 3, 1990, while on vacation in Arizona.

Source: Grande Prairie Herald-Tribune obituary

From Kleskun Hill joins the Calgary HIghlanders 1939.

• Joines Calgary Highlanders

Private

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Werner Quassowsky was born in East Germany (now part of Russia). In 1935, he enlisted in the German army and spent two and half years in training, then returned to his parents’ farm. In 1940, he was called up. Werner fought for 10 days in France and later in Russia until 1945.

Werner was hurt in an explosion and sent by boat to Denmark. When he was sufficiently recovered, he was released and walked back to Germany, first to the English zone and then to the American zone where his parents had been relocated after being expelled from their land by the Russians.

Werner worked first as a farmer and then as a coal miner. In 1953, he immigrated to Canada, landing in Quebec and then taking the train to Rycroft. He found work building highway 49 and had various other jobs. He filed an a piece of land in the Bay Tree area which he homesteaded, using compensation money from the West German government to help clear the land.

In 1977, Werner has a hip replacement. In 1979, he broke the hip and had to give up farming. He passed away in Hythe on December 30, 1990.

Sources: Homesteaders’ Heritage (p. 93)
Hythe Headliner, January 22, 1991

• Blog Post

Date of Birth: 1 Nov 1922
Birth Place: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Residence: Edmonton, Alberta
Service Number: J85912
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Pilot Officer

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: 30 May 1921
Birth Place: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Residence: Vancouver, B. C.
Service Number: J95546
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Pilot Officer

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: 1918

Private

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Enlisted: May 1942

• On Leave

Date of Birth: 1934

Date of Birth: 01/01/1919
Notes: T 78-26-W5, 1946

Date of Birth: April 1923
Notes: T 78-26-W5, 1946

Enlistment Date: 1940

• Joins Army

Enlistment Date: 1940

• Joins Army

Warrant Officer Class II

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sergeant

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

b.1917

• Arnold's Obituary

Killed in Action

Date of Birth: 18/05/1915
Killed in Action

Join RCASC

• Remple Brothers Join the Colors

Join RCASC

• Remple Brothers Join the Colors

Join RCASC

• Remple Brothers Join the Colors

Member of the first contingent from Grande Prairie, D Company, C.A.S.F.

• Enjoying Army Life
• List of Recruits
• Diary of Crossing the Atlantic

Lieutenant

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Date of Birth: 14/05/1917

Date of Birth: 20/08/1918

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Birth Date: 29 Dec 1893
Birthplace: Gateshead, Durham, England
Residence: Wembley, Alberta
Service Number: M56288
Branch: Veterans Guard of Canada
Killed in Action: 14 Dec 1945
Notes: Served in WWI with the Northumberland Huzzar's 19 Sept 1914 - 18 Apr 1919 Service Number: 270202

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley
Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 200

Lake Sasktoon Reflections pg. 201

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Walter Robertson was born June 20, 1906 in Forfar, Scotland. Poor wages and lack of opportunity brought Walter to Canada. He arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick on March 17, 1924 and travelled to Windsor, Ontario. He worked in the Windsor-Detroit area until the onset of the Great Depression in 1929. He then moved to the Clairmont district where he worked on various farms.

With the outbreak of war, Walter enlisted in the Canadian army. He served with the Royal Canadian Engineers, 13th Field Company in England, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Holland. While stationed in England in 1941, Walter met Amy Elsie Hardock, a nurse at the Richmond Hospital in Surrey, England. They were married on October 10, 1945, in Putney in London, England.

Walter returned to Canada in December, 1945 to be discharged and bought land in the Clairmont area. Elsie sailed on the Queen Mary and landed in Canada May, 1946. She arrived at Clairmont by train June 4, 1946. They farmed until 1959 when Walter joined the Corps of Commissionaires and worked as a by-law officer in Grande Prairie. They moved to Grande Prairie in 1970 and Walter retired in 1972.

Elsie passed away in 1979 and Walter on June 18, 1987. They are buried at the GlenLeslie Cemetery in Bezanson.

Sources: Wagon Trails Grown Over (p. 128

• Headstone

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Place of Birth: Stanley, Wisconsin, USA
Date of Birth: 26/11/1889
Branch: Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps; Veteran Guard, Grande Prairie
Notes: NE 24-72-3 W6; SE 12-72-3 W6

Killed in Action

Date of Birth: 24/05/1923

Date of Birth: 1917

• Given his Wings

Edmonton Regiment
Served in Italy
Rank: Capt.

• Recruits Visit Family While on Leave
• Serving in Italy

Edmonton Regiment
Injured in Italy

• On Leave (1940)
• Wounded

Rank: Cpl.
Serving in Britain

• Serving in Italy

.

• On Leave

In 1944, Percy enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Army. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Lieutenant Corporal. He returned to Huallen to farm and work on the family farm.

• Fonds 058 Percy D. Romkey fonds

Date of Birth: 19/11/1911
Rank: Pilot OfficerTrade: Flt Engr. Service No:160504
Killed in Action: 22/ Jan 1944
Service: Royal Air Force 427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Worked for the Canadian Intelligence Service.
Was in the Air Force in WWI.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up p687

Served with the American Medical Corps in North Africa and Italy.
Source: Pioneer Round-up p688

Rank: Private
Service No: M/105982 Regiment/Service: Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.
Died: August 12, 1944
Commemorated at: Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France

Donald (Bud) Joseph Rooney was born on July 23, 1923 at the family homestead in an area of Bezanson known as Lindsay where the Rooney’s operated a store and the Smoky River Post Office. In 1926, the family moved to the main road that provided service to Grande Prairie, Alberta where they built a large building utilizing the logs from the Presbyterian Church located at the Bezanson Townsite. The new building housed a store and the Bezanson Post Office in the front with living accommodations in the rear. The area later became the Hamlet of Bezanson. Donald received his education at the one-room Lindsay School where he was involved in sports. While Donald attended school, he also worked as a clerk in the store at Bezanson and also the family-owned store at Crooked Creek, Alberta. Donald answered the call of duty to Country and enlisted in Edmonton on January 12, 1943. He served with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Infantry Corp as a Private during the Second World War. Donald received basic training in Edmonton and Calgary following which he embarked for England on July 16, 1943. While there, he successfully completed a Shoemaker “C” course in March 1944. Donald was transferred to France on July 25, 1944 where he joined the forces embroiled in battles during the Normandy Campaign. Caen had just been secured and the Canadians were ordered to push forward towards Falaise. It was during this offensive on August 12th that Private Donald Joseph Rooney was wounded and succumbed to his injuries the same day. Donald is commemorated at the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France.

Son of Patrick Grover Rooney and Lucie Mary (nee Baker) Rooney of Bezanson, Alberta; brother of Ilene (nee Rooney) Duffy, Marie Ellen (nee Rooney) Moss, Dorothy Agnes (nee Rooney) Rasmussen, Virginia Jean (nee Rooney) Duffy, Bruce Leo Rooney, Mona Lucie (nee Rooney) Fazan, Constance Theresa (nee Rooney) Yochim; he was 21 years old.

Citations: 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.

Written by Wanda Zenner
January 2019

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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• Recruits Join the Colors

Place of Birth: Tain, Rossshire, Scotland
Date of Death: Sept. 10, 1979

Source: Obituary, Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 202,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

• Headstone in Grande Prairie Cemetery

Date of Birth: 27 Nov 1913
Place of Birth: Fearn, Rosshire, Scotland
Residence: Dysart, Saskatchewan, Canada
Service number: L35138
Force: Army
Regiment: Royal Canadian Artillery
Rank: Sergeant
Death Date: 13 Sep 1944
Wife - Dorothy Ross

Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 202,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

• Canada War Graves Commission

Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 202,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

Signaller

• Signallers Left for Edmonton

Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 202,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Death: October 13, 1949
Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg. 202, Alexander Ross' (her father's) obituary,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pg.202,
For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 1912
Place of Birth: Wynyard, Saskatchewan
Lived in the Northmark district.
Married: Sarah Geffin April 9, 1941.
Norman served in Italy, Sicily and Belgium on the front lines. He was attached to the first Armoured Tank Corp out of Calgary and was in the 2nd landing to hit the beaches of Sicily, the first wave was wiped out. Norman served as a truck driver and a foot soldier.
Norman died December 20, 1982 and is buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.

• Grande Prairie Cemetery

From Grande Prairie

• List of Recruits

Date of Birth: 5 Dec 1920
Birth Place: Lethbridge, Alberta
Residence: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Service Number: J5292
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Pilot Officer
Killed in Action: 1942

• Joins RCAF
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Killed in Action

Daniel Rycroft was born in Spirit River on October 24, 1924 to Helen and Robert Henry Rycroft. In 1928 the family left the area to eventually reside in Smoky Heights where Danny took all of his school. In November 1942, shortly after his eighteenth birthday, he enlisted in the RCAF. He was on duty overseas in 1944 when he was reported missing in action. A month later his mother received news that he was alive. His plane had been forced down but he had bailed out and had been taken in by a French family. The French underground were able to assist his return to England where he was hospitalized for a fractured spine and ribs. After returning home, he married Violet Spry in May 1945. They raised a family of six children: Loraine, Greg, Bill, Neil, Jean, and Jack. Danny became a grain buyer for National Grain Co. and then Alberta Wheat Pool for eighteen years. In 1974 he went to work for the County of Grande Prairie. Danny Rycroft died on April 13, 2011.

• Fonds 292 Danny Rycroft fonds
• Blog Post

Date of Birth: 13/10/1919

Sources: surname file; Pioneers of the Peace p. 259; Beaverlodge to the Rockies Supplement p. 86