Image: No. 3 Platoon C.A.(B) T.C. No 132. Denard is sixth from the left in the back row. 1943 (SPRA 2005.053.02)
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 Ortona, 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
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.