Image: Crystal Creek School, ca. 1950 (SPRA 0063.02.025.1)
Regiment: 7th/11th Hussars
Regimental No: M/45559
Rank: Sergeant
Force: RCAC (Royal Canadian Armoured Corps ?)
Grave Reference: VIII. C. 14
Charles Dorscheid, born in 1916, was the son of Mr and Mrs Anton Dorscheid. He moved with his parents and brothers (John, Arthur, and Earl) to the Glen Leslie district in Alberta from Windom, Minnesota in 1921. (Charles’ older sister had already moved to the area and was married to Herman Kimble.) Charles and his two older brothers attended school in Crystal Creek district. On December 2, 1939 Charles married Luella Myrtle Parrish, daughter of Charlie and Myrtle Parrish of Bezanson. He enlisted in the Southern Alberta Regiment in June 1940, and he and Luella moved to Camrose. In 1942 he joined the 7th/11th Hussars and was in the invasion forces to France. While posted in France, Charles was tragically killed in action on August 19, 1944, at age 28. By that time, Charles and Luella had a daughter. He was buried in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France. A memorial service for Charles was held in Glen Leslie on September 10, 1944. Luella remarried to Howard Johnson and had 4 more children. Charles’ brothers John and Earl also served in WW II.
Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 53 (Parrish family stories)
p. 426 (Dorscheid family stories)
Herald Tribune – Dec. 7, 1939 (marries)
Aug. 31, 1944 (killed in action)
Sept. 7, 1944 (memorial service)
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.