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Adair, William A.
Force: R. C. A. Medical Corps
William Adair was born in 1892 in Sussen, NB, and he graduated from Fredericton Normal School. He taught in Saskatchewan where his met and wife Nellie Mae Stewart. They married in Regina SK on Dec. 25, 1914. Then William served overseas in WW I. Upon returning, William had the urge to file on land in the Teepee Creek area in Alberta. In 1920 his wife and 2 year old daughter, Christine, moved out west to join him. The first school was built in 1920 and William taught there, as well as doing combine farming. He enlisted in the R.C.A. Medical Corps in WW II in 1941, letting his 17 year old son, Hudson, handle the farm. After William was discharged in 1944, he continued teaching and farming. He was also active in baseball. William died on April 25, 1966, the day of Nellie's funeral. Both were buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 873
AGS website – Obituary Index
Adams, Harvey
Harvey Adams of Bad Heart, AB enlisted in the army in 1941. He was the son of Charles and Laura Adams. After the war Harvey met and married Cora in Manitoba where they settled.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over PP. 22-23. Photos.
Adams, Ralph Eugene
R.E. Adams was born in 1901 in Cabri, Saskatchewan. His father was Simmond Adams, and he had 2 brothers, Charley and Frank, and 2 sisters, Nina and Viola. In 1915 the family moved and eventually settled near Gundy Station, BC. In 1926 R.E. moved to Sexsmith, AB, then to Dimsdale in 1934. He enlisted in the army in 1940 at age 39, and after the war he moved to Crooked Creek. He homesteaded land in Section 28 Twp 74 R6 M6. In 1955 he moved to Grande Prairie. He was buried in the Emerson Trail Cemetery in 1971.
Source: Pioneers of the Peace p. 315
Emerson Trail Cemetery Database online
Adams, William
William (Bill), was born July 1, 1924 in Calgary, and was adopted by Urquhart and Maryle Adams, who also had a daughter, Virginia, who was three years older. Urquhart and his father emigrated from the United States in 1912 and settled in Peace River, Alberta in 1917. Urquhart cooked for Kresge’s Construction camp and then raised dairy cattle with his father, but eventually opened the Star Café in Peace River. He left the café and entered into the real estate business with a partner; however, when the business flagged, Urquhart went back to cook for Kresge’s at a railway grade-building camp at Driftpile. While there, he received word that his wife had left with the business partner, taking their daughter Virginia, and abandoning young Bill. Urquhart returned to Peace River to care for his son and re-opened the café which, through hard work and perseverance, became profitable.
Bill grew up in Peace River and took his schooling there before enlisting in the Canadian Army in Edmonton on October 8, 1942. Shortly thereafter, he responded to a November call for volunteers for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. Entry into the Battalion was on a volunteer basis through a rigorous screening process that selected recruits based on physical fitness and ability, but also, according to Department of National Defence records, a “high degree of stability and perseverance, and at the same time an ability to think for themselves.” He was accepted for training December 5, 1942, and qualified as a parachutist at the Battalion’s initial training facility in Fort Benning, Georgia on February 17, 1943. Of those volunteering, the initial screening, followed by a demanding training regimen, saw only 20% of the prospective paratroopers manage to complete the training.
Bill trained as a Medic, and was part of the D-Day invasion when the Battalion's active history began as the first Canadian unit to engage the Germans – the main body jumping behind enemy lines between midnight and one a.m., preceded by a small contingent of “Pathfinders”. Of the 563 men who parachuted into action on June 5 and 6, 1944, 328 were killed, wounded or captured by the end of the war. Although widely scattered that first night, the Battalion successfully achieved all its objectives, which became a hallmark – the Battalion took every objective assigned and once taken, never relinquished them as it fought with distinction through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Bill was discharged on demobilization in Calgary on September 7, 1945. Private William Adams served in the USA, United Kingdom and Continental Europe and received the France & Germany Star, Defense Medal, War Medal, 1939-45 and the Canadian Volunteer Medal & Clasp.
He subsequently returned to Peace River, hiring on with Hudson Bay Oil & Gas as a swamper on bush planes. On March 5, 1951, an usher at the Gaiety Theatre in Grande Prairie by the name of Skippy Duncan, introduced Bill to Elsie Stearn. Elsie was working at the Grande Prairie Hospital and Jess Willard, the pilot of the bush plane that Bill flew on, would ‘gun the throttle’ over the hospital to let her know that they had arrived in town.
Their relationship blossomed quickly and they married that April 6 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Edmonton with the pilot, Jess, as best man and Anne Sarmaga as bridesmaid. The young couple moved to Peace River where Bill continued with Hudson Bay Oil & Gas and Elsie found work at Peace River Plumbing and Heating. Shortly thereafter, Bill and Elsie moved to the farm of her parents, Ed and Charlotte Stearn, near Bezanson in the Fitzsimmons area. A son, Stuart was born on September 7, 1952. At Christmas 1952, the family moved back to Peace River and Bill assisted his father in the restaurant for six months.
Bill returned to the oil patch in the spring of 1953 when they moved to Edmonton and he began with Halliburton. He was transferred to Grande Prairie in 1953, where
another son, Leigh was born on August 17, 1954.
Elsie’s father, Ed, died December 28, 1954, and they moved to the family farm to assist her mother, but unfortunately, the farmhouse burned in March 1956. They then moved into a trailer in Clarke’s Auto Court in Grande Prairie and Bill found employment with McCullough Tools. Elsie worked for Blackwell’s Insurance and also became the bookkeeper for Dale-Maynard Construction.
During the summer of 1957, the family moved the trailer to Edson where Elsie managed a motel and Bill worked hauling fuel. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Stearn moved in with them and remained after Bill and Elsie divorced that fall. In the summer of 1958, Elsie, her sons and her mother moved to Edmonton. In the spring of 1960, Bill and Elsie reconciled and remarried on May 13, 1960. Bill was working for Halliburton, which transferred him to Drayton Valley, where they lived until another transfer to Edmonton in 1962.
Bill’s father, Urquhart died September 27, 1967, and the following year, Bill left Halliburton and purchased Edmonton’s first Orange Julius stand, located in Centennial Village Mall, which he operated for 10 years. During the summer of 1970, Bill and Elsie once again separated and then divorced.
Bill finished his working years in the oil patch operating his business, “B. Adams Hotshot”, where he and his dog, Hector, were inseparable as they worked around Alberta. Bill remained in Edmonton and passed away there on May 2, 1997 and was cremated; Stuart and Leigh scattered his ashes over the Peace River from the former Northern Alberta Railways Bridge, and at the Twelve Foot Davis monument. Bill had been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Jasper Place Branch No. 255 in Edmonton for many years.
Elsie passed away on January 7, 2015 and was cremated and they spread her ashes downstream from the Smoky River Bridge near Bezanson, and on the Kleskun Hills. Charlotte Stearn had passed away on July 24, 1983.
References:
Interview with Maxine (Sarmaga) Maxwell
Interview with Stuart Adams (son)
Archives Canada – Service File
Smoky to Grande Prairie
1926 Census Records – date of immigration to Canada
Written by Stuart Adams with slight editing by Wanda Zenner
Alain, Audrey
Source: Where the Red Willow Grows (Honour Roll) p. 303
Albert, Cyprien
Cyprien Albert was born on August 4, 1928. He served in WW II, and he married Therese Brochu on May 4, 1948 in Girouxville AB. Together they had 5 children: Louise, Jeanne, Claire, Norman and Donald. Cyprien and Therese retired to Leduc AB, and they enjoyed travelling.
Source: Reflexions p. 270, photo p. 231
Albright, Frederick Bruce
Bruce Albright was born March 2, 1914, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Albright of Beaverlodge, AB. At age 26 in 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF as a pilot, and was stationed in Yorkton, SK. On August 16, 1941 Bruce was given his wings. He was sent overseas and took part in at least two big German raids. According to a news article, Bruce was captain of a Wellington bomber, and promoted to Flight Sergeant on June 1, 1941. It is believed that he was killed in action on June 2, 1942 while being east of Brussels in Belgium. Bruce was the first communicant of the United Church in Beaverlodge to give his life in WWII.
Source: Grande Prairie Herald Aug. 28, 1941; Sept. 4, 1941; Aug 27, 1942; Nov. 25, 1943; Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26
Service Number: R76714
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Alfke, Curtis John
Alleman, Martin
Birth Date: 4 Mar 1900
Birth Place: Chur, Grison, Switzerland
Residence: Debolt, Alberta
Service Number: M17135
Force: Army
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Rank: Private
Killed in Action: 3 Aug 1943
Allen, Marvin Floyd
Marvin Allen settled in NE – 36 – 82- 10- W6 (in 2-1-57) VH Lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Allen, Thomas "Slim"
Thomas (Slim) Allen was born in 1918, and his parents were Matthew and Jane Allen. He was married to Violet and they had 5 children: Bob, Norman, Ernie, Shirley, and Mary. They lived in Grande Prairie where Slim was very involved in the Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS). He had a great love for horses. Slim died in Grande Prairie on January 13, 2009 at age 91.
Source: AGS website – Obituary Index
DHT Obituary Jan. 14,15,16, 2009
Allison, Hugh Alexander Bennett
Hugh Allison was born in Calgary AB, and grew up in Beaverlodge. In the war he was posted in Italy. He took training in Mechanics and Steam Engineering, and was also a farmer. He worked at the Experimental Farm in Beaverlodge. From 1967 to 1981 Hugh was employed at Fairview Agricultural and Vocational College. Then he moved to Whitelaw. Hugh died on September 9, 1987 at the age of 70 in Hythe. His funeral was on Sept. 12 at Beaverlodge United Church.
Service Number: M17067 Lord Strathcona Horse
Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Rank: not known
Force: Army
Burial: Halcourt Cemetery, Halcourt, Alberta
Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies p. 43
Grande Prairie Herald April 24, 1941
Daily Herald Tribune – Obituary – Sept. 11, 1987
Allsop, Albert
Worked as an aircraft mechanic during the war.
From Wembley.
For King & Country Poster in Wembley, Lake Saskatoon Reflections p.90
Almonitis, Edward Walter "Scottie"
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton
Rank: Private
Edward Almonitis was born about 1913 or 1914 in Scotland. During WWII he was posted in Europe. Edward was married to Doreen, and they had two daughters, Heather (John) Lemckert, and Sheena Almonitis. A resident of Grande Prairie for 20 years, Edward died on March 9, 1979. He was buried in the Grande Prairie cemetery.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune March 16, 1979
Altman, Martin
Ames, Glenn Herbert
Regimental Number: M1461
Rank: Private
Glenn, born in Bezanson on October 5, 1924, was the 2nd oldest of George and Thelma Ames’ five children. George, originally from Brookdale, Manitoba decided to move to the Peace District to file a homestead application on land in the Bezanson area. The family lived on the homestead at Bezanson except for a short period of time when they operated the Ferry Inn at the Smoky River Crossing. Glenn attended the Lindsay One-Room School following which he worked on the family farm in the summer months and as a canter trim-saw operator in the wintertime. Glenn enlisted in the Army in April 1944 in Calgary. He trained at Red Deer where he successfully completed a “Class III Driver” course following which he was transferred to Debert, Nova Scotia. He sailed for England in December 1944. Glenn was a Private with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and served in Canada, United Kingdom and Continental Europe. He was discharged on demobilization on August 5, 1946 at Calgary. When Glenn returned home, he married Mavis Maude Boyd on August 15, 1947. They settled on a farm in Bezanson where they raised their family of three children; Randall (1948), Leonard (1950) and Bonny (1951). In 1974, Glenn sold the farm and the family moved to Grande Prairie. Glenn died on October 5, 1975 and was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Sources:
Service File
Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 313-314
Ames, Robert Samuel
Regimental Number: M103805
Samuel Robert Ames was born on January 27th, 1922 at his parent’s home in Bezanson. He had two older sisters, Janet and Berniece who had been born in Brookdale Manitoba northeast of Brandon and accompanied their parents to homestead at Bezanson. His dad, Wilfred Roy Ames and mother Isabella had come to Bezanson in the fall of 1919 to join his uncles Charlie, George and Fred Ames and aunt Vera Ford.
Robert’s younger brother Donald was born at the end of November, 1923 and tragically their mother passed away on Christmas eve that year. His Dad bundled the young family up and returned with them back to Manitoba where they lived with their maternal grandparents, Robert and Janet Gillespie. There they lived for six years before returning to Bezanson with their Dad and new stepmother Beatrice.
Robert grew up on the farm, a mile west and a mile north of the present Bezanson store site, and went to school until he had finished grade eight. At that point he quit school and concentrated on farming.
By 1942 when he was twenty years old, World War II had been going on for nearly three years. The US Army was sending a lot of vehicles driving by, just a mile from the farm, on their way to building the Alaska Highway. Robert signed up with the Canadian Forces on August 14th, 1942.
Basic training saw him in Chilliwack on October 15th. From February 15 until April 29, 1943 he was in Woodstock Ontario taking mechanical courses which he continued, from then until August, in Winnipeg. By August 5th he was back in Chilliwack. On November 6 he arrived in Debert, Nova Scotia and he sailed for the UK from Halifax on December 26th. He arrived in the UK on January 4th where he stayed until sailing for Naples on March 25th, 1944.
He joined the 13th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers in the field as the Canadians were fighting to take Monte Cassino from the Germans, which they did. They went up the Liri Valley past Rome and crossed Italy to the Adriatic Coast and up to the Po River Valley pushing the Germans back as they went. Robert’s job was as a truck driver delivering fuel, munitions and food in the field. He had occasion to take POW’s from the battlefield area. The Field Company, as a whole, did a lot of bridge building and road construction. After reaching the Po River the Canadians went back south along the Adriatic coast and crossed Italy to Naples. He left Naples on February 24th and landed in Marseilles, France on February 27th, 1945.
It took eight days to cross France into Belgium. Most of the rest of the war was spent in Holland. He was in Holland as late as June 13th and probably a little longer. He sailed for home from somewhere in Britain and arrived late in October. On October 22nd he was posted to 133BTC in Wetaskiwin. On December 14th he joined internment camp staff in Lethbridge to guard POW’s. On January 29th 1946 his discharge certificate was stamped in Calgary. He would return home from his war odyssey in early February.
Shortly after returning home, Robert and his brother Donald started digging a well by hand. The hole was about four feet square. Over the hole was a barrel with rope wrapped around it which was attached to a pail which brought dirt from the hole. This hole was abandoned at 120 feet as silting was carrying in dirt faster than it could be removed. Of course, the well was never used.
Robert purchased land next to his Dad’s place after returning home and took up farming. In June of 1949 he married a local school teacher, Marie Bayens. In 1951 Betty was born and in 1954 came Jim in January and Allan in December. It was also in 1954 that Robert’s Dad retired to Port Coquitlam BC so he moved onto the home quarter where he resided the rest of his life. In 1958 David was born and John came along in 1964.
Robert farmed three and eventually four quarters of land and kept a busy shop for himself and neighbors. He had a welder, a forge, a cutting torch and innumerable tools and he loved to build and fix. Maybe some of this was as a result of his belonging to the army engineers. He was extremely patient and reserved in nature. His favorite place was “at home”.
Robert eventually sold three of his four quarters of land in 1979 and continued at a much smaller pace farming only the “home” quarter. This was reduced further in the spring of 2000 to a ten acre plot on this quarter.
Robert had circulatory problems later in life and had several operations to clean arteries and improve circulation. He also dealt with kidney stones and various other ailments. None of these slowed him down much. He was cleaning eavestroughs and cutting wood on October 10, 2000, the day he passed away from heart failure. He left his wife, five children and nine grandchildren behind. He may well have died within twenty feet of where he was born.
Written by Jim Ames
Amundson, Burgo
Burgo Amundson was born on June 6, 1918 in Valhalla Centre. He was a farmer in Valhalla until he enlisted in the army at age 24 on March 23, 1942. Killed in action on September 8, 1944, he is buried at the Calais Canadian War Cemetery in Leubringhen, France. (Grave Memorial Ref. 6.F.12)
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders R.C. I.C. #M56329
Rank: Private
Service No: H/56329
Source: Pioneer Round-up – Valhalla War Veterans p. 748,
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Anders, Agnes
Agnes Anders was born in 1920 on the homestead near La Glace/Sexsmith. At age 23 she enlisted in the Navy as a WRN . She was posted in Sydney, NS where she worked most of the 3 years, but was also posted to Ottawa, and Victoria to get discharged in 1946. In 1950 Agnes married Eric Carlson. They had 2 children: Valerie, and Renny, and they moved to Fort St. John BC. Agnes taught school in BC. She moved to Sundre AB for retirement in 2006.
Force: Navy – Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS)
Source: La Glace – Yesterday and Today p. 101
Sundre Round – up Interview by Patricia Riley Nov. 5, 2013
Anders, Horst Richard
Regiment: Royal Canadian Army Engineers
Horst Richard Anders was born in Tilsit, East Prussia in Germany on November 26, 1903. He immigrated to Canada in 1930 and homesteaded in Westmark, Alberta. He was also a farm labourer in Buffalo Lakes and La Glace areas in the summers, while in the winters he worked in sawmills. In the late 30’s and 40’s Horst did mining work in B.C. and Yellowknife, NWT. He enlisted in the army in 1943 and was posted in various locations in Canada. After he was discharged, he sold his homestead and obtained another one, building a shack, and doing custom land breaking work. Horst was nicknamed “Doc” because he could fix almost anything. He remained a bachelor, and his life ended tragically on December 31, 1953.
Source: Burnt Embers pp. 110, 372
Anderson, August Edward
Regiment: Westminster (Overseas)
Rank: Corporal
Regimental Number: M56264
Ed Anderson was born in Edmonton AB on November 25, 1917, and he grew up in Beaverlodge where he later met his wife, Edna Mae Pack. They were married in Beaverlodge on March 18, 1941. In January 1942, at age 24, Ed enlisted in Grande Prairie and became a Corporal and worked overseas. He was discharged in February 1946. Ed and Edna moved to Dawson Creek BC where he worked in the lumber industry, and they had 5 children: Darryl, Virginia, Patricia, Sandra and Darlene. Ed died on December 19, 1976 in Dawson Creek.
Source: Edna Anderson Pomeroy
Beaverlodge to the Rockies p. 28
Anderson, Cliff
Branch: Regina Rifle Regiment
Cliff Anderson, whose home town was Grande Prairie, joined the Regina Rifle regiment in 1941. He was posted in Nova Scotia.
Source: Grande Prairie Herald May 1, 1941
Anderson, Elnor R.
From Grande Prairie
Anderson, Henry
Henry Anderson was born in Starkweather, North Dakota. In 1918 his parents and siblings moved to Alberta and settled in Albright. Henry went to high school in Beaverlodge, then he joined the army in WWII and was posted overseas. After the war he became a partner in the South Wapiti Lumber Company, breaking land and sawing wood. He married Margaret Taylor, and they made their home in Wembley. They had two daughters. Lorne died in 1978 and is buried in the Lake Saskatoon Cemetery.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 1-2
Along the Wapiti p. 412
Grande Prairie AGS website – cemetery index
Anderson, Lorne
Lorne Anderson was the son of Oscar and Ingrid Anderson and was born on May 24, 1923. He grew up in the La Glace area. At the age of 20, in 1943, Lorne enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He married Betty Lee from Edmonton. They settled in Terrance, California where Lorne had a realty firm. They had 6 children: Patricia, Randy, Robin, Lorna, Becky, and Sonja. Lorne died October 3, 2004 and is buried in the Scenic Heights Cemetery in La Glace.
Source: La Glace Yesterday and Today pp. 62-63 Photo p. 62
Grande Prairie AGS website – Cemetery Index
Anderson, Ralph
Regiment: Army Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Ralph Anderson (brother of Henry Anderson) was born in Starkweather, North Dakota. He moved to Alberta with his parents and siblings in May 1918. After going to school in Beaverlodge, Ralph went to the School of Agriculture in Vermillion. Then he worked at the Grande Prairie creamery. In 1939 he joined the army and was posted overseas. He was wounded in Italy. While in England he married Audrey Prescott, and he was discharged in 1945. After the war Ralph farmed and also worked at the Canadian Forces Base in Beaverlodge. The family moved to Grande Prairie, and then to Prince Rupert BC. They had 3 girls and 1 boy.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 1-2
Andrews, J.M.
Angedal, Andy
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Rank: Private
Biography:
Source: Daily Herald Tribune Dec. 4, 1941
Note: Daily Herald Tribune July 17, 1947 p. 1 col. 2 has article about “Angeldol, Andy”
Angel, Colin
Colin Angel was born in Durham County, England, in 1909. His home town was New Sarepta, AB., where he also married Almina Jeanette in 1938. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery serving in the U.K. and the Mediterranean. After the war Colin farmed in Lacombe, AB. Then he worked in Red Deer for the Liquor Control Board, and was transferred to Beaverlodge, AB in 1960. As a hobby, Colin was an artist and a carver - mostly of animals. Colin and Almina had two children: Michael and Jeanette. Colin died on September 18, 1973, at age 64, in Grande Prairie, AB.
Regiment: 5th Canadian Armoured Division
Force: Army
Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies p. 81
G.P. – AGS website – Obituary Index
Antonio, Michael S. "Mike"
Mike Antonio was born November 1918. His parents were John and Anna (Woloszyn) Antonio, both from Poland, and living in the Vermillion, AB area. The family moved to Sexsmith where they farmed. Mike went to McHenry School and to North Sexsmith School. He gave up his high school education in order to manage the family farm. In 1939, at age 21, Mike joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment for the war. He was posted to England and was also married there and had a child. Mike was a member of the Hythe Branch Legion. He died on August 8, 2002, in Hythe AB, at age 84.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over PP. 390-392, 1149
Grande Prairie AGS website – Obituary Index
Regimental Number: M16029
Date of Birth: November 1918
Member of the first contingent from Grande Prairie, D Company, C.A.S.F.
Antson, Pte.
Name: Antson, ?
Regiment: No. 3 Platoon C.A. (B) T.C. No. 132
Rank
Biography: Trained in Grande Prairie, AB
Source:
Photograph: 2005.53.02 (1943)
Note: Name may be misspelled
Arac, Daniel Francis "Danny"
Regiment: Fort Garry Horse Tank Corps
Regimental Number: M104388
Rank: Trooper
Danny Arac was born in North Sydney, NS in 1924. At age 2 he moved with his family to North Kleskun, AB. (Sexsmith area) When his mother died, Danny and his sisters moved back to NS, and when he was 14 he moved back to North Kleskun. In 1941, at age 17, Danny enlisted in WW II. He was posted overseas in 1943, and returned to Canada in 1945. After he was discharged in 1946, he obtained the homestead NW 11-74-4-W6 through the V. L. A. He farmed, and he built a house on his land in 1948. In 1957 Danny married Dorothy McQuitty, and they lived in Grande Prairie for 2 years and then moved to Sexsmith. Danny was a member of the Sexsmith Legion Branch. He continued to farm until 1972 when the family moved to Wembley, and then back to Grande Prairie. Danny and Dorothy had 3 children: Barbara, Brent, and Brenda. Danny died on November 25, 2002, at age 78, in Grande Prairie.
Source: Wagon Wheels Grown Over pp 258 – 259. Photo p. 1153
Arac, Fred
Fred Arac came to Cape Breton, Canada from Latvia in 1913 with his brother John. Their older brother, Emil, was there and the 3 of them worked in the coal mines. When the war broke out, Fred enlisted and was posted overseas. After the war Fred (and Pete Stahlberg who he met in the war) came to Sexsmith. Fred settled and homesteaded near Sexsmith on the land that later became the Rasi farm.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 259 ( “John Arac Family”)
Arac, Pte.
Trained in Grande Prairie
Source:
Photograph 2005.53.02 (1943)
Regiment: No. 3 Platoon C.A. (B) T.C. No. 132
Archer, John Carlisle
Biography: John Archer was born on August 21, 1918 in Lake Saskatoon to Ruth and Joseph Archer. He grew up in Wembley, and he attended U of A for one year. On January 8, 1941 he joined the Air Force in Edmonton, and he was posted in various locations:
Manning Pool in Brandon ON Jan. 9, 1941
Swift Current , SK Feb. 15, 1941 no. 36 SFTS
Regina, SK March 26, 1941 no. 2 Initial Training School – posted to aircrew as pilot
Boundary Bay (Vancouver) BC no. 18 EFTS
Claresholm, AB July 2, 1941 – became flying instructor
Calgary AB no. 3 SFTS
Gimili MB no. 1 SFTS
Souris MB no. 18 SFTS
He married Jessamy Smith August 10, 1942 in Edmonton, and they lived in Claresholm. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant June 19, 1943. John’s main job was flight instructor, and he gave armament tests. In 1945 he was discharged. John and Jessamy moved to Beaverlodge, where John owned the Marshall-Wells hardware store until 1976. He was also the mayor for 7 years. Archers had 6 children: Fred, Bill, Joe, Mavis, Robert, and David. In 1986 John and Jessamy moved to Qualicum Beach BC. Jessamy died in 1999. John remarried to Mary Peters February. 3, 2001. He died September 10, 2010 in Victoria, and is buried in Beaverlodge.
Regiment: RCAF
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Source:
Memoirs of John C. Archer (autobiography- unpublished)
Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 81-82
Along the Wapiti pp. 412, 332-333
Saskatoon Lake Reflections p. 98
Armeneau, Lawrence Daniel "Dewey"
Biography: Lawrence Armeneau was born around 1925, and he lived in the Valleyview area before he enlisted in the war. He died at age 69 in Sept. 1994 in Bladworth SK.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303
AGS website – Obituary Index
Arndt, Ernest
Biography: Ernest Arndt was from a family of 10 children. His parents were Archie and Della Arndt from Texas, who came to Canada in 1920. The family moved several times, and in 1925 ended up in McLennan AB. Ernest and his brothers were employed with the railroad. During WWII Ernest and his younger brother, Sigurd, joined the Air Force.
Source: Trails and Rails North pp. 89, 117
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Arndt, Sigurd
Biography: Sigurd Arndt was born between 1921 and 1925 in Peace River AB. He was one of 10 children, and his parents were Archie and Della Arndt. The family moved to McLennan in 1925, where Sigurd and his brothers all were employed with the railroad. Sigurd and his older brother Ernest joined the Air Force in WWII.
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Source: Trails and Rails North pp, 89, 117
Artindale, Harold Stanton
Biography: Harold Artindale was born in 1917. He died at age 62 on August 26, 1979, in Grande Prairie, and he is buried at the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source:
AGSS website – Cemetery Index
Regiment: CEF
Rank: Private
Ash, Paul
Biography: Paul Ash was born in in 1925, the second son of Cecil and Lillian Ash. In 1930 the family moved to the Peace River country. After 1943 Paul joined the Air Force and was posted in several cities: Moose Jaw, St. Thomas, Yorkton, Brandon, and in England. After the war, he homesteaded, broke land, farmed, logged, and owned a sawmill. Paul was a bachelor who lived with his parents for many years. He died in April 2013 at age 88.
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Source: Homesteader’s Heritage pp. 357-358
AGS website – obituary index
Ash, Reg
Biography: Reg Ash was born in 1921 in Crossfield AB. His parents were Cecil and Lillian Ash who came to the Peace country in 1930. In 1937 the family moved to Gordondale in 1937 and lived there for many years. Reg enlisted in the Canadian Army in May 1941 at age 20. He was trained in sheet metal work, and he worked in this trade for much of his life. From his first marriage, Reg had 2 children: Brian and Linda. Reg and his second wife, Margaret, lived in Cassiar BC, and they had 3 children: Dianne, Lillian, and David.
Regiment: Canadian Army
Source: Homesteaders` Heritage p. 358
Atkinson, Alexander
Regiment: Royal Canadian Engineers
Regimental Number: M17553
Rank: Corporal
Alexander Atkinson was born in Togo, Saskatchewan on December 30, 1908. His father was Albert Edward Atkinson. He lived in the Kleskun Hill and Clairmont area of Alberta since 1934 and was a farmer and a driver. At age 32, on June 23, 1940, he enlisted to serve in WWII. Alexander was married to Abbie Alice (Atkinson). He was killed in action in the Netherlands on November 1, 1944, and is buried in the Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery (Grave Ref: 10.B.3)
Source: Attestation Paper – Canadian Active Service Force
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website – Find War Dead
Obituary Nov. 16, 1944 – Herald Tribune
Atkinson, Allan "Doc"
Allan Atkinson aka “Doc” was from a family of 10 children. He was born in 1925 to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Atkinson. The family moved to Goodfare AB in 1938. Allan enlisted in the war in 1942, and he was posted overseas. He returned safely, and in 1950 he married Viola Wallan. They farmed in Halcourt until 1962, then farmed in Goodfare. Allan and Viola had 4 children: Patsy, Roy, Terry, and Lorraine. Allan died in October 1992 in Goodfare.
Enlistment Date: 1942
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Source: Pioneer Round-Up p. 61 (photo), p.100
AGS Website – Obituary Index
Atkinson, Gordon "Darkie"
Gordon Atkinson (aka “Darkie”) was one of 10 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Atkinson. The family lived in Goodfare AB since 1938. In 1942 Gordon joined the army and was posted overseas. He was wounded in action, but returned safely . While in the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton, he met his wife, Winona Will who was a nurse in training there. They married in 1948 and lived first in Halcourt, then moved to Goodfare, and in 1962 they moved to Hythe AB. Gordon was a legion member in the Hythe Branch. He had the mail hauling contract in Hythe, and did part-time work at CFS in Beaverlodge. The couple had 10 children: Duane, Daisy, Willie, Charlie, Juanita, Wendy, Darcy, Clifford, Mickey, and Alison.
Enlistment Date: 1942
Regiment: Edmonton 49th
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 61
Atkinson, Harold "Smoky"
Harold Atkinson aka “Smokey was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Atkinson who had a family of 10 children. They lived in Goodfare since 1938. Harold enlisted in the army in 1939 and was posted overseas. He was wounded in action, but returned home safely. He farmed in Goodfare and did trapping in the winter. In 1968 he married Mrs. Jean Primrose, and they lived in the Albright area.
Enlistment Date: 1939
Regiment: Edmonton 49th
Source: Pioneer Round-up pp. 61-62 Photo p. 62
Atkinson, Samuel
Samuel Atkinson was one of 10 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Atkinson. The family moved to Goodfare AB in 1938. In 1941 Samuel enlisted in the army and was posted overseas. After the war, he married Florence Goodings. Sam bought land and farmed and trapped. He operated a road grader and snow plow for the Grande Prairie County. He was a Legion member. Gordon and Florence had 8 children: Sherry, Susan, Bernadine, Tressa, Sam Jr., Grace, Gwen, and Sandra (who died at age 5.) Samuel died at age 76 in Goodfare.
Regiment: Edmonton 49th
Source: Pioneer Round-up pp. 61-62 Photo p.62
Atkinson, Walter
Biography: Walter Atkinson was born in July 1910, in Calder (North Edmonton), and his parents were Thomas and Daisy (Struthers) Atkinson. The family moved to Grande Prairie AB in 1920. As a teenager Walter had a job in a livery stable, and also helped build the railway from Grande Prairie to Wembley. During the Depression years, he homesteaded in the Crooked Creek area. When the war broke, Walter enlisted in the army for 4 years and was posted in England. After the war he worked at meat markets in Peace River and Grande Prairie. He married Marie Lae in 1950. For 12 years they lived in Valleyview and opened a meat market business. He and Marie retired in Vernon BC. They had two boys: Harley and Dennis. Walter died in Abbotsford BC (where Dennis lived) in March 2000 at age 89.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 316
Across the Smoky pp. 57-58
AGS website – Obituary Index
Aubin, Benoit
Benoit Aubin was born on April 11, 1918 in Falher AB. At age 22 in 1940 he enlisted with the Canadian Army in WW II. He was discharged in 1944, and that same year on August 5, he married Cecile Houde. Their home town was Guy, AB where Benoit farmed. Their homestead was N.E. ¼ - 2 – 75 – 21 – W – 5. Benoit died at the age of 67 on December 5, 1985 in Guy ( High Prairie AB).
Source: Guy p. 159
AGS website – Obituary Index
Babb, John L.
Source: Valleyview – Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 (Honour Roll)
Backer, Henry
Henry Backer was born in Rush Lake SK, and came to Woking from Saskatchewan in 1940. On November 2, 1943, he enlisted in the army in Calgary. After the war, he filed on the land SE and NW 13-76-8-W6 and farmed. He also did various other jobs including carpentry to supplement his income. After many years of being a bachelor, Henry married Elke (nee Egge) in 1968. Henry adopted her 4 children: Duane, Ruby, Delores, and Linda. Raymond is their son together. Henry died in May 2003 at age 78 in Woking AB.
Source: Burnt Embers (Woking district) p. 372, photo p. 110
AGS website – Obituary Index
Badham, Dave
Branch: Regina Rifle Regiment
Hometown – Grande Prairie
Source: Grande Prairie Herald – May 1, 1941
Baifit, Pte.
Regiment: No. 3 Platoon C. A. (B) T. C. No. 132
Biography: Trained in Grande Prairie AB
Source: Photograph 2005.53.02 (1943)
Note: Name may be misspelled.
Bailey, George
Killed in Italy
Bain, Melford F.
Melford Bain was born in 1890. He had previous military service in WW I. Around 1929, Melford and his wife Edith, and 3 children moved from Oak Lake, Manitoba to the Peace River Country. Settling in the Mt. Saskatoon school district area, Melford broke land for himself and neighbors, and he also was the secretary of the school board. The local school teacher boarded with the Bains for two years. The family then moved to the North Beaverlodge area near Hay Lake where 2 more daughters were born. In 1936 the Bains moved to White Rock BC, and Melford enlisted in WW II in 1939. Melford died in March 1974 at age 84. He and Edith had 5 children: Robert, Harold, Dorothy, Alona, and Arlene.
Source:
Beaverlodge to the Rockies PP. 236-237
Baker, George Peter
George Baker settled in SE-15-82-13-W6 in 2-1-51 VH Lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Bakstad, Lyle
Source: La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 313 (picture only)
Balaf, Gustaf
Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 Roll of Honour
Balanko, Mike
Mike Balanko was born in Smoky Lake AB on August 7, 1920. He was youngest of 10 siblings and his parents died when he was very young. He enlisted in the Army in July 1941, and he was posted in Canada, England, and northwestern Europe. In 1945 he was discharged. After WW II he married Mary Monica Sanocki in Codesa AB. They homesteaded in Eaglesham AB where Mike worked for other farmers and sawmills. Later he had a job with the Commissionaires and was often away from home. Mike and Mary had 3 children: Gary, Carol, and Gloria (who died in 1951). Mike died in January 2002 in Eaglesham at age 81.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 127-128
Wedding photo p. 128
AGS Website – Obituary Index
Baldwin, Beverly Lee
Regiment: No. V-11661 A/B
Force: R.C.N.V.R.
Biography: Beverley (Bud) Baldwin was born in 1922 in Cereal AB. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in WW II. His wife was Margaret, and he had 4 children: Russell, Susan, Theresa, and Heather. He also had stepchildren. Beverley was a legion member and lived most of his life in the Grande Prairie district. He died at age 59 on June 13, 1981 in Grande Prairie, and he is buried in the Grande Prairie cemetery.
Source: AGS website – Cemetery Records, Obituary Index
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune – Thursday June 18, 1981
Baldwin, Walter "Baldy"
Regimental Number: A-431991 & M-66187
Rank: Private
Walter, known as “Baldy”, was born on August 27, 1903 in Elgin County, Ontario to Edward and Annie (nee South) Baldwin. He completed Grade 8 at St. Thomas Public School and then worked in the farming and construction industries. Seeking adventure and possible land ownership, Walter decided to move west and lived in Govan, Saskatchewan before moving to the Peace District. On October 28, 1928, Walter filed a homestead application on SE 22-73-3-W6 in an area of Bezanson known as Fitzsimmons. However, he soon abandoned the property on August 17, 1929 stating “not able to handle it”. Walter worked part-time for George Laverick in 1937 and 1938. During 1939, 40, 41, he worked for various farmers in the area but was mainly employed by Alex Love and John Edwards.
On September 15, 1941, Walter joined the Royal Canadian Army, Engineers Corp at Grande Prairie. He was transferred to Edmonton for basic training followed by Portage la Prairie, Dundurn and Chilliwack, BC. Walter sailed from Halifax on July 20, 1942 and arrived at Liverpool on July 21 where he participated in additional training. In September 1943, he was awarded the “Good Conduct Badge”. In July 1944, he was transferred to the Canadian Postal Corp and qualified as a “Postal Sorter” in September 1944. On August 18, 1946, Walter married Agnes Gradwell of Greenford, Middlesex, England. Private Walter Baldwin was discharged on demobilization on December 7, 1946 at London, Ontario. He served in Canada, United Kingdom and Continental Europe and received the Defense Medal, 1939-45 War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Medal and Clasp.
Walter’s wife, Agnes arrived in Canada; however, the couple did not stay long and returned to England where they remained.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Service File
Land Settlement Database
Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 157-158
Bangen, Orlo
Force: U.S. Army
Orlo Bangen was born in Wilton, Minnesota on December 27, 1920. His parents were Toleff and Anna Bangen. His family moved to La Glace AB in 1928. After attending Northfield School, Orlo farmed, worked in sawmills, and hauled grain and gas. In 1945 he joined the U.S. Army and served with the occupation troops in Korea. Returning to La Glace in 1947, he married Eilene Freslund a year later. A job as grain elevator agent required them to move around to Sexsmith, Peace River, Grande Prairie, and Edmonton. Also he worked as a partsman for some years before retiring to Grande Prairie in 1985. Some activities that Orlo enjoyed were singing in choirs and quartets, being active in church, and sports, especially baseball, golf, and curling. Orlo and Eilene had two sons: Terry and Leroy. Orlo died in Grande Prairie on October 16, 1998 at age 77. He was buried in the Northfield Cemetery in La Glace.
Source: La Glace Yesterday and Today - picture only p. 313
AGS website – Cemetery Index
GP. Daily Herald Tribune Oct. 19, 1998 – Obituary with photo
Baranec, Florian
Florian Baranec was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1921. His parents became homesteaders in Sedolia AB. In 1942, at age 21, Florian joined the army, and he was posted in Sicily, Italy, France, Holland, and Germany. Florian also volunteered for duty in the Pacific. He was discharged in 1946, and married Marjorie Bernice Finch the same year, and started farming in Mirror AB. Soon after, they moved to Stettler AB, and had a daughter, Wilma. In 1951 the Baranecs obtained land from the Lassiters Project (land available to veterans), and started homesteading in Wanham AB. (E ½ - 30- 78- 2- W6) Florian died at age 81 (in Wanham or Grande Prairie) in June 2002.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly p. 248
AGS website – Obituary Index
Barnhardt, Norman Bruce
Regiment: R.C. Artillery Regimental No. : K46395
Norman Barnhardt was born in Winborne AB on December 6, 1917 to parents Percy and Mabel Barnhardt. As a young man, Norman worked as a burner on the Machinery Depot shipyard in Victoria BC where he met his wife Annie Doreen “Dolly” McMillan. They were married on June 8, 1942 in Victoria. Shortly afterward Norman enlisted with the R.C. Artillery on July 11, 1942. Due to poor health he was discharged on November 4, 1943. In 1944 Norman became a grain buyer in Alberta and Saskatchewan, then moved to Creston BC. In 1951 the Barnhardts moved to north of Eaglesham AB and homesteaded on the Veterans Lease (Lassiters Project) W-6-79-25-W5. Norman and Dolly had 3 sons: Melvin, Allan, and John. Norman was a Legion member for over 25 years. He died of a heart attack on December 15, 1981 in Rycroft, and he is buried in the Peasant Heights Cemetery near Eaglesham.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 128-129 Photo p. 84
G.P. AGS website – obituary index
Barrick, D.J.
Barry, Gerald
Gerald Barry was a farmer who obtained land in the Eaglesham area from the Veterans Lease Project in 1950. ( 79-26-W5) First he lived in a tent. When he married his wife Doris, they lived in a 12 X 14 foot seed granary. They had crops and gardens, and Gerald was handy with machinery and motor repairs. It was a great tragedy when their 3 year old firstborn son, Laurie, drowned in their dugout. They had 8 more children: Dale, Ronald, Dianne, Gerald Jr., Marina, Laurie (girl), James, and John. In 1962 they moved to Athabasca to farm, (where their last 3 children were born). Gerald died on November 3, 1983
Source: Alberta Land Book
Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 130-131, Photo p. 131
mentioned as Veteran on p. 87
Barten, Gerhard
Settled on VH Lease SW-12-18-10-W6 in 1959
Source: Alberta Land Book
Bartilow, Henry
Settled on NE-15-81-12-W6 in 1959 on VH Lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Baskerville, John "Jack"
Regimental Number: M45315
Rank: Private
Jack was born on September 19, 1902 in Dunkerrin, Kings County, Ireland. Jack attended school in England following which he worked in a grocery store. He immigrated to Canada and arrived at St. John’s, New Brunswick on March 25, 1928. Once Jack arrived in the Peace River District, he filed a homestead application on NW 22-73-3-W6 on March 12, 1929 in an area of Bezanson known as Fitzsimmons. He stayed with Gene Gaboury until he built a small log house on his property. Jack assisted Gene with the farm work in exchange for the use of Gene’s horses and equipment to farm his own land. Jack received the patent on the property on February 25, 1935.
Jack joined the Army, South Edmonton Regiment, on June 12, 1940 at Edmonton. He underwent basic training in Dundurn, Sask. followed by a transfer to Nanaimo, BC. While there he met Alice Taylor (nee Bentley), a practical nurse, whom he subsequently married on April 2, 1941. Alice was a widow with two children. From there, Jack was transferred to Niagara followed by Debert, Nova Scotia and finally Camp Borden in Ontario where he embarked for the United Kingdom on June 13, 1942. In October 1943, Jack was transferred to the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations and eventually was sent to France. Jack arrived back in Halifax in July 1945. He was discharged on demobilization on September 11, 1945. Private John Baskerville received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp. He served in Canada, United Kingdom, Central Mediterranean Area and Continental Europe.
Once discharged, Jack returned home and found employment as a manager at a Pulp Mill. He subsequently sold his land in Bezanson to Gene Gaboury. Jack and Alice had a son, Gary and a daughter, Frances; however they eventually divorced. He was an accomplished accordion player and loved to entertain. Jack passed away in Victoria on November 21, 1975 and was cremated.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Service File
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Newspaper articles
BC Death Registration
BC Marriage registration
Bassarab, Walter Matthew "Babe"
Regiment: R.C.A.F.
Regimental No.: R60585 and J18428
Rank: Flying Officer
Walter (“Babe”) Bassarab was born in 1921 in Moose Jaw SK. He served as a Flying Officer in the Air Force during WWII. Walter and his wife came to Calais (close to Valleyview AB) on November 5, 1946. They purchased a general store and a cabin rental business. They also operated a fur buying business and a post office. Babe was a school bus driver from 1956 to 1976. They had 5 children: Ken, Robert, Dorothy, Linda, and Brenda. Walter died at the age of 76 on September 24, 1996 in Valleyview.
Source: Valleyview “Where the Red Willow Grew” p. 350
Grande Prairie AGS website – Obituary Index
Batke, Earl Louis
Earl Batke was born in 1909, and he grew up in the Sexsmith AB area. He was married to Olga, and he volunteered for service in WW II. They had 5 children: Edward, Delbert, Betty, Audrey, and Marlene (who predeceased him). Earl was a resident of Mayerthorpe when he died at age 84, on May 14, 1993. The funeral was held in the Legion Hall, and he is buried in the Mayerthorpe Cemetery.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over – Sexsmith to the Smoky p. 1149
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune May 28, 1993 - Obituary
Batterbee, Pte.
Regiment: No. 3 Platoon C.A. (B) T. C. No. 132
Trained in Grande Prairie AB
Source: Photograph - 2005. 53. 02 (1943)
*Name may be misspelled
Bauck, Gordon Elwood
Bayley, Orval George
Orval Bayley was born in Saskatchewan in January 1917 to parents George Stedman and Ena Jean Bayley. His mother died at an early age, and after his father remarried to Ruth, he joined his parents and sister when they moved to Grande Prairie area in 1929. Orval attended the newly opened Twilight school in grade 7. The family settled in Crooked Creek, and Orval was the oldest of 14 siblings. He (and his brother Elmer) served in WW II. Orval died of a heart attack at age 46 on September 5, 1963 in Edmonton AB.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 528
Grande Prairie AGS Website – Obituary Index
Bayley, Samuel Elmer
Regiment: The Loyal Edmonton Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (R.C.I.C)
Regimental Number: M/ 17157
Rank: Private
Grave Reference: VI. A. 3
Cemetery: Ravenna War Cemetery, Italy, No. 4
Elmer Bayley was the son of George Stedman and Ena Jean Bayley, and he was born in July 1918. He grew up in Saskatchewan and his mother died early in his life. After his father remarried to Ruth, they moved to the Grande Prairie area in 1929, while Elmer and two other siblings stayed with relatives. Elmer joined them in 1930 and attended the Twilight school. The family settled on a homestead in Crooked Creek where eventually there were 14 siblings. Elmer (and his brother Orval) joined the army, and Elmer was posted in Italy where he was killed in action on January 27, 1945. The quote on his gravestone reads: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 528
Across the Smoky p. 347 Roll of Honour
Commonwealth War Graves Website
Beairsto, F.W. (Dick)
Born in Sedgewick AB, Dick Beairsto enlisted in WWII service in 1942 and took pilot training. He became a flying officer and “flew combat missions over Europe at the controls of Halifax bombers.” After the war, Dick enrolled at University of Alberta and earned his Civil Engineering degree in 1949. In May of that year he married Phyllis Fraser whom he met at university. They lived in various places in Alberta and eventually settled in Grande Prairie. Dick worked at PFRA in Stettler AB, and in oilfield exploration at Western Geophysical in Grande Prairie for 5 years until 1955. Then he was the city engineer for 8 years until 1963. After resigning from this position, he became the manager of Beairsto, Stewart Weir Engineering Ltd. In 1979, Dick earned the L. C. Charlesworth Award for “substantial contributions” to the Association of Professional Engineers Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA). He was a member of the Kinsman Club, and Rotary Club, and was also a Public School Board Member. Dick loved sports and camping. Phyllis and Dick had 3 sons: Bruce, Ric, and Randy.
Source:
Herald Tribune Dec. 17, 1963, June 27, 1979, May 8, 2015
SPRA Family Reference Files
Beard, Charlie
Beattie, John "Jack"
Regiment: South Alberta Regiment- Provost Corps
Posting: overseas with Provost Corps
Rank
John “Jack” Beattie was born in Dungannon, Ireland in 1906. He came to Canada in 1926 and worked as a farmhand in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, and in 1930 he came to Hythe, AB. In 1931 Jack settled in Goodfare AB, renting land to farm. He married Julia Wright in 1934 and he bought an abandoned farm and fixed up the old house. Jack joined the army in 1940 serving 6 1/2 years with the South Alberta Regiment, and was posted in England with the Provost Corps. His duty was personal guard of Kurt Meyer who was the field commander of the German army. Jack and Julia had 4 sons: Austin, Dale, Julian, and Jim; and an infant daughter who died. After living in Goodfare 51 years, Jack died at the age of 78 in Hythe, on May 23, 1984. He is buried in the Hythe Cemetery.
Beaudoin, Richard
Richard Beaudoin was born in Albertville SK on April 20, 1925 to parents Emile and Adelina Beaudoin. At age 18 he enlisted in the army and served as soldier on the front lines and as a radio operator. He was discharged in 1946. He came to Girouxville AB in 1948 and worked several kinds of jobs: mechanic, photographer, cat operator, lumber industry, and he also obtained his Motor Mechanic and Welding certificates. Richard married Yolande Guindon on October 23, 1956 in Girouxville. They had 3 daughters: Rose, Pauline, and Suzanne. In 1974 Richard went to work at Falher Alfalfa Ltd and retired in 1988. He died on August 27, 1989 in Girouxville.
Source: Reflexions Volume II p. 304 Photo
Beaudry, Solomon
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew (Valleyview) p. 303 Roll of Honour – War Veterans
*Name could be Beaudrey.
Beck, Leonhart B.
Regiment: Canadian Armoured Corps
Postings: England, France, Germany, Holland
Rank: Sergeant
Born in Saskatchewan on October 26, 1920, Leonhart Beck was the son of Emil and Barbara Beck, and he had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. The family moved to Sexsmith AB a few years later, and in 1929 they settled in Bay Tree AB where Leonhart took his education by correspondence. In the 1930s he worked odd jobs, and in the early 1940s he enlisted with the Canadian Armoured Corps in WWII. First he trained in Grande Prairie, then he took a course on tank warfare in Ontario. Posted in London, England, he was in the Second Canadian Division, where he worked in armoured reconnaissance. He was wounded in action in September 1944 while in France, and returned to the front lines a month later. Then in Germany he was wounded again in February 1945, and returned to fight before the war was over. For six more months Leonhart was in Holland in postwar service. Back in Canada he returned to Bay Tree and purchased a quarter of land and built a house in 1947. In 1950 Leonhart married Caroline Sutherland, and they had 3 children: Bryan, Barbara, and Yvonne. They bought a half section of land in 1960. Leonhart was active in community affairs in Bay Tree, and with the school district of Many Creeks. Leonhart and Caroline moved to Sidney BC (Vancouver Island) to retire in 1975.
Source: Homesteader’s Heritage pp. 32-33
Photos pp. 32 and 33
Bedard, Charles Joseph
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Rank
Force: Army
Charles Bedard was the son of Napoleon and Alma Bedard, and was born on October 23, 1920. At age 9, Charles and his parents and 3 siblings ( Helene, Luc, and Louis) moved from Berlin, New Hampshire to Girouxville AB to homestead and farm. In 1940 Charles joined the army and served with the Calgary Highlanders. While posted in France he was wounded, and he was discharged in 1945. Charles eventually moved to Montreal QC where he passed away at the age of 91 in August 2012.
Source: Reflexions (Girouxville) pp. 307-309 Photo p. 308
Bedard, Louis J.
Force: Army
Louis Bedard was born on August 2, 1924 to parents Napoleon and Alma Bedard. He was the youngest of 4 siblings. In 1929 he moved with his family from Berlin, New Hampshire, USA, to Girouxville AB. There the family settled and homesteaded. Louis helped his older brother with the farming after his father died in 1939, and in 1943 he joined the army. After the war Louis became a truck driver. He died at age 85 in April 2010.
Source: Reflexions (Girouxville) pp. 307-309 Photo p. 308
Bedard, Marcel
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle ( Eaglesham, Tangent, Watino and Codesa areas) p. 87 (Name only)
Beisel, Clifford Ervine
Clifford Beisel, born on April 1, 1920, was the son of Louis and Annie Beisel, and he had 4 siblings (Muriel, Laura, Alice and Mildred). In 1928 the family moved from Glass Lake to the Beaverlodge AB area. They had a farm south of Albright. Clifford joined the armed forces in WWII and served till the end of the war. In 1954 he married Helen Tolway. They had a dairy farm, and Clifford was a member of the Beaverlodge Band for many years, and their children, David, Barbara, and Robert also played in the band. Clifford died on May 31, 2005 at age 85 in Albright. He is buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Beaverlodge with his wife Helen.
Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 8-9
Photos: p. 8 and 9
AGS website – Obituary Index, Cemetery Index
Belanger, Alphonse
Alphonse Belanger was born on May 7, 1911 to parents Eusebe Belanger and Alexina Galipeau. At age 6 Alphonse and his family moved to Girouxville AB where his parents farmed and he lived much of his life. After he served in WW II, he helped farm until he married his first wife, Noellis Cailla in 1957. Tragically she died from smoke inhalation from their house fire in 1959. In 1960 Alphonse married Germaine Savoie, and they had 4 children: Clement, Albert, Aldor and Denise. He owned a quarter section of land. Alphonse sang in the church choir for many years.
Source:
Belanger, Wilfrid
Force: Navy
Wilfrid Belanger was born in 1906, and he arrived in Alberta with his parents, Albert and Louise Charbonneau in 1917. He became a steam engineer after his schooling, and worked at lumber camps, but at harvest time he helped with his parents’ farm. Wilfrid joined the Navy during WW II. He filed on a homestead (NE 3-78-22-5) in the Girouxville area. In 1966 he married Nora Cunn; they did not have children. Wilfrid played the clarinet and enjoyed dancing. Later he moved to Edmonton.
Source: Reflexions (Girouxville) pp. 329-330 Photo p. 230
Belawchuk, George
Biography: George Belawchuk served in WW II. He settled in SI-19-80-6-W6 and was given a Veterans Ag Lease.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Belawchuk, Peter
Biography: Peter Belawchuk served in WW II. He settled on land from the Veterans Ag Lease on SW-21, and SE-20-80-6-W6 in Sept. 23, 1952.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Belcourt, Francis "Kelly"
Francis Belcourt was a resident of Kelly Lake and Beaverlodge AB. He served in WW II. Francis was married to Ida. He died on December 12, 1991, at age 70 in Beaverlodge, and is buried in the Hythe Cemetery.
Source: Pioneer Round Up p. 100 (Honour Roll – Goodfare)
Daily Herald Tribune Dec. 13/16, 1991 - Obituary
Belford, Thomas Harold
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment 49th Battalion
Thomas Belford, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe W. Belford, was born on August 18, 1903 in Plumas MB. He had 2 brothers: Arthur and Orser. In 1928 he moved to the Grande Prairie area with his family and some friends. Settling in the DeBolt area, he homesteaded, built a cabin, and ran a trap line. He was very active in community events, sports, and rodeos. In April 1940 he enlisted to serve in WW II and was posted in Europe for 5 years. Thomas married Betty Bayley in 1948, and they had 3 children: Thomas, George, and Barbara. When their son George required hospitalization due to severe burns, they moved to Grande Prairie in 1957, and they sold all their property in DeBolt. Thomas died at the age of 88 in Grande Prairie on June 5, 1992, and he is buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Across the Smoky pp. 63-64
Photo p. 345, Name mentioned p. 347
AGS website – Obituary Index, and Cemetery Index
Bell, William "Bill"
Force: Army
William Bell was born in Stockton on Tees, Durham, England, on February 19, 1909. When he was 18 years old, he came to Canada and stayed with his uncle in Saskatchewan. In 1929 Bill came to the Spirit River AB area and filed on a quarter section in Willowvale where he homesteaded. He enjoyed hunting, and played music for house parties. On March 25, 1936 Bill married Beatrice England. Bill joined the Army in January 1942, enlisting in Edmonton, and was posted in England, Germany, Holland, and Italy. He returned to Canada in 1946. At that time, he took another section of land with the help of the Veteran’s Land Act Loan. While farming, Bill had other jobs. He was caretaker of the Spirit River School, worked on a survey crew, took a course in Steam Engineering, and worked at the hospital. He sold the farm in 1962. He was president of the Royal Canadian Legion. In his later years he developed a heart condition, and he passed away on February 24, 1977, in Willowvale. Bill and Beatrice had 3 children: Ken, Donna, and Camille.
Source: Memories and Moments PP. 155-157
Photos pp. 276, 155, 156
Bellerive, Armand
Regimental Number: R252931
Date of Birth: 1917
Force: R. C. A. F.
Armand Bellerive was born on October 3, 1917, in Ste. Elizabeth MB, to parents Adrien Bellerive and Delphine Collette. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941, and was put on the reserve list in 1945. After the war, Armand decided to move to AB and applied for a homestead in Girouxville in the fall of 1946. He managed to clear 47 acres by hand, and eventually bought the entire section 22-76-22-5. For most of the years while he was farming, he was a bachelor, but he married Rollande Audet, who was a good friend, on December 17, 1976. Armand was a member of the McLennon Legion Branch. He retired in Girouxville, and he died on July 21, 1997 at age 79.
Source: Reflexions p. 330
Photo p. 330 Rolande and Armand
Bennett, William H.
Regiment: R.C. E. M. E.
Regimental No.: M4074
Rank: S/Sgt.
William Bennet was born in 1907, and he served in WW II as a staff sergeant with the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He passed away on January 3, 1974 at the age of 67, and he is buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: AGS Website – Cemetery Index
Benson, James A.
Regiment: R. C. Infantry Corps
Regiment No.: M6618
Rank: Private
James Benson was born in 1926 and served in WW II with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He passed away on December 30, 1971 at the age of 45. He is buried in the St. Stephens Cemetery near Sexsmith AB.
Source: County of Grande Prairie Cemetery Records
Benson, Joseph Charles
Settled in NW-19-81-7-W6 January 1, 1963 VH Lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Bentley, Samuel Redson
Settled in NE-20-81-11-W6 in 1955 VH Lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Berg, Hans
Hans came to the Wembley area in 1933 from Saskatchewan after his father Ole Berg, and brother Anton settled in 1929. Hans homesteaded on SE-7-69-8-W6. He had another brother, Eric, who also homesteaded in Wembley. Hans served in WW II.
Source: Along the Wapiti pp. 287, 288, 412 (Name mentioned)
Bergeron, John Albert
Regimental Number: J87384
Killed in Action: 13 June 1944
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Date of Birth: 25 Jul 1923
Bernard, Richard "Dick"
Richard Bernard was born in 1926 and came from Portage-La-Prairie MB to the Spirit River District (Blueberry Creek) in 1930 with his parents, Louis and Mabel Bernard, and his sister Agnes. The family homesteaded. After Dick served in WW II he settled in Dawson Creek. In the early 50’s he married Lillian Williams. They had 3 children: Donald, Sharon, and Elaine. Dick died in 1985
Source: Chepi-Sepe pp.279-280
Photo (Veterans) p. 183
Berner, Don
Force: Army
After serving in WW II, Don Berner came to Belloy AB from Kelliher, SK by train in 1946 to meet his brother Norman. He spent the summer breaking bush and then moved back to Saskatchewan to farm. In 1948 he came back to the Wanham area and took a homestead with the Lassiter project. At age 40, Don married a widow, Alice (Howard) Noga, and became a father to her 2 daughters, Susan and Barbara.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly pp. 257, 349
Photo p. 257
Berner, Norman
Force: Air Force (R.C.A.F.)
While in the air force in WWII, a superior told Norman about his farm in Belloy AB, and Norman decided to move to the Peace River Country and bought farm equipment to break land. He persuaded his brother, Don, who also served in WW II to join him in Belloy. In 1948, Norman set up a blacksmith shop. He married Steffa Jakubowski from Wanham AB in 1952, and in 1954 he rejoined the air force. Eventually they settled in Rutland BC, where Norman had a fix-it shop which he enjoyed very much.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly pp. 257-258
Bertram, Bud
Bud Bertram was born on March 20, 1923 in Colome, South Dakota, USA. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He died on June 30, 2006, and his interment was at the Hythe AB Cemetery.
Source: Family and Personal Life Reference Files - Memorial card
Besse, Edgar
Rank: Gunner
Force: Canadian Army
Edgar served in WWII as a gunner. He was a farmer, and he settled in Whitemud Creek AB in 1945. Edgar married Elsie Scott. He died in 1982.
Source: Guy p. 184
Bessent, Henry Robert "Bob"
Regiment: 405 Pathfinder Squadron
Regimental Number: R/198740
Rank: Sergeant Air Gunner
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Bob Bessent was born in Windsor, ON on April 17, 1925 to parents Herbert Bessent and Elsie May Roberts Bessent. He had a twin brother, Bill, who also served in the RCAF. In 1927 the family moved to Grande Prairie AB where the twins eventually started school and were involved in various sports. At age 17 Bob and his brother joined the Air Force, first training in Edmonton, then Manitoba, and then in Quebec for gunnery training. They joined the 405 Pathfinder Squadron in England in 1943. Bob was killed in action in the early morning of December 17, 1943 when his Lancaster bomber crashed because it encountered heavy fog and ran out of fuel looking for a place to land. His mother became the Silver Cross Mother that year. In July 1946 Bob was posthumously awarded Operational Wings from the RCAF “in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy.” Bob is buried in the Cambridge City (England) Cemetery. Grave Ref: 14558A
Source: Legion Album
Commonwealth War Graves – website
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune - September 23, 1987 – Obituary of Elsie May Roberts Bessent
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files – newspaper articles, photos
Bessent, William Francis "Bill"
Regiment: 405 Pathfinder Squadron
Rank: Sergeant, Air Gunners
Force: R. C. A. F.
Bill Bessent was born on April 17, 1925 in Windsor ON. His parents were Herbert Bessent and Elsie May Roberts Bessent. He had a twin brother, Henry Roberts (“Bob”), who also served in the R.C.A.F. and was killed in action. In 1927 the family moved to Grande Prairie AB, where the twins eventually attended school and played in many kinds of sports. Bill and Bob joined the Air Force at age 17, first receiving training in Edmonton, then in Quebec for gunnery training. They sailed from Halifax to England, joining the 405 Pathfinder Squadron. Bill served on 30 missions until August 1944, and he received the Distinguished Flying Medal in November for “courage and calmness” while his aircraft was on fire over Berlin. He then became a trainer for other gunners in Yorkshire, England before he was posted to Nova Scotia as an instructor. After his discharge in September 1945, he returned to Grande Prairie and worked in Grande Prairie Hardwares. He married Lavina (“Vine”) Louise Allison in 1950, and they had 3 children: Bob, Bill, and Bonny. Bill was involved in sports clubs (hockey, golf, curling), and was president of the Grande Prairie Legion, Key Club, and a chartered member of the Grande Prairie Kinsmen. In 1953, Bill and his father opened their own store – Bessent and Son. In 2013 Bill received a new service ribbon from the Canadian government for his efforts in WW II.
Source: Grande Prairie Herald Tribune – September 23, 1987 – Obituary of Elsie May Bessent
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune – October 9, 1990 – Obituary of Lavina Louise Allison Bessent
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files – Newspaper articles, letters, photos etc.
Bice, Gilbert
Regimental Number: M/ 38198
Force: Army
Biography: Gilbert Bice, the eldest of 6 siblings, was born October 10, 1924 to parents Cecil and May (McDaid) Bice. Around 1931 the family moved to Rahab (later known as Codesa) AB and started farming there. Gilbert enlisted in the army in WW II in 1944 and served in Canada, England, and N. W. Europe until 1946 when he returned to Codesa. He married Maria Woienski on October 18, 1950 and they settled in Eaglesham AB. They had 2 children: Clara and Kevin. Gilbert passed away at the age of 82 in Spirit River AB on November 28, 2006.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 135, 409 WW II Veterans photo p. 84
AGS Website – Obituary Index
Bilinski, John
Biography: John Bilinski was born in Poland in 1920 to parents Joe and Franciska (“Frances”) Bilinski. He was the oldest of 5 siblings. His father came to Canada in 1927, while his mother followed in 1930. They homesteaded in Codesa AB. After serving in WW II, John married Helen Kasprow in November 1951. They settled and farmed in the Wanham AB area, and they had 3 children: Jim (1953), Janet (1957), and Cindy (1959). Since 1973 they lived in Grande Prairie. John died at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie on February 3, 1987 at age 66, and he is buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 136-137 Photo p. 136
Daily Herald Tribune – Feb. 4, 1987 – Obituary
AGS Website – Obituary Index
Bird, Hedley
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name mentioned under WW II Veterans)
Biron, Roger Rene
Regiment: 3rd Division Signals
Rank:
Force: Army
Biography: Roger Biron was born in 1922. He was a long-time resident of Grande Prairie AB. Roger served in the Army in WW II in the 3rd Division Signals Regiment. He married Sophie Muzyka in 1947 in Grande Prairie. They had a son, Ken. Roger passed away on September 28, 2014 at the age of 92 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Legion Album
Your Folks.com (website) Genealogy Roger Biron
Bear Creek Funeral Home (website) - Obituaries
Bisson, Andrew
Regiment: Le Regiment de Maisonneuve, R.C.I.C
Regimental Number: M/106777
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Andrew Bisson was born on February 6, 1923 in St. Edward, Alberta. Born to French-Canadian parents, Elzear and Marie Anna Bisson, he was the youngest of ten children. At age 15 he completed Grade 7, and he was interested in baseball and hockey. When he was older, Andrew helped his brother on the farm and was a sawmill hand from 1940 to 1942. He was living in McLennan, Alberta when he enlisted in the army in on March 8, 1943. Since Andrew was mischievous as a youngster and had a daring nature, he volunteered for paratroop training. When he was only 21 years old, he was killed in action on July 22, 1944. He is buried in the Bretteville - Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France. (Grave Ref: VI B. 7.)
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 pp. 99 and 120
Attestation Papers – Library and Archives Canada
Bisson, Claude
Force: Canadian Army
Biography: Claude Bisson served in the army in WW II, and studied to become a doctor. He passed away in 1957.
Source: Trails and Rails Vol. 2 pp. 99 and 120
Bjarne, H.
Regiment: R.C.A.S.C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps)
Force: Army
Hometown: Sexsmith
Source: Herald Tribune Aug. 1, 1940
Black, Ernest
Regiment: Edmonton
Force: Army
Ernest Black of Grande Prairie, AB was one of 5 soldiers who were on a 6 day leave to go home, arriving in Grande Prairie on November 3, 1939. A large crowd gathered at the train station to welcome them. The other 4 recruits were: Dan Spicer, Bill Roland, Jim Easterbrook, and Loenzo Giroux. The soldiers commented that they were “feeling fit and liked the army life.”
Source: Grande Prairie Herald – Thursday Nov. 9, 1939 p.1 c.3
Black, Gordon Keith
Gordon Keith Black of the Grande Prairie AB area, was among 50 recruits who signed up in Grande Prairie as reinforcements for the Edmonton Regiment on April 2 or 3, 1940. The recruits left on April 5 by train to McLennan, and were joined by recruits from Peace River. Lieut. – Col. Scott of the recruiting party called the men “an exceptionally fine type.”
Source: Daily Herald Tribune – April 4, 1940
Blackie, Douglas
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Douglas Blackie was born and raised in Edmonton, and attended a year of normal school and a year at University of Alberta studying Engineering. After his studies, he moved to Spirit River and became the teacher at the White Mountain School, where he taught from 1933 to 1936. In 1939 he married Alice Brown in Spirit River. Douglas joined the Air Force in July 1942 and was trained in radar and wireless communication. He was discharged in June 1946 and returned to teaching in the Spirit River School. Because he was going to operate the “Blackie Radio Electric” business, he resigned from teaching in 1950. Becoming the Post Master in 1954, Douglas also was a member of the town council for nearly ten years. Both Alice and Douglas enjoyed involvement in several musical and dramatic productions in the school and the United Church. In 1969 he was elected National President of the Canadian Postmasters Association, which required a move to Ottawa. When he retired, they moved back to Spirit River. Alice and Douglas had 3 children: Stuart, Heather and Patricia. Douglas died at age 89 in Grande Prairie in May 1999.
Source: Memories and Moments p. 76 Photo in uniform p. 276
Chepi Sepee p. 183 Photo in uniform
Blais, J.
Blais, R.
R. Blais was from the Valleyview district.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 –name in Roll of Honour
Blanes, Oscar
Force: Army
Oscar Blanes was born on March 17, 1911 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. With his parents he moved to Canada, and in 1917 they settled in Sexsmith AB area where they homesteaded and Oscar attended the North Kleskun School. By 1932 Oscar had his own homestead (SE ¼ 31-74-3-W6) where he built his house, and lived there the rest of his life. For 4 years Oscar served in WW II in the army being posted in Western Europe. He returned to his homestead which was his sanctuary and he loved to watch the wildlife there. For some time he also owned a trapline. Oscar died on October 29, 1978 and was buried in the Teepee Creek Cemetery.
Source:
Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 876
p. 1149 (name on Roll of Honour)
Photos pp. 1153 and 1154
Blankstien, Larry
Regiment: RCASC
Force: Army
Biography: Larry Blankstien served in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in WWII.
Blimke, Daniel Arthur "Art"
Art was born in Grande Prairie, served for 3 years and was discharged in 1946.
Bliss, Charles Lawrence "Lawrie"
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Regimental No. M8307
Rank: Corporal
Biography: Born in 1926, Charles Lawrence Bliss grew up in Valleyview AB, and was a member of the Valleyview Branch Legion. He died on May 1, 1996 in Valleyview.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 – Name on Roll of Honour
AGS website – Obituary Index
Bliss, Frank
Frank joined the R.C.A.F. and was stationed in Baden, Germany.
Source: Pioneer Round Up pp. 449-450
Bliss, John "Jack" Wilfred
Force: Army
Biography: Jack Bliss was born in Francis SK on July 11, 1916. His parents were Frank and Sarah Bliss, and he grew up at Scout Lake,SK . He was interested in the Alberta Peace River area and came to Albright AB on October 30, 1936, where his sister and brother- in-law lived. In 1939 he married Eva Pack, and in 1941 Jack enlisted in the Army. After his discharge, the Blisses moved to several places over the years: Some of them were Fort St. John, Hythe ( where they operated a butcher shop), and Valhalla Centre ( where they farmed). Eva and Jack had 5 children: Marlene, Marvin, Shannon, Frank and William (Billie). Frank joined the R.C.A.F. and was stationed in Baden, Germany, while his brother Billie also joined the R.C.A.F. and was stationed in Senneterre, Quebec. During his retirement, Jack enjoyed fishing and spending time with his children and grandchildren. Jack died on February 8, 1998 in Grande Prairie, AB.
Source: Pioneer Round Up pp. 449-450
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune Feb. 10, 11, 12, 1998 - Obituary
Bliss, William "Billy"
Billie joined the R.C.A.F. and was stationed in Senneterre, Quebec.
Blois, Leonard Erle
Biography: Leonard Blois was born in Halifax NS on December 30, 1895, the youngest of 6 siblings. He came west at age 6, one year after his parents and 2 eldest brothers moved there. Since there was no school, the children moved back east for their education. Then in 1910 the family settled in Carstairs AB. Leonard attended the Olds School of Agriculture, and had jobs on ranches in Sundre, and on a survey crew in Edson. He and a friend enlisted in WW I in 1916 and ended up on the war front. After the war, Leonard worked in a lumber camp in BC. There his met his wife, Gudrun Lee, and they married in 1921. They obtained land in Carstairs through the army, and farmed. During this time they had 4 children: Allan, Jean, Harry and Bob, and had hard times during the Depression. During WW II, from 1940 to 1945, Leonard was stationed in Calgary as Sergeant Major Instructor, leaving Gudrun and the children to tend the farm. The farm was sold in 1948, and the next year Leonard and Gudrun moved to Belloy AB on land for which they applied through the Lassiter Project. They had some rough years getting established due to poor soil and poor machinery. In 1974 they retired from farming, and moved in to the Pleasant View Lodge in Spirit River AB. Over the years, Leonard was a member of the Legion and an avid curler.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly (Wanham area) pp. 264-265
Blomli, John
Blouin, Robert
Born around 1920, Robert Blouin lived in the Wanham area. He died at age 87 in January 2007 in Peace River.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly p. 224 Photo only
AGS website – Obituary Index
Bobier, Edmund
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Biography: After serving in WWII in the RCAF, Edmund, his wife Florence Robb, their 3 sons and Florence’s mother, arrived in Eaglesham AB from central Alberta by train in April of 1950. After settling, Edmund decided to apply for land on the Lassiter Project, a half section in the Belloy district. Since the family was required to live there, they had to move again. On October 14 they moved into their log house which was transported there from Fox Creek. Leaving their homestead of many years, Bobiers moved to Grande Prairie due to Edmund’s poor health. After 5 years there, they moved to High Prairie where Edmund died in 1974. Their sons are: Richard, Stanley, and Alfred
Source: Grooming the Grizzly pp. 267-269
Bodeker, Francis "Graham"
Force: Navy
Graham Bodeker was born in South Fort George BC (which is now Prince George) on June 28, 1913. His parents were Peter George Bendix (Ben) and Lutie Bodeker, and he had two younger siblings, Betty and Gordon. As a two and a half year old child, his family moved to the BC Peace Country, and canoed from Finlay Forks to Hudson Hope. They then moved to Dunvegan and Spirit River AB where Ben was the last factor in the Hudson Bay Company posts. Moving to Sturgeon Lake in the early 1920’s, Ben was transferred to another HBC post, while the children attended a mission school. By 1931 the family settled in the Valleyview area. Graham’s first job as a teenager was trucking freight to Grande Prairie. Other jobs included trapping, grader operator, carpentry, and sawmill work.
On March 9, 1937 Graham married Eunice Stenseth in High Prairie, and they settled on their own homestead south of Valleyview in 1940. They had 3 daughters: Frances, Phyllis and Beverly, and one infant son, Gilbert, who died. In the mid 1940’s, Graham served in the Royal Canadian Navy and was stationed in Halifax NS for two years. From 1952 to 1978 he worked in oilfields, first for Cantex Drilling, and, since 1957, for Amerada Petroleum. Eunice and Graham operated the Eaglesham, and Fox Creek golf courses for a few years, before retiring. Active in many sports and activities, Graham especially enjoyed swimming, ice-skating, and golf. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Valleyview, and served on the town council. At the age of 93, Graham died in the Valleyview Hospital on October 3, 2005.
Source: SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files (including obituary)
Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 50 – 54
Photo pp. 51 and 52
Bodnaruk, Mike
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 Name listed in Roll of Honour
From Valleyview area
Boe, Arthur S. "Art"
Regimental Number: M58226
Date of Birth: 1906
From Debolt
Enlisted: January 1943
Arthur Boe was born in 1908, in Gonvick Minnesota, USA. His parents were Gust and Sophia Boe, and he had 2 brothers and 6 sisters. Art moved with his family and some friends from Minnesota, to DeBolt AB in June 1930, where his father had filed on a homestead 3 ½ miles north of the town.
He was a member of the Grande Prairie Legion
Art died February 25, 1997 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Across the Smoky p.137
Photo with brother and friends
Boehn, Ralph
Source: Guy p. 146
Boehn, Stan
Source: Guy p. 146
Bohn, James Gibson “Jim”
Jim Bohn who was born in 1922 was the son of Fred Bohn and Agnes Gibson who farmed in the La Glace AB area. He had a brother, Jack, and a sister, Renie (who also served in WW II). After his 4 year duty in the war, Jim farmed in the La Glace area. In 1948 he purchased his parents’ farm with his brother. He died in 2002 in Fairview AB.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 Roll of Honour WW II
La Glace – Yesterday and Today p. 64
Grande Prairie AGS – Obituary Index
Boisvert, Adrien
Adrien Boisvert was born in Fannystelle MB on August 14, 1907. He was married on December 27, 1933 to Irene Viens. In 1939 he enlisted in the Army, being posted in Italy, and he was discharged in 1945. During his life he was a farmer, and he homesteaded the land SE ¼ 21-76-21-W6, in Guy AB where they settled in 1945. Adrien passed away at age 82 on May 2, 1990 in McLennan AB.
Source: Guy p. 203
Grande Prairie AGS – Obituary Index
Boisvert, Gaston
Gaston Boisvert was born on May 31, 1915, and he grew up in Guy AB. He served in the Army during WW II, being posted in Holland and Germany. On June 16, 1951 he married Nancy Taylor.
Source: Guy p. 203
Boisvert, Paul
Paul Boisvert was a weed inspector and lived in the community of Guy AB.
Source: Guy P. 145
Bolinsky, Harry H.
Bond, C,
Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26
Bond, Walter George
Regiment/ Division: 358 Royal Air Force Sqdn
Regimental No.: R/260658
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Force: Air Force
Biography: George Bond was born on February 25, 1924 in Dysart, SK. His parents were Walter and Edith (Bolingbroke), and he was the brother of Thomas Carlisle, Donald Gordon, Edith Hazel, Myrtle Munro, and Mildred Aida. The family homesteaded in the Beaverlodge AB area. George was active in hockey, baseball, softball, football, and swimming. At age 19 George enlisted in the Air Force in Edmonton on July 2, 1943. Tragically he was killed in action in Burma (now Myanmar) on June 19, 1945. During his short WWII career George received the 1939-1945 Star, Burma Star, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Posthumously he was awarded the RCAF Operational Wing on March 19, 1947. He was buried in the Kranjii Memorial Cemetery in Singapore. George’s father, Walter, served in WW I as Corporal.
Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 89-90
Canadian Virtual War Memorial – also contained photos
Boomgaarden, George
Regimental Number: M56262
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Army
Biography: George Boomgaarden was born in Herbert, SK on May 9, 1924, and his parents were Fred and Pearl Boomgaarden. The family moved to Spirit River AB in December of 1928, and they were one of the first families to farm in the Happy Valley area. At the young age of 17, George enlisted in the army in February 1941, and he served as Private until he was discharged in February 1945. Upon his return from duty overseas, he was allotted a quarter section of land in Happy Valley by the army, and built a house. He married Blanche Schamahorn from Willowvale area on April 30, 1950. They had 8 children: Lois, Karen, Jim, Lance, Lewis, Terry, Tim, and Beverly. George farmed for many years, and also worked for Alberta Wheat Pool for 10 years before receiving his pension in 1986. George passed away at the age of 74, on March 6, 1999, in Spirit River.
Source: Chepi Sepe- Spirit River p. 183 (photo in uniform), pp. 288-289 (photo of George and Blanche and 2 girls)
Boreen, Hubert M. “Tuffy”
Regiment: 5th Anti-Tank Regiment
Rank: Sergeant
Force: Army
Biography: Tuffy Boreen was born in 1921 in Bredenbury SK, the fourth of 6 children to parents Albert and Ruby Boreen. In his younger years he lived in Medicine Hat, McLennan, and Edmonton. In 1941 Tuffy enlisted in the army and served overseas for four years in the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment. He married Marion Ayling (of Calgary) in Edmonton, and worked there as a carpenter. Tuffy received land for homesteading from V.L.A. (Veteran’s Land Act) near Watino. (W25-77-25-W5). Marion and Tuffy had 2 daughters: Shirley and Beverley. Having a passion for horses, Tuffy loved going to the Four Mile Creek Grazing Lease (cattle range), and being a cowboy. Unfortunately, he died at the young age of 49, in Grande Prairie AB in May 1970. He is buried in the Pleasant Heights Cemetery in Eaglesham AB.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p.146 (photos of family and Tuffy with horse)
Trails and Rails North Vol 2 – p. 99
Grande Prairie AGS – Obituary Index
Boreen, Robert
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p.99
Borger, Ferdinand
Biography: In June 1931 Fred Borger moved from Edmonton AB to Peace River district with a Model T. Eventually he bought a farm near Brainard (northwest of Grande Prairie) AB. He married Helen Lemke, who was a nurse, in 1934. They met in an Edmonton hospital when he had a leg injury. Due to his diploma in Agronomy (from Russia), Fred was a very successful farmer. Helen and Fred had two children: Norma and Eric. They sold their farm in 1952 and moved to Langley Prairie BC. Fred died in 1960, and Helen in 1962.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 367 -368
No mention of WW II service
Boston, James William
Rank: Corporal
Botham, Charles Kenneth “Ken”
Ken Botham was born in 1918 in Toledo ON. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1941 in Ottawa at the age of 23. In 1942 he was posted to Calgary where he met his wife, Dora (“Dot”) Sallis, and they married in 1944. Four veterans including Ken travelled from Calgary to the Wanham -Belloy AB district in 1949 to file on land from the Lassiter Project. Ken obtained S11-79-2-W6, and in later years he purchased an adjoining section. In the spring of 1950, Ken and Dot moved up to their homestead and put in their first crop. Ken purchased a Massey-Harris pull-type combine, the first one north of Belloy, that fall. Dot and Ken had 2 daughters: Naida and Carolyn Dene. Ken passed away at age 55 in December 1973, in Spirit River, after suffering a long terminal illness. Dot remarried to Charles Brissard, and acquired a son named Ken.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly pp. 276-280. Photo of Ken in uniform, and of family.
Grande Prairie AGS – Obituary Index
Botten, Cyril "Hector"
Regiment: Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (R.C.O.C.)
Regimental Number: M56296
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Hector Botten came to Canada from Portsmouth, England around 1929. He and his buddy, Johnny Coates, sought adventure and were especially interested in owning land in the Canadian frontier. Hector filed on a homestead in Sylvester area (near Elmworth AB). He became friends with Mr. and Mrs. Bob Frame of Elmworth, and he lived with their family for 12 years, helping with the farm chores. When WW II broke out, Hector was determined to join the army, and was delighted to be accepted in February 1942. He was at the Grande Prairie Military Training Centre only 2 months when he contracted pneumonia, and sadly he died on April 14, 1942. It was the first death at the training centre. On April 16 Hector was given a military funeral, and was buried at the Grande Prairie Cemetery. Hector’s mother and brother were still in England. According to Bob Frame, Hector was a “man of highest principles” and of “cheerful disposition”. Mrs. Frame kept in touch with Hector’s mother for many years afterwards. In 1974 Hector’s brother came from England to visit Mrs. Frame, who was living in Hythe at the time, to thank her for making a home for Hector.
Source: Grande Prairie Herald Tribune April 23, 1942 p. 1, c. 7 and p. 5, c. 3
Beaverlodge to the Rockies Supplement p. 151
AGS Obituary Index
Bouchard, Charles
Charles Bouchard was from the Wanham AB area.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly p. 224 (photo only “In Service for their Country”)
Bouck, Gordon Edward
Boulet, Bernard
Rank: Sergeant
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Biography: Bernard Boulet was born on June 12, 1918. He enlisted with the Air Force in 1942, attained the rank of Sergeant, and was a “pilot with wings”. He was discharged in 1944. On February 21, 1949 he married Marie-Paule Thibault. Bernard was a farmer during his life, settling in Guy in 1946.
Source: Guy p. 210
Bourlon, Albert
Regimental Number: L107577
Albert Bourlon was born in 1922. Living in the Valleyview AB area, he was a member of the Valleyview Legion. Albert passed away at age 79 in December 2001.
Source: “Where the Red Willow Grew” p. 303 (Name only in Roll of Honour)
Bourque, Raphael
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p. 120
Boychuk, Fred
Regiment: Calgary Regiment R.C.A.C./ C.M.F.
Regimental Number: M 66374
Rank: Trooper
Force:
Biography: Fred Boychuk was killed in action on December 10, 1943 at the age of 26. Being a tank gunner with the Calgary Regiment CMF, he was posted in Italy. He was the son of Steve Boychuk and brother of John and Billy Boychuk of Silverwood (near Woking AB). The Herald Tribune newspaper in Grande Prairie stated that he was “widely and favourably known in his community.” Fred was buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy. (Grave Ref. 1.D.3.)
Source: Burnt Embers p. 110 (photo)
Commonwealth War Graves.
Herald Tribune February 17, 1944 p.1 c.8
Boychuk, John
Regimental Number: M 66368
Rank: Private
Force: Royal Canadian Army
John Boychuk was born in 1919. He had 2 brothers: Fred (who was killed in action in WW II), and Billy. After his service in the Royal Canadian Army in WW II, John married Annie Bakuniuk on November 7, 1947. At the time, John lived 4 miles north of Woking AB in what was then called the New World district. The first winter the couple lived in a small cabin with John’s father. John obtained land to homestead from the V L A, 9 miles east of Woking, and in spring of 1948 they moved there and built a house. (Their home quarter was SW 29-76-4-6.) While farming, John worked at the railroad at the same time, and he was a member of the Rycroft Legion. Annie and John had 3 children: Katherine, Fred, and Dmitri. At age 75, John passed away in Spirit River on November 11, 1994, and he was buried in the Greenway Cemetery.
Source: Burnt Embers p. 110 (photo in uniform), pp. 285-286 (family photo)
GP Daily Herald Tribune November 14, 1994 - Obituary
Boychuk, William
Billy Boychuk was born around 1922. The son of Steve Boychuk from Silverwood AB (near Woking), he was the younger brother of John and Fred Boychuk who also served in the armed forces in WW II. (Fred was killed in action.) Billy was with the Tank Corp in Camp Borden.
Source: Burnt Embers p. 110 Photo only – “In Our Country’s Service”
Herald Tribune February 17, 1944 p.1 c.8
Boyd, G.F.
from Peace River AB
Source:
Herald Tribune: August 1, 1940
Boyd, John
John Boyd filed for land with the VH Lease and obtained: NE 25-81-8-6th and SE 25-81-8-6th
Source: Alberta Land Book
Boyd, Lee
Lee Boyd who was formerly of Grande Prairie, came from Peace River to join the army. A newspaper article stated that he would be sent to Winnipeg MB and work for the electrical section of the army. Lee was a “well known hockey player”, and he “stated that there are few single men left at Peace River of military age.”
Source: Herald Tribune May 1, 1941 p. 1 c. 5
Boyd, Matthew "Scotty"
Force: Canadian Armed Forces
Matthew “Scotty” Boyd was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1904, the eldest of 9 siblings. At a very young age, Matthew showed talent for singing, and he was also active in cricket, running, and swimming. At 12 years he apprenticed to be a butcher while still pursuing his education and sports. In 1928 he was selected for the British Diving Team in the Olympics in Amsterdam. That same year he immigrated to Canada, going to work on a ranch near Peace River. This was quite a culture shock for him, and he was given the nickname Scotty because of his accent. Soon after his arrival in Canada he met Yukola, who he married. Scotty obtained work as a butcher and they moved to Beaverlodge in 1931. Over the years they lived in various areas: Beaverlodge, Grande Prairie, Hythe, Sexsmith, Peace River and Spirit River. Scotty won medals at the Grande Prairie Music Festival, and he joined the B.P.O. Elks No. 249 at Beaverlodge in 1938. He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces for 6 years, 3 of which were spent overseas. After 15 years in Canada he was able to visit his family in Scotland again. An interesting army prank (in Holland) was that Scotty and some pals stole a train and crossed the border into enemy territory, where they were captured by the Germans, and escorted on a tour of the city before being released and having to face their Staff Officers! In 1954 the Boyds operated Lee Borden’s locker plant in Hythe, and in 1958 they bought their own business which became Boyd’s I.G.A. in Spirit River. They had 4 daughters: Marion, Gladys, Yukola, and Sheila. In later years they enjoyed holidays together, and Scotty served in the Spirit River Town Council. Matthew died in December 1975, but even in his last days in the hospital he sang Scottish songs.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over (taken from Beaverlodge to the Rockies Supplement) pp. 578-581
Photos: pp. 1153, 1162, and 580
Boyd, Roy Oliver
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Rank: Lance Corporal
Force:
Biography: Roy Boyd was born and grew up in the Wembley AB area. In October 1940 he enlisted for service in WW II in Grande Prairie. At first he joined the Edmonton Fusiliers, and then transferred to the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. For one and a half years he was posted overseas in England, North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Roy was injured on December 26, 1943 in the Battle of Ortona in Italy and was the lone survivor of an Edmonton Platoon that was blown up by German pioneers. Roy was rescued after being buried for three and a half days and spent five months in Italian and English hospitals. He spent another year in hospitals back in Canada in Calgary and Edmonton. On December 24, 1944 Roy married Beryl Perves who was also from Wembley. He was discharged from the armed forces in July 1945, and shortly afterwards bought his father’s home quarter of land. The couple lived there until 1956 when they moved into Wembley. In 1968 they relocated to Grande Prairie. The Boyds had 7 children: Cheryl, Donna, David, Valerie, Vivian, Marilyn and Susan. Roy was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He passed away on January 16, 1985 at age 64 in Grande Prairie, and he was buried in the Lake Saskatoon Cemetery in Wembley.
Source:
Along the Wapiti p. 412 – Name listed in WW II Veterans
p. 338
Grande Prairie AGS – Obituary Index, Cemetery Index
Boyer, Clarence Joseph
Clarence is seated in the photograph.
Regimental Number: M66795
Clarence, born on March 7, 1920 at Grande Prairie, Alberta, was the oldest in Isaac and Bertha Boyer’s family of four children. He had two brothers, Ray and Harry and one sister, Ruth. Isaac, who went by Ike, was born in Annville, Pennsylvania, USA in 1881. In 1899, he moved to South Dakota where he worked on a ranch. After hearing about the possibility of land ownership in Northern Alberta, Ike travelled to the Peace Country in 1911. In June 1912, he filed a homestead application on NE 35-72-4-W6 in an area of Bezanson known as Kleskun Hills. The farm was located between Kleskun Hill and Kleskun Lake. On June 18, 1919, Ike married a widow, Bertha M. Delaney (born in North Nation Mills, Quebec on March 25, 1985), who had just arrived in Grande Prairie with her six children. The Boyer and Delaney children all attended the East Kleskun School. Clarence’s first teacher was Dorothy (Morrison) Leslie. By age 14, Clarence had to leave school and take over the farm duties as his father had become so crippled that he could not work. During the 1930’s, Clarence and Archie Delaney hunted and trapped squirrels which were sold for 15 cents each. They also hunted coyotes and sold the hides. In the spring of 1935, Clarence worked in the bush hauling out logs for the Fitzpatrick Mill. Later on, Archie and Clarence went to work for Charlie Moon’s Mill on the Wapiti River for one winter. Lumber was provided in lieu of wages.
In October 1941, Clarence enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. He was transferred to Camrose for two months of basic training for truck and mechanic work following which; advanced training was undertaken at Red Deer. In May or June, 1942, Clarence sailed from Halifax to Liverpool, England. At Liverpool, the recruits were transported by trucks to the Aldershot Canadian Military Camp. Upon arrival, Clarence was transferred to the Royal Canadian Signal Corps. The R.C.S.C. was a component within the Canadian Armed Forces' Communications and Electronics Branch and was a combat support corps of the Canadian Army. Clarence successfully completed a Class B Mechanic Course as well as a Class A Battery-Charging Operator Course. It was Clarence’s responsibility to charge the batteries for 60 to 70 vehicles and the batteries for the radios and Morse-Code signaling machines. During the summer and fall of 1943, Clarence’s unit moved up and down the coast of England, Scotland and Wales. The following November, the unit set sail at Glasgow for Italy and landed on the tip of Sicily. They came under heavy fire and the hospital ship sank. The unit disembarked under the cover of darkness and had to walk down the gang plank and jump into water that came up to their armpits while holding their pack and gun above their heads. The unit moved into an old, well-built schoolhouse in Syracuse and that is where they spent the Christmas of 1943. Clarence, along with three or four soldiers, drove a 1500-weight vehicle that had been provided by the 8th Division, every 2nd night from the southern tip of Sicily through the mountains to the north-end to deliver vital message by means of signals. Finally, the entire unit pushed forward to the northern end of Sicily and crossed the sea on barges or large ferries. Once in Italy, Clarence once again was in charge of keeping the equipment batteries charged. Once in Italy, the Princess Dragoons and Guards were split into infantry units. The unit moved up through Italy until they reached Naples and then crisscrossed from coast to coast. By the end of December or early January, the unit was about 20 miles from the heavily shelled and bombed city of Ortona. By Christmas of 1944, the unit entered Ravenna and was scheduled to have a short break from duty; however, around midnight on Christmas Eve, the Germans began a barrage of shelling. In the spring of 1945, Clarence’s unit boarded a ship at Livorno and crossed to France to regroup. From there, the unit moved up through Belgium, which was more-or-less liberated; however, when they reached Holland, the fighting was still fierce. When Germany surrendered, Clarence’s unit had just reached the German border. Here they celebrated, regrouped and prepared to return to England – a journey that did not occur until July or August of 1945. Once in England, Clarence was hospitalized for three months with pneumonia and missed his scheduled draft home.
Finally, Clarence arrived home in March of 1946 and continued to farm the Boyer home quarter of land. He subsequently purchased the SW-25-72-4-W6 by means of a loan through the Veterans Land Act. In an effort to subsidize the farm income, Clarence worked in sawmills during the winter months. On April 23, 1948, he married Ruby Norton and they had four children; Brian, Sharon, Verna and Wayne. Once Clarence became crippled and could no longer manage the heavy farm and bush work, the family moved to Grande Prairie. While in Grande Prairie, Clarence quickly found employment with Massey Harris following which, he went to work for Sergeant Motors as a salesman – a position he kept for 12 years. Thereafter, he was hired by Shannon’s to manage their machine shop and sell machinery for the next 10 years. Once retired, Clarence spent his time volunteering at the Pioneer Museum restoring artifacts until he lost his eyesight in 1987. He was a member of the West Smoky Legion No. 244 in Bezanson and the Grande Prairie Legion Branch No. 54 for many years. He passed away on July 29, 1993 in Grande Prairie and was buried at the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
South Peace Regional Archives Land Database
Wikipedia
Interview with Brian Boyer – son
The Delaney-Boyer Family History Book
Herald Tribune – Obituary July 30, 1993
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 119
Boyer, Raymond
Ray is at right in the photograph
Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders - 1st Canadian Division
Regimental Number: K 737
Rank: Private
Ray, born on December 11, 1924 in Grande Prairie, was the 2nd youngest of Bertha and Isaac Boyer’s four children. Isaac was from South Dakota and had filed a homestead application on NE 35-72-4-W6 in the Kleskun Hills area in 1912. In 1919, Isaac married a widow, Bertha Delaney, who had six children. The family settled on the family farm and the children attended the one-room East Kleskun School that was located 3.5 miles from home. By age 15, Ray quit school in order that he could find work to help support the family. He delivered water and ice to residences in Grande Prairie with a team of horses owned by Pat Croken. For the next three years, he worked at various jobs including George Vagt’s Butcher Shop and hauled gasoline up the Alaska Highway.
At age 18, Ray enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force on November 3, 1943 at the #11 District in Vancouver, BC with the Seaforth Highlanders. He was sent to Wetaskiwin for basic training followed by a transfer to Calgary for advanced training. Ray then embarked for England where he received instruction on Signal Training. As a member of the Seaforth Highlanders’ First Division, Ray landed at Avallino which was the headquarters for the Canadian troops in Italy. From there, he was sent to the front lines where the Seaforth Highlanders relieved the Royal 22 Regiment of Quebec. From there, the Division advanced north of Russi and Bagnacavallo. In 1944, Ray spent Christmas with a dinner in a Church. At that time, Ray met up with his brother, Clarence and half-brother, Archie Delaney near the Senio River. After service in Italy, Ray and the Highlanders were transferred to Holland. The unit travelled by truck and crossed rivers in “Buffalos” which were floating tanks. They advanced through two towns and then received the news that Germany had surrendered. The Seaforth’s were then ordered to Amsterdam to make arrangements for the Germans soldiers to march home. They were the first allied regiment to enter the city. Private Ray Boyer served in the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands and Germany. He was discharged on demobilization on May 18, 1946 in Vancouver and received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp.
Ray returned home to the Kleskun Hills area and worked at various jobs; he hauled lumber and was a heavy equipment operator for survey companies. In 1953, Ray married Rita Robideau and they had three sons; Eldon, Doug and Arnie. In 1954, Ray found employment with the County of Grande Prairie – an employer he remained with until 1985. He began his career working on their road construction crews and in 1959, he became the Superintendent of Public Works. Ray then decided on a new chapter in his life as he was voted in as County Councillor from 1985 to 1995. Ray’s last employer was Roy Northen where he worked as a Landman.
Ray was very committed to the area and it was no surprise that he was awarded the “Alberta Senior Citizen of the Year” in 2000. During his later years, Ray volunteered for many organizations but will always be known for his work in the development the “Kleskun Hill Park and Museum”. He was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion. In 2001, Ray and his youngest son, Arnie, embarked upon a three-week trip to Europe to visit many of the WWII battlegrounds. In his retirement, Ray enjoyed landscaping and grew beautiful flower gardens. Ray passed away on August 1, 2012 and was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Wikipedia
Rita Boyer
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files (Obituary and news article)
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 119
Bozko, Michael "Mike"
Mike Bozko was born in 1910 in Poland, and came to Canada in 1928. He filed on a homestead in the Woking AB area on the land NW 14-76-5-6. He served in WW II, and continued farming afterward, living on his homestead many years before moving into the town of Woking. Mike never married. In 1977 he became very ill, and he died in September that year, in Woking.
Source:
Burnt Embers pp. 188-189 (photo p. 189)
Braaten, Sigurd
Sigurd Braathen was the son of William Braathen and Olli Groseland, and one of 8 siblings. He was born in Norway in 1926. In March 1927 the family came to Canada by boat, and then stayed a while in Holden, AB. They settled in Valhalla AB where William filed on a homestead. Sigurd married Doris Ethridge, and they had 4 children: Linda, Russell, Sandra and Glen. The family lived in Vancouver.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up p. 748 – Name listed in Valhalla War Veterans. (Note: Name my be misspelled)
PP. 454 -455
Photos of Sigurd as child P.455
Bradley, Lawrence
Bradley, Natt
Bradley, Rene
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Biography: Rene Bradley was born in 1924 in Drumheller AB. His parents were Paul and Celima Bradley, and he had 8 siblings. Rene’s older brothers Henry, Lawrence, and Nathaniel also served in WWII. As a child, Rene grew up in Drumheller and then moved with his family to New Fish Creek (north of Valleyview AB) where they homesteaded. During WW II he served in the Air Force, and in the late 1940’s he filed on the land W1/2 35-73-22-W5. He married Georgiana Lemay in 1951, and they built a house together and lived there until 1956. Then they moved to New Westminster BC. They had 6 children and 10 grandchildren.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 415-417
Bradly, Henry
Bray, Roy
Source:
Guy p. 146
p. 114 (Little Smoky Farm Industries)
Breitkreutz, Edward
Edward Breitkreutz was born in 1920 to parents Ernest Breitkreutz and Olga Duckolki, and he was one of 13 siblings. His parents and family moved from Golden Spike AB to the Wembley AB area on April 27, 1927, arriving by train. Edward grew up on a farm there, and took his early education in Wembley at St. John’s Parochial School. In 1941 Edward enlisted in the army in Grande Prairie AB where his had his training. He was stationed all across Canada, and while in Vancouver he was injured and left with a disability. After serving 4 ½ years, he was discharged in 1945 and helped his family with all aspects of farming. Purchasing the land NE 22-70-9-W6, he began his own mixed farm and eventually had 5 quarters. Edward married Olga Schultz in June 1952 in Wembley. They had 4 sons: Dwayne, Darrell, Colin, and Brent.
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name listed under WW II Veterans)
pp. 22-23 (Family photo p. 23)
Brekke, Ole
Edmonton Regiment
Brekke, Cornelius S.
Member of the first contingent from Grande Prairie, D Company, C.A.S.F.
Regiment: Edmonton Regiment CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) “D” Company
Biography: S. C. Brekke was from the Grande Prairie area.
Bressler, Edward
Briard, Fred E.
Regiment: S. Alberta Regiment
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Source: Daily Herald Tribune December 18, 1941 “ Pte. F. E. Briard, attached to Mewata Barracks, Calgary, is spending leave with his wife at Grande Prairie.”
Phil Briard
Brick, H.A. "Allie"
Name: Brick, H. A. (Allie)
Biography: Allie Brick was born on October 23, 1900 in Vermillion AB. He served in both World Wars: 1916-1918 and 1941-1945. All his life he worked for the government, first at Dominion Federated in Grande Prairie, and then in 1933 at Peace River for the provincial government. In 1958 he worked for the Lands and Mines Department in Edmonton until he retired in 1965. He married Vi on October 29, 1925, and they had 4 children: Allan, Hazel, Gail, and Wayne. Allie was a member of the Legion, Elks Lodge, UCT golf club, and he enjoyed playing hockey. For the last nine months of his life, Allie lived in the Mewburn Vet’s Home, and he passed away on August 19, 1983 at age 82 in Edmonton.
Source:
Herald Tribune Nov. 4, 1975 “Bricks Celebrate Golden Anniversary”
Daily Herald Tribune Aug. 23, 1983 (Obituary)
Brick, Henry
Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p. 99
Brison, Robert M.
Regiment: R. C. C. S.
Force: Army
Biography: R. M. Brison was from Sexsmith AB. He enlisted with the Army end of July 1940, taking the train to Edmonton from Grande Prairie with 90 recruits.
Source:
Herald Tribune Aug. 1, 1940
Brissard, Charles Edward
Regiment: Royal Canadian Electronic and Mechanical Engineers
Regimental Number: M 3459
Rank: Sapper
Biography: Charles Brissard was born in Leduc AB on December 13, 1920. He served with the Canadian Engineers in WW II from 1940 to 1945. In 1945 he married May, and they had 4 children: Diane, Hazel, Charlie, and Ken. They lived in Courtenay BC for many years, and moved to Duncan in 1963. Charles worked for Pacific Logging. May died in 1975, and in the following year Charles married Dora Botham (nee Sallis) a widow from Wanham AB. Charles moved to the Wanham area and farmed until 1995. He also became a member of the Hythe Legion. Charles died at age 76 in Hythe, in February 1997.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly p. 280
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune Feb. 18, 1997
Bristol, Frank
Smoky Peace Triangle p. 87 – name only
Broad, David
.Force: Army
Postings: Overseas
Biography: David Broad from the Albright area enlisted with the Army in WW II in 1940. He was posted overseas and was wounded in action in 1942. He was married to Marjorie Lindgaard.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up
Brochu, Gerard
Regimental No.: M 605068
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Gerard Brochu, the son of David Brochu and Alice Ruel, was born on February 13, 1920 in St. Fabien de Panet, Quebec. With his mother and siblings he moved to Girouxville AB in September 1927, because his father had come a year earlier, and had obtained a homestead. At age 19 Gerard enlisted with the Canadian Army. After two months of training in Grande Prairie, and a short period in Calgary, he went to Valcartier QC before being stationed overseas. In England Gerard was first at the military base Cochran Crossroads, then he was transferred to the La Chuadiere regiment. After that he was sent to Normandy, France as part of the Canadian Infantry. Being wounded on D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was sent back to England for recuperation. Thereafter he served in Belgium, Holland, and Germany, and fought until the end of WW II. In 1946 he married Donalda Chabot from Codesa AB, and eventually they had 4 children: Armand, Annette, Helene, and Ronald. Through the VLA, the Brochus had a homestead on the land W ½ - 11-78-235. Renting out the land in 1955, the family moved to Girouxville where Gerard was the village foreman until 1974 when he retired. In 1984, he sold his house and moved to Golden Age Manor in Girouxville. Gerard passed away at age 75 on October 24, 1995 in McLennan AB.
Source: Reflexions Vol. II pp. 392-393
AGS Obituary Index
Bromley, Albert
After finishing high school, Albert Bromley moved to Sturgeon Lake AB in the summer of 1932. He lived there on his father’s homestead, on the shore of the lake, for 8 years and raised mink. Also, Albert had two tame pet skunks!
Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 – Name in Roll of Honour – WW II
p. 212
Northern Tribune August 31, 1933 p. 8 c. 2
Bromley, Alberta
Brown, Cecil Robert Douglas "Buster"
Buster Brown was born on March 5, 1921, at home, and he was the only son of William and Melanie Brown who owned a farm 5 miles east of Sexsmith. He had a younger sister, Delphine. In 1922 the Browns moved to Hythe, where Buster’s father taught school for a year. Then they returned to the farm and built a house. Unfortunately, their house burned down in 1924, and they did not have insurance, but they received much help from neighbors. However, the Browns moved to the village of Sexsmith and set up an insurance business. Buster was well known in sport circles. He enlisted in the army in February 1941. First he was in the artilleray in Nova Scotia, and later he was posted overseas with the first contingent on D-Day. He remained in Europe until the end of the war. In September 1947, after returning to Sexsmith, Buster married Marion Innes (daughter of William Innes who farmed in the Buffalo Lakes district) in Sexsmith, and worked for the post office. Buster and Marion moved Sherwood Park (1975) and to St. Albert (1976) where he continued with the post office. They had two children: Linda and James.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pp. 408 – 410 and 1149 (Name on Roll of Honour)
Buffalo Trails p. 141
Herald Tribune May 1, 1941 p. 1 c.6
Brown, John Alexander
Regimental Number: M562930 & M100704
Rank: Sergeant
John A. Brown, born on November 17, 1916 at Slave Lake, was the 3rd oldest in George and Lucie (L’Hirondelle) Brown’s family of ten children. He had three brothers, Paddy, Donald and Lloyd, and six sisters; Violet, Julia, Gertie, Patricia, Rachel and Doreen. George immigrated to Canada from Scotland and settled in Winnipeg where he was a member of the City Police Force. However in 1905, he decided to move to Alberta where he found employment as a cook in logging camps in the McLeod area and also as a cook on the Grand Trunk Railroad. Shortly thereafter, George decided to move to Sawridge (now known as Slave Lake) where he became employed as the proprietor for the first hotel to be open for business. While in Sawridge, he met Lucie L’Hirondelle who was working in the Auguste L’Hirondelle Store. The young couple married in July 1913 and lived in the hotel. George also applied for a homestead application in the area and moved his family which now consisted of four children to the homestead and rented out the Hotel. In 1920, the homestead flooded and the family moved to Edmonton until 1924 when they purchased ¼ section of land in the Morinville area. In 1929, George decided to move his family to an area of Bezanson known as Glen Leslie where he rented land. The children all attended the one-room Somme School. From there, the family moved to the Monisterski farm in the Kleskun Hill area followed by a move to the farm of Jim Storm. The children then attended the East Kleskun School. George eventually purchased a ½ section of land and improved the land while working as a cook for the Buffalo Lakes Lumber Company.
Once John had completed Grade 8, he worked for seven years in the trucking and farming industries after which he became employed as a camp cook. He was working as a cook in a lumber camp when he met Louise Platzer whom he married on November 18, 1941. That winter they lived at Mile 17 where John worked as a cook.
On January 7, 1941, John enrolled in a one month training course at Grande Prairie with the Non-Permanent Militia of Canada with the 2nd Edmonton Regiment. On April 10, 1942 John again enrolled for a 30-day training course under the National Resources Mobilization Act of 1940; however, was discharged seven days later on enlistment with the Army in Grande Prairie. In December 1942, John exhibited superior capacity in infantry and was recommended for an Instructor’s Course. John embarked for England on May 22, 1943. In August 1943, John was taken on strength with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. He served as a Medic with the Infantry which consisted mainly of stretcher bearer administering first aid. Private John Brown served in the Canada, United Kingdom, Central Mediterranean Area and Continental Europe. He received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp. John was discharged on demobilization on November 22, 1945 at Calgary, Alberta.
In 1949, John filed a homestead application on S ½ 3-76-5-6. During the winter months John cooked for seismic crews and sawmills and farmed during the summer. In 1971, John was employed by the Department of Highways and Transportation and became a foreman for projects in DeBolt and Valleyview. John and Louise had six children; Karra, Suzanne, Timothy, John, George and Heather.
John passed away on June 11, 1981 after a short illness and was buried at the Spirit River, Alberta Cemetery.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Service File
South Peace Regional Archives
Interview with Tim (son) Brown
Burnt Embers p. 110 – photo
pp. 289-290
Brown, Leonard
Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 - Roll of Honour
Brown, Maurice Raymond
Service Number: M/56303
Age: 26
Force: Army
Unit: South Saskatchewan Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Killed in Action: Oct. 14, 1944
Son of Harry and Mary Brown, of Halcourt, Alberta
Brown, Robert John
Brown, Roy
Biography: Robert Brown received land from VH Lease on Jan. 1, 1963. ( NE 34-81-13-W6)
Source: Alberta Land Book
Brown, Ruth
Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26
Brown, Sam
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 – Name in Roll of Honour
Brown, Walter
Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 – Roll of Honour
Brown, William A. "Brownie"
Rank: Major
Force:
Biography: William Brown (“Brownie”) was a surveyor as a young man on the west coast of British Columbia. He joined the army in 1915 and served in WW I for 4 years. While overseas he met and married Melanie Grandsard, who was a refugee from Belgium, on June 20, 1918 in London, England. In 1919 William journeyed to Sexsmith AB since William’s father, (Paul Brown) had filed on a half section of land for him by proxy. His bride, Melanie, arrived in August that year, and they tried their best at farming. Brownie decided to teach school in 1921 in the new North Sexsmith School, and was also the secretary-treasurer for the school district. He also taught in Hythe in the new Annellen School, living in a log house behind the school. In 1923 the Browns returned to their farm and raised turkeys, chickens and pigs, and put an addition on their house. They had two children: Cecil and Delphine. Sadly, in 1924 the house burned and everything was lost. Neighbors helped in many ways, but life was not the same, so the family moved into the village of Sexsmith where Brownie started an insurance and real estate business. When WW II broke out, Brownie enlisted again, in the fall of 1940. He was a lieutenant stationed west of Calgary, and while on a 14 day leave to Sexsmith, in May of 1941, he recruited and interviewed anyone wishing to join the service at the Grande Prairie Training Centre. Brownie was fit and enjoyed the army life, later becoming a Major, and he was discharged in 1947. In November of that year, the Browns started a ladies’ and men’s wear business in Sexsmith which they moved to Manning three years later. Brownie was the mayor of Manning for 8 ½ years, president of the Legion Branch No. 137 (later being made a life member of the Legion), and chairman of the Manning Municipal Hospital Board for several years. In 1968 Melanie and Brownie retired to Grande Prairie and enjoyed the Old Timers’ Association. William died on February 7, 1977, and Melanie passed away on October 14, 1977.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pp. 408 – 410. P. 1147 – name listed in Roll of Honour
The Herald Tribune May 1, 1941 p. 1 c.6
Brownlee, Edith Mary
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Edith Brownlee, the daughter of George Brownlee and Mary Renton Aitchison, was born on September 23, 1920 in Grande Prairie, AB. Edith and her older sister, Edna, started school in Spirit River, then moved to Beaverlodge in Grade 3. The family moved to a homestead in Bridgeview in 1929. Edith joined the RCAF in 1942. Sadly she was killed by a hit and run driver in Brantford, ON in October 1943. She is buried in the Spirit River Cemetery.
Source:
Memories and Moments p. 176 – photo of Edith in uniform
pp.233-235
Chepi Sepe (Spirit River) p. 301 – photo of Edith and Edna as children
Herald Tribune Oct. 14, 1943 p.7 c.4
Herald Tribune Oct. 21, 1943 p.6 c. 3
Brulotte, Gerard
Gerard Brulotte was born on November 10, 1919 to parents Leopold Brulotte and Aldea Giroux. Gerard married Antoinette Moulun on November 11, 1946. They had 4 children: Norman, Denis, Doris, and Lionel. The family lived in Falher AB, and later in Grande Prairie AB. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Gerard died at age 72 in Edmonton on November 11, 1991.
Source: Refexions p. 398-399
Alberta Genealogy Society – Obituary Index
GP Daily Herald Tribune - Nov. 13, 1991
Brulotte, Henri
Henri Brulotte was born on July 15, 1921, and his hometown was Guy. He enlisted for service in WW II with the Canadian Army in 1941, and he was discharged in February 1942. He married Yvette Drouin on July 7, 1943. Henri was a farmer.
Source: Guy p. 231
Bryan, Bruce
Bruce’s parents were Orme Bryan and Gertrude Pooke. In 1928, Bruce, his brother Jack, and their parents moved from Consort AB to the Woking district. There the family homesteaded. In 1938 Bruce worked on the Monkman Pass, and then he got a job at Prince George BC on a ranch until fall of 1939. He served in WW II. His wife was Chris, and they lived in Whitecourt AB.
Source: Burnt Embers p. 110 Photo
Chepi Sepe p. 183 Photo
p. 302
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune Aug. 4, 1987 (Obituary of Gertrude Bryan – mother)
Bryant, Franklyn Nolan
Birth Date: 22 Jul 1919
Birth Place: Hythe, Alberta
Residence: Jasper, Alberta
Death Date: 22 Jul 1943
Service Number: M17393
Force: Army
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Rank: Corporal
Killed in Action: 22 July 1943
Bryson, Alice Gardner
Buczma, Steve
Regiment: Polish Tank
Rank:
Force: Army
Steve Buczma was born in Poland on April 4, 1910. In WW II he served with the Polish Army before moving to Grande Prairie AB where he became a long time resident. In his later years he lived in Pioneer Lodge, and for a short time in Mackenzie Place. He died on February 18, 1992 at age 81 in Grande Prairie, and was buried in the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune Feb. 19 and 21, 1992 - Obituary
AGS – Cemetery Index
Bue, Elmer Harold
Elmer Bue was the son of Olaf Bue and Linda Lindberg of Valhalla AB, where he was born in 1925, and grew up. He married Vivian Anne Fredrickson, and they had a son, Byron, and a daughter, Beverly. They farmed north of Valhalla Centre. Elmer died in Beaverlodge AB at the age of 85 in April 2010.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up Vol. 2 (1989) p. 748 – Name in Valhalla War Veterans
Pioneer Round-Up (1973) pp. 465-467
AGS Obituary Index
Buhler, Paul
Bulford, Harvey Stanley
Regimental Number: M-608875
Harvey Bulford was born a twin on October 30, 1924 to Haviland and Kate Bulford. His twin was Harry Bulford. He had an older sibling, Irene and two younger siblings, Elmer and Elenor; also twins.
Harvey attended the Lindsay School; riding horseback during the summer and in winter his dad would drive them to school in a horse drawn caboose. Then he attended Lindsay High School taking part of his grade 9. At 15 years of age he quit school and took part time jobs when they came available; one being on threshing crews, one going as far as Vermillion. He also helped his dad on the farm.
In 1941 Harvey met Annie Diederich while threshing for the Diederich’s as Annie was doing the cooking, then on October 8 1943 he joined the army at the age of 19.
Harvey was assigned to Regimental # M-608875 and his rank was a gunner, he was first sent to District Depot #13 in Calgary for his basic training and then transferred to New Glasgow Halifax District Depot #61 for Advanced training then reposted to A23 T.C. He was granted sick furlough from Feb 9 1944 to Feb 22 1944 and was granted allowance of $1.25 per day while on sick furlough. His sister Elenor said that he had to have his toes operated on while in the army; he had ingrown toenails and they hurt with all the marching, this was in the Calgary Hospital. He completed his advanced training on Apr 23 1944.
While in Ontario training he visited with his relations Uncle Charlie and Uncle Harry in Hamilton. Uncle Harry was Dave Bulford’s grandfather.
In 1944 Dad came back home in the spring and fall to help with the seeding and harvest. He was home from May 9 to July 8 and then again Aug 24 to Nov 6 1944. He was also granted a New Years leave from Dec 29 to Jan 2 1945. Twice on his trips home he would stop in Edmonton to visit with his sister Elenor who was out there going to school. Dad came home for a short visit before being deployed over seas but when he got back to Halifax his platoon had a mumps outbreak and so they were all put into quarantine and he never got sent overseas as when the quarantine was over so was the war.
Harvey was discharged from the army on April 27 1946 and headed back home to farm with his family and on the quarter that he and his twin brother Harry had bought in 1945 from John Diederich (Annie’s uncle).
On June 25 1947 Harvey and Annie were married in St Joseph’s Chapel in Grande Prairie, and made their home on the NW quarter 33-72-3 W6th. They bought a house from Maurice Stewart and moved it to the farm. Four of the five children were born at this farm Lynne in 1948, Melvin in 1950, Grant 1951 and Beverly in 1957, they lived there till May 1959 when they purchased a ½ section from John Diederich W1/2 19-72-3 W6th and moved down the road, this is where they grain and cattle farmed and raised their children. In 1963 Harold was born.
Dad had other jobs off the farm as well, they worked out in the bush at different sawmills till the kids started school, He worked at Imperial lumber in Grande Prairie, the Alberta Government mowing ditches, and then him and Mom hauled mail for RR#1 till there retirement, but his love was his cows and the lease, many great trips out to the lease camping and picking berries. Dad always had a hard time letting go of his calves after spending so much time with them and finishing them off.
Mom and Dad and Lynne and Jerry had made a trip back to Ontario to visit with the Bulford’s that lived there, probably the same families that Dad had visited when he was stationed there while in the army.
Dad passed away on April 12 1990, Mom remained on the farm for another 22 years.
Written by Harvey Bulford’s children
October 2021
Sources:
Herald Tribune July 10, 1947 p. 5 c. 3
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 323 ( Photo of family)
Bullen, Fred
Source: Guy p. 146
p. 114 Little Smoky Farm Industries
Bulmer, Thomas Mordy
Regiment: S. A. R.
Thomas Bulmer came to Hythe in 1931 from Dinsmore SK. He married Florence Wright from Goodfare in 1935, and farmed his mother-in-law’s place. In 1942, Thomas enlisted for service in the army in WW II with the S. A. R., and he was posted in Ontario. On June 2, 1941 he was shot in the leg while on guard duty in Niagra Falls, and was in the hospital. After the war he bought a quarter section of land (NW 5-72-12) in Goodfare. The Bulmers had two daughters: Laverne and Mavis. Eventually they moved to a house in Hythe. Thomas had the mail contract and delivered mail until he died suddenly of heart failure at a young age in 1958. His widow remarried and became Mrs. Pat Ivor.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 69-70, 100
Herald Tribune: April 11, 1958 p.4 c.5; June 12, 1941 p.1 c. 4
Bunyan, John
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
John Bunyan was the son of Reginald Bunyan and Jean McClellan. In 1929 John and his family moved to Wembley AB where his father purchased the Bromley Hardware Store, and moved into the Bromley house a year later. John started school in 1931 in a two room school in Wembley. In his high school years he helped with the harvesting at local farms, one of them the farm of W. Rigby. John did a brief service in WW II in the R.C.A.F., after which he joined his father in the hardware and implement business. In 1946 he married Elizabeth (Betty) Rigby who was his first “steady” girlfriend. They had 3 children: Greg, Rosalyn, and Rhonda. After his father’s death in 1955, John bought out his brother’s share in the business, and he added a grocery store in 1957. John became a District Manager for Massey Fergusen in 1959, and started a farming operation in the 1960’s in Halcourt. John owned the land NW 34-71-8-W6 which he sold in 1962. John, Betty, and children moved to Victoria BC in 1966 where John became a realtor.
Source:
Along the Wapiti p. 412 – Name in WW II Veterans
pp. 341-342 (family photo p. 342)
Lake Saskatoon Reflections pp. 199, 207, 241
Burbee, B.C.
Source: Herald Tribune Aug. 1, 1940
Burbee, Clifford
Rank: Sergeant
Force: Army
Clifford Burbee was born in 1907, being one of 8 siblings, in Kenville MB. His education was taken at Pretty Valley School in Kenville. At age 14 he had to start working, and he had a job on a big steam threshing outfit. In 1924, at Bowsman MB, he worked at a sawmill where he got caught in a belt, but luckily only his overalls were ripped off. He worked one summer in Tisdale SK. Coming to the Peace Country in 1927, he worked in Grande Prairie as a butcher, and in construction. In Wembley, he worked at the roundhouse, and when the railroad came to Hythe, he worked there. Clifford filed on a homestead in Lymburn in 1929 where he lived for the winter. In 1930 he married Mabel Large, and they had a daughter, Eileen. Sadly, Mabel contracted tuberculosis, and died in 1936. Two years later, Clifford married again, to Carrie McDonald, and they had a daughter, Connie. During WW II, Clifford served in the army and was posted in France and Italy. Having attained the rank of Sergeant, he was discharged in September 1945. He then bought a farm 3 miles from Hythe, and Carrie and Clifford had 3 sons: Benny, Donald, and Herbert. Since WW II, Clifford worked in carpentry, and he was a member of the Hythe Canadian Legion. In 1963, he sold the farm, and built a house in Hythe. In November that year he moved to Prince George where he built two more houses. At the age of 84, Clifford passed away on January 13, 1992 in Prince George.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 185-187
South Peace Regional Archives: Family and Personal Life Reference Files - Obituary
Burch, Jay N.
Jay Burch was born on March 18, 1921 in Innisfree AB. He served in WW II and in the Korean War. On July 11, 1960 John married Mary Josephine (“Maureen”) Gallivan (nee McCann). It was Maureen’s second marriage and she had 4 children. They settled in the Valleyview area where they farmed. Jay and Maureen had 2 daughters: Cathy and Eileen.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 85-89 (Family photo p. 88)
p. 303 Name in Roll of Honor
Burgar, Reginald
Gunner on KB 700
Burleau, Frederick
Regiment: 49 Edmonton Regiment
Regimental Number: M 17153
Rank: Private
Fred Burleau was born in St. Albert AB. He enlisted for service in WW II in April 1940 in Grande Prairie. He passed away at the age of 63 on December 19, 1963.
Source: Daily Herald Tribune – April 4, 1940 (Mentioned as one of 50 recruits at G.P.)
AGS – Obituary Index, Cemetery Index
Burns, A. B.
Regiment: R. C. A. S. C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps)
from Sexsmith AB
Source:
Herald Tribune August 1, 1940 p. 4 c. 6
Burns, Bryce
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 – name in Roll of Honour
p. 1162 - Photo
Burns, J.
Burroughs, Mary Edith Larkin
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force – Women’s Division
Regimental Number: W 304957
Rank: Corporal
Force: Air Force
Edith Larkin Burroughs was born on April 10, 1923 in St. Peter’s Bay, PEI. At age 18 she enlisted with the RCAF on June 18, 1942 in Montreal QC. Her postings included Rockcliffe ON, Mt. Joli QC, St. Hubert QC, Montreal QC, and Halifax NS. Edith was discharged on October 2, 1945. She trained to be a registered nurse, and on July 12, 1951 she married Morris Lee Burroughs, (who was also a WW II veteran) in Grande Prairie AB. The couple settled in Eaglesham AB, and farmed land that Morris received from the veteran’s lease. They raised 5 children: Elizabeth, Margaret, Shaun, Chris, and Kathleen. From 1970 to 1972 Edith resumed her nursing career in the Spirit River AB hospital. Unfortunately their house burned down in 1975, but was rebuilt with the help of neighbors and friends. Retiring in Grande Prairie, Edith and Morris sold their farm in 1988. Edith died died on October 21, 2019.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 156-158 (photo p. 157)
Burroughs, Morris Lee
Regiment: Canadian Parachute Corps
Regimental Number: M 8970
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Morris Burroughs was the son of Lee and Margaret Burroughs, and was born on December 19, 1923, in Hafford SK. He settled in the Peace Country with his family in 1937, and they farmed in Codesa. Morris also attended school in Codesa for 2 years. Enlisting for service in WW II at age 19, he joined the Canadian Parachute Corps. His postings included Camrose AB, and NW Europe, and he was discharged in February 1946. Morris obtained a veteran’s lease on the land SW and NW 10-26-W5 in Eaglesham area. In winters, he worked out at logging camps and later at oil rigs. On July 12, 1951 he married Edith Larkin, an RN from PEI, in Grande Prairie AB, and they settled on his homestead which he farmed full time since 1952. The Burroughs had 5 children: Elizabeth, Margaret, Shaun, Christina, and Kathleen. Being hailed out in July 1969, Morris hauled water for rigs in Red Earth. In 1975, their house burned down, and it was rebuilt by the help of friends and neighbors. Selling their farm in 1988, they retired in Grande Prairie. Morris died at age 86 in September 2010 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 156-158 (photo p. 157)
Burroughs, Patricia
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force – Women’s Division
Patricia was the daughter of Lee and Margaret Burroughs, and she was born on May 2, 1925 in Meadow Lake SK. In 1937 she moved with her family to Codesa in the Peace Country, and went to school there. At age 18, in May 1943, Pat enlisted in the RCAF Women’s Division in Edmonton AB. She was posted in Ottawa and Toronto ON, Winnipeg MB, and Calgary AB, and was discharged on December 1942. She married Duane Hillier in 1949, but after a few years was divorced. In the late 50’s Pat moved to Chico, California.
Source:
Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 156-157
Burrows, Alexander "Alec"
Regiment: 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Regiment No.: M16403
Rank: S/Sergeant
Alexander was the youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Paris) Burrows of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on September 15, 1917. He had three siblings, Thomas, William and Hector. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Burrows passed away leaving Robert with four children to raise. He subsequently married Mary (nee Sneddon) Pollock who was a widow with five children; Jim, John, Catherine, Alex and Mae. Robert and Mary had four children together; George, David, Leslie and Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
Alex finished his education at the Somme School. He worked on the family farm and also for local farmers and at one point he homesteaded with his brother Tom in the Fitzsimmons area. He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 49th Edmonton Regiment on September 14, 1939 following which he sailed for England a month later. In 1940, Alex was transferred to Dunfermline, Scotland to embark for Norway as the Germans had invaded from the south. He returned to the south coast of England prior to the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France to England as German forces had closed in on the Allies. Alex was then sent to Scotland for eight months to attend a commando course under the leadership of Lord Lovat after which he returned to England and rejoined the 49th Edmonton Regiment and prepared for the raid on Spitzbergen, an island located north of Norway. The German Atlantic Fleet had been using the island as a refueling base; therefore, all the coal mines and oil wells were destroyed. The Russian inhabitants were sent back to Russia and then all the Norwegians were loaded and taken to Scotland. There was not a living thing left on the island. Alex married Winnie Butcher in England in July 1942. In July 1943, Alex was transferred to the Middle East to invade Sicily with the 1st Canadian Division. Once Sicily was secured, the Division headed to the mainland in August 1943. The Division fought up the Adriatic Coast and engaged in the Battle of Ortona where Alex was wounded and evacuated to the Canadian No. 13 General Hospital in North Africa. In 1944, he returned to England and was posted to a camp in Aldershot where all the Canadians were held prior to being repatriated to Canada. Alex was discharged on demobilization in Calgary and returned to civil life. Alex and his wife, Winnie, settled in Montreal where they raised their four children, Margaret, Janet, James and Ian; later moved to Ottawa where Alex passed away on July 23, 1998. Alex and Winnie each wanted to be buried in their hometowns; therefore, Alex was buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery and Winnie in England.
It was a very sad time for the family when Mary Burrows passed away in 1939 at the age of 53. The funeral was held at the Glen Leslie Church. Robert passed away in 1973 at the age of 83; both were buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Written by Wanda Zenner
Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 448 p. 422
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune July 28, 1998 – Obituary
SPRA Family Reference Files – information written by Helen Burrows Horrigan (sister)
Burrows, David Sneddon
Regimental No.: M.104378
Rank: Lance Corporal
David was the second oldest son of Robert Burrows and Mary (nee Sneddon)( formerly Polluck) Burrows of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on September 16, 1924. He had four half-brothers on the Burrows side, Thomas, William, Alexander, Hector Burrows; and two half-brothers on the Pollock side, James and John Pollock and two half-sisters, Catherine and Mae Polluck as well as brothers George and Leslie Burrows and one sister, Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
David attended the Somme School from 1931 to 1939 at which time he worked on the family farm until he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers on October 14, 1942 in Grande Prairie. He trained in Edmonton at the Prince of Wales Armories until December 1942 when he was transferred to Chilliwack, BC and remained there until September 1943 when he was transferred to Hamilton, ON, returned to Chilliwack, BC and lastly transferred to Truro, NS. David sailed for England where he trained for the Normandy Invasion. He sailed for France on June 6, 1944 and landed at Juno Beach and subsequently was involved in the Battle of Caen in August of 1944. From there, George was transferred to Holland and then back to England for the repatriation process and was discharged in 1945. While in England, he married a lady by the name of Iris and they settled in Grande Prairie after the war where David found employment driving a horse-drawn milk wagon and later worked at Imperial Motors. They had three children, Pete, John and Judy. In 1956, the family returned to England. David and Iris divorced and David returned to Grande Prairie were he resided until he passed away on February 6, 2014. He was buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 448, p. 422 Photo as a child with 3 siblings, George, Leslie and Helen
SPRA Reference Files – (information by Helen Burrows Horrigan (sister)
Burrows, George
Regiment: Royal Canadian Horse Artillery
Regiment No.: M66193
Rank: Gunner
George was the oldest son of Robert Burrows and Mary (nee Sneddon) Polluck of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on September 9, 1923. He had four half-brothers on the Burrows side, Thomas, William, Alexander, Hector Borrows; and two half-brothers on the Pollock side, James and John Pollock and two half-sisters, Catherine and Mae Polluck as well as brothers David and Leslie Burrows and one sister, Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
George attended the Somme School from 1930 to 1939. He worked on the family farm and for various farmers until he enlisted on September 9, 1941 in Edmonton with the Royal Canadian Artillery, 23rd Field Regiment, and 4th Division. He received his basic training at Camrose, AB; Brandon, MB and Sussex, NB. In July 1943, George sailed for England where he trained until July 1944 when he embarked for France. He was wounded in Belgium in September 1944 and spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital before being released to join his regiment in Holland just two weeks before the war was over. George sailed from England in December 1945, docked in New York; then traveled by train to Calgary and arrived on New Year’s Day. George was discharged on demobilization on February 6, 1946. He subsequently enlisted for service with the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, 2nd Field Division, in the Korean War in August 1950. George was sent to Shilo, Manitoba for training until November at which time he was sent to Fort Louise, USA for further training. However, there was a train wreck at Canoe/Blue River, BC between the troop train and the passenger train. Sixty enlisted men were injured and 20 were killed. Instead of carrying on, the enlisted men were sent to Wainwright, Alberta. The dead and wounded were sent to Edmonton. George trained in Wainwright for two weeks and then was sent to Fort Louise where they trained for six months following which the troops embarked for Korea.
George returned to Canada in 1952 after which he joined the Peace Time Army from 1956 to 1959 where he was stationed at Camp Petawawa, ON. George married Alice Paul in 1946 but they later divorced. He never remarried and settled in Victoria, BC for a period of time and then moved to Calgary in 1979 where he resided until his death on February 17, 1992.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 448; p. 422 Photo as child with siblings David, Leslie and Helen
G.P. Daily Herald Tribune February 27, 1992 – Obituary
SPRA Family Reference Files – information written by Helen Burrows Horrigan (sister) – photo of George in uniform
Burrows, Hector M.
Regimental Number: M17561
Hector was the third oldest son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Paris) Burrows of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on April 1, 1914. He had three siblings, Thomas, William and Alexander. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Burrows passed away leaving Robert with four children to raise. He subsequently married Mary (nee Sneddon) Pollock who was a widow with five children; Jim, John, Catherine, Alex and Mae. Robert and Mary had four children together; George, David, Leslie and Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
Hector worked on the family farm and for various famers in the Glen Leslie area. He enlisted in Grande Prairie with the Royal Canadian Amoured Corps, Calgary Tank Regiment (C Squadron) in 1940. He trained at Camp Borden, ON before being sent to England in 1941. Hector served in Africa, Sicily and Italy. After he was discharged, he settled in Faust, AB; later moved to High Prairie and resided there until his death on December 1, 1994. Hector had married Mary Graham from the Fitzsimmons area and they had three children, Geraldine, Donald and Faye. They later divorced.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 448
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune December 16, 1994 – Obituary
SPRA Family Reference Files – information written by Helen Burrows Horrigan (sister)
Burrows, Mary Eleanor (Graham)
Regimental Number: W11474
Rank: Private
Mary, born on September 22, 1920 in Centreville, Nova Scotia, was the 3rd oldest in William (Bill) and Rose (nee Swift) Graham’s family of seven children; Ester, Blanche, Gladys, Wilmeta (September 3, 1923 – October 1, 1923), Billy Jr., and Norman. Bill and his brothers travelled from Saskatchewan to Alberta in 1910 and filed homestead applications on land in the Kleskun Hills area. In 1931, Bill and his family moved to a homestead in the Fitzsimmons District where Bill continued to farm with oxen.
Mary married Hector Burrows in January 1935 and the young couple made their home with Hector’s parents in Grande Prairie. Hector and Mary eventually separated and Mary moved to Vancouver to be near her parents. She found employment as a waitress.
Mary enlisted with the Canadian Women’s Army Corp. on May 23, 1942 in Vancouver. Mary was discharged on March 16, 1946 and settled in Vancouver with her parents. Private Mary Burrows received the 1939-45 War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. Mary and Hector divorced and she subsequently married William Alexander Fedorick. They had one daughter, Gloria. Mary worked as a hairdresser the majority of her life. She passed away on January 11, 1992 in Surrey BC. Mary was cremated and interred at the North Shore Crematorium, North Vancouver, BC.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Northern Tribune newspaper January 31, 1935 (wedding)
Familysearch.org
BC Death Records
Interview with Helen (Burrows) Horrigan
Burrows, Thomas
Regiment: R. C. A. M. C. 4th Casualty Clearing Station
Regiment No.: M25812
Rank: Sergeant
Thomas was the oldest son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Paris) Burrows of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on April 25, 1911. He had three siblings, Alexander, William and Hector. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Burrows passed away leaving Robert with four children to raise. He subsequently married Mary (nee Sneddon) Pollock who was a widow with five children; Jim, John, Catherine, Alex and Mae. Robert and Mary had four children together; George, David, Leslie and Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
Thomas worked on the family farm and for local farmers until he ventured out on his own and filed for a homestead on SW 21-73-3-W6 in the Fitzsimmons area. The application was later cancelled. On September 9, 1939, Thomas enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Edmonton. After basic training, he sailed for England on January 25, 1940. In 1941, Thomas was diagnosed with lip cancer; received treatment in England before he was transferred back to Edmonton where he was stationed at the Prince of Wales Armories. From there, he was transferred to the Suffield Experimental Station. Thomas was discharged in Calgary on October 1, 1945. Thomas married Vera Rees of Edmonton and had 10 children. They moved back to Crystal Creek area where they farmed for a period of time but decided to return to Edmonton where Thomas found employment with the Provincial Government until his retirement in 1975. Once retired, they moved to Ladysmith, BC where they resided until Thomas passed away in 1977.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 422 and 448
AGS Website – Obituary Index
SPRA Family Reference Files – written by Helen Burrows Horrigan, including photo
Burrows, William Paris
Regimental Number: V4874
Rank: Cook
Force: Navy
William was the third oldest son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Paris) Burrows of Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was born on May 24, 1913. He had three siblings, Thomas, Hector and Alexander. Unfortunately, Elizabeth Burrows passed away leaving Robert with four children to raise. He subsequently married Mary (nee Sneddon) Pollock who was a widow with five children; Jim, John, Catherine, Alex and Mae. Robert and Mary had four children together; George, David, Leslie and Helen. In 1927, the Burrows family decided to immigrate to Canada and settled in an area known as Glen Leslie where they purchased the E ½ 12-72-4-W6.
Bill worked for various farmers in the Glen Leslie area and also found employment at Phil Lessoway’s Barber Shop in Grande Prairie. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1942 at the H.M.C.S Nosuch, a land-based naval establishment in Edmonton where he trained until he was transferred to the H.M.C.S Naden at Esquimalt, BC. Bill spent six months on Kinahan Island (located 20 miles from Prince Rupert). He was subsequently transferred to the Halifax Naval Base and lastly to the St. Johns Naval Base in Newfoundland. Bill was discharged on demobilization and settled in Calgary with his wife, Marie, and their three sons, Ron, Randy and Brian. William died in 1980 and was buried in Calgary.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 422 and 448
Information and pictures provided by Helen (Burrows) Horrigan who gathered the military information from her siblings.
Burton, Arthur L.
Arthur Burton obtained the land NW-23-81-13-W6 from the VH Lease in 1962.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Burton, Roy
Force: Air Force
Roy Burton was the son of Joe and Emma Burton. On September 1, 1931, he moved with his family from Sunnynook AB, to Spirit River AB, and in the spring of 1932 they moved to their homestead in the Willowvale district. Roy and his sister rode 7 miles on horseback to high school in Spirit River, and received their high school diplomas. In April 1941 Roy enlisted with the Air Force and was a wireless operator. He was discharged in 1946, and that year he also married Frances Hurlburt. The couple then moved to Willowdale, ON.
Source: Memories and Moments p. 158 (photo of Roy with parents and siblings)
p. 276 photo
Bush, Joe
Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Source:
Grande Prairie Herald – April 24, 1941
Butchart, Bob
Force: RCAF
Bob Butchart, the son of Mr and Mrs C. G. Butchart, trained as a pilot while stationed in Edmonton.
Source:
Grande Prairie Herald – Aug. 7, 1941
Feb. 12, 1942
Butterwick, Rowland
Regiment: Edmonton Regiment
Force: Army
Rowland Butterwick, born in in 1903, moved to Canada from England at age 2. He was raised and educated in Brownfield AB where his father took a homestead. Leaving school at age 15, Rowland worked on the family farm until age 21. In partnership with Sam Lee, he moved to Pincher Creek AB to ranch for four years. Then he followed the rush to the Peace Country in spring of 1927, and filed for a homestead in Wanham. ( NE ¼ 16-76-3-W6, and later a Hudson Bay ¼ NE 16 10-76-3-W6) After filing, he returned to Pincher Creek and married Esther Alida Noren in December 1927. In spring 1928 he moved to his land, built a house, and Esther joined him in June. He farmed, and in 1930 he also had a job as a local foreman on roads in Grande Prairie until he joined the armed forces. Rowland was one of 50 recruits from Grande Prairie who enlisted with the Edmonton Regiment on April 2 -3, 1940. When he was discharged in 1945, he continued farming for 2 more years before selling his land and starting construction, building houses, schools, and grain elevators. Finally he built his own business in September 1960, the Green Lantern Café and General Store in Brownfield. Esther died in 1982.
Source: Grooming the Grizzly pp. 285-286 (photos p. 285)
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune - April 4, 1940 p. 1 c. 1 and 2
Nov. 8, 1982 - Obituary
Byers, Everett Ward
Born on December 3, 1901, Everett Byers was know as “Bonanza’s Oldest Bachelor.” When he enlisted in the army in WW II, he reduced his age on the forms so that he would be accepted. During the war he was posted overseas, and he also worked as a barber in the army. He moved to Bonanza AB from Lintlaw SK on July 17, 1955. While working on the Harry Hingley farm, Everett built his house there, which was later moved to land he received from the Veterans AG Lease (NE ½ 32-80-12-W6), in 1956. For 3 months, he was a cook for a survey team. He worked for several farmers in the Bonanza area, and he raised chickens and goats. In 1981 Everett moved to Pleasant View Lodge in Spirit River, where he started playing piano again, as he had in Saskatchewan
Source: Alberta Land Book
Homesteader’s Heritage pp. 153, 194
Bykowski, Samuel
Obtained NE 32-82-8 W6 in 1955 from VH Lease
Source:
Alberta Land Book
Bzowy, Michael A.
Rank: Warrant Officer 2nd (WO2)
On June 13, 1944 during a raid on Cambrai, France, Michael Bzowy’s aircraft (The Thunderbirds) was attacked by a Ju 88 (German combat aircraft) night fighter and went down in flames. Friends thought he was killed, but a week later was found alive.
Michael’s mother in Rycroft received a letter from the mother of one his fallen comrades, Thomas F. How, who mentioned Michael in his diary and had a photo of him. A week later, Mrs. Bzowy received confirmation that Michael was a Prisoner of War.
Caldwell, Donald F.
Regiment: 168 (Heavy Transport) Squadron
Regimental Number: J/11098
Rank: Flight Lieutenant (Pilot)
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Born in 1913, Donald Caldwell was one of 9 children of parents Bert and Bessie May Caldwell from Valleyview. A teacher by profession, he taught in Rio Grande area, Itipaw, and Millerston AB. Donald was married to Margaret Isobel from Ottawa. During WW II he enlisted with the RCAF in 1941 in Edmonton, became a pilot, and served for 4 years. After the war Donald and 4 other pilots volunteered to fly penicillin from Canada to war-torn Warsaw, Poland. Tragically all five crew members of the RCAF Flying Fortress were killed when their plane crashed near Muenster, Germany, on November 4, 1945. Poland awarded these five service men the Golden Cross of Merit for “their outstanding heroism while on a mercy flight.” Donald was 32 years old, and he was buried in the Muenster Heath War Cemetery in Germany. The Grave Reference is 4.F.18
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 (Name in Roll of Honour), pp. 63-64 (photo p. 64) – Note: this source states that there were 5 crew members killed.
Herald Tribune Nov. 15, 1945 p. 1 c. 7 – Note: this source states that there were 4 crew members killed.
Commonwealth War Graves Commision
Calliou, Arthur Joseph “Archie”
Regiment: British 6th Airborne (Artillery) Division
Archie Calliou was born around 1924 in the Flying Shot Lake district (near Grande Prairie AB.) His father, David Calliou, was of the Cree tribe, and his mother was Clarisse Campbell. Archie had a younger brother, Eddie. When Archie was 16 years old he misrepresented his age and enlisted in service in WW II. His quote from a news article was, “ I joined because I thought Canada needed help and I was scared we’d lose the country, so I thought I’d pitch in but I had to lie.” He was posted in Europe, and he received several medals. He was loaned to the to the British 6th Airborne (Artillery) Division. Archie was an advocate for Canadians and native people, and he described himself as “Canadian”. Founder of the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre in the 1960’s he believed it should be a place for all Canadians. During his life of 74 years, he held many jobs: trapper, farm hand, lecturer, entertainer, and alcoholism counsellor. In 1985 he released his first record, and he played in Nashville in the 1970s with his band, “The Northern Echoes.” He was involved in the Chambers of Commerce in Valleyview and Fort St. John, and in several political parties. In the 1980s he was Sergeant at Arms in the Fort St. John Royal Canadian Legion. Archie was married to Dorothy for 30 years, and they lived in Beaverlodge AB. He died in August 1998 from pancreatic cancer in Beaverlodge.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 (Name in Roll of Honour)
Pioneers of the Peace p. 8
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files – News articles : HT June 30, 1995 and Aug. 19, 1998
Calliou, Edward
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100
Calliou, Malcolm
Force: Canadian Army
Malcolm Calliou was born on April 5, 1918 in Grande Prairie AB. He received his education in the rural schools of East Kleskun, Tranquility, and Fitzsimmons. In the spring of 1942 he joined the army in WW II, and he was posted in Brandon, MB. While training there he became injured and was discharged in fall 1942. Later he worked for the United States army as fire and camp inspector on the Alaska Highway. Working on construction crews took him to numerous places in Alberta and BC. Malcolm also worked on diamond drilling outfits in Yellowknife and Pine Point NWT, and with a geological party in Machwa Lake and other remote sites. He died on February 11, 1960 at Watson Lake YT.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 476
Cameron, George Telford
George Cameron was the stepson of William Umbach, and his step-brother was Norman Umbach who also served in WW II. In 1933 he moved (from Edmonton) to Sexsmith AB, taking a position at Sexsmith Supplies Ltd. Also he took over the hardware and machinery in the L. C. Howard Hardware Store in Sexsmith which his step-father purchased in 1930 for George and Norman. Being a hockey goalie previously in Calgary and Edmonton, he joined the Sexsmith Hockey Club, and soon became the manager. George was married in 1936 to Gertha Hillman of Sexsmith, and they had 2 daughters, Donna and Heather. After serving in the Armed Forces in WW II from 1940 to 1945, George returned to Sexsmith and the hardware business, which he eventually sold in 1956. George was active in social and athletic activities, especially baseball. Gertha died in 1971. Remarrying in 1978 to Dorothy McDonald (McMillan), George and his new wife moved to Fort Saskatchewan AB. He passed away at age 71, in 1981, in Fort Saskatchewan.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 715, p. 1149 – name in Roll of Honour, p. 1162 – Photo
AGS Website – Obituary Index
Northern Tribune Oct. 26, 1933 p. 4 c. 1
Northern Tribune Feb. 8, 1934 p. 4 c. 2
Northern Tribune Sept 3, 1936 p. 4,7 c. 1,4
Campbell, Agnes Glen
Born in Cavendish, Alta on Feb. 21 1923. In the army from 1940 to
1945, #WI 3456, married Kenneth in 1945 and raised five children.
Campbell, Anges
Campbell, C.G.
Campbell, Colin G.
Regiment: R. C. A. S. C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps)
Rank:
Force: Army
Colin Campbell was born on October 15, 1920 in Kelliher SK. He served in WW II with the RCASC, and was a resident of Grande Prairie AB. In November 1945, Colin married Aleyda Leeders. At the age of 75, he passed away in his home, on October 21, 1995.
Source: Legion Album; Chepi Sepe pg. 312; Family and Personal Life Reference File; GP Daily Herald Tribune-Obituary Oct. 23, 1995
Campbell, Delbert Scott
Regimental # M56279
Force: Army
Delbert Campbell was born on November 15, 1920 in Sturgeonville AB. While he served in the Army during WW II he was posted in Europe, and he was discharged November 17, 1945. In 1948 he married Marie (Burroughs) Girard, a widow who lost her husband in the war, and she had one daughter, Gail, from her previous marriage. The new family settled in Eaglesham AB where they farmed. Delbert and Marie had 4 children: Scott, Neil, Darlene and Noreen. In 1961 Delbert and Marie moved to Abbotsford BC and ran a dairy farm for numerous years. Delbert passed away in January 1984 in Abbotsford at 63 years.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 161
Daily Herald Tribune – Obituary - Feb. 6, 1984
Campbell, Donald
Campbell, Donald Wilton
Regimental No.: M 56267
Rank:
Force: Army
Donald W. Campbell, the son of William and Martha Campbell, was born on November 10, 1918 in Sturgeonville AB. He moved to the Eaglesham AB area in 1932 with his parents and siblings. (Donald had 3 brothers, Kenneth, Delbert and Percy who also served in WW II.) Joining the army on January 16, 1942, Donald served in Canada, England, and NW Europe for four years, being discharged on February 4, 1946. When he returned from the war, he acquired land from the VLA (77-25-W5) in the Four Mile Creek district (near Eaglesham) and began farming. On October 27, 1953, he married Kay Hilkevich, and they raised 6 children: Eugene, Marilyn, Donald, Gerald, Audrey, and Joy. All children attended school in Eaglesham. Donald retired from farming and moved to Grande Prairie AB in 1975. He died at the Cross Cancer Hospital in Edmonton on September 29, 1988 at age 69, and he was buried at the Pleasant Heights Cemetery by Eaglesham.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 159
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune: 3,4,5 Oct. 1988 (Obituary)
Campbell, Douglas S.
Campbell, H.A.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 Name only
Campbell, Harry
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle - Name only p. 87
Campbell, Jack
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Jack Campbell was born and raised in Coronation AB. He became a grain buyer for the Alberta Wheat Pool in Sexsmith AB. After serving with the RCAF in WW II, he owned a hardware store in Sexsmith, and also became the mayor. When he sold his business, Jack moved to Port Coquitlam BC where he also was the mayor.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour), p. 583, p. 1162 photo.
Campbell, John "Jack"
Regiment: Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
Force: Army
John “Jack” Campbell was born in 1918, and lived in Rycroft AB most of his life. He served in WW II with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders in the Canadian Army. His wife was Harriet, and they had 4 children: David, Brenda, Hilda, and Grace. Jack was active in the Legion for 45 years where he served as president among other positions, and he was also a member of the Elks Lodge. After a lengthy illness, Jack passed away in Spirit River on November 7, 1992 at age 74.
Source: Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune Nov. 10, 1992
Campbell, John Leason
Regiment: Royal Canadian Electrical Engineers
John Campbell who was born in 1913, was raised on a farm near Harris SK. Leaving home in 1933, he found work in the lumber industry in northern Ontario, and also worked various construction jobs including work on the Trans-Canada Highway. In 1941 he married Nellie Zalski, (from Teulon, MB,) in Fort William ON. John joined the armed forces in 1941 in Fort William, and then transferred to the Royal Canadian Electrical Engineers, being posted in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. After the war, John returned to Saskatchewan to his wife and son, and they moved to a farm in Carrot River SK. There he farmed and worked as a mechanic, and 5 more children were born. Through a newspaper ad, the Campbells learned of opportunities in Northern Alberta, and in 1971 they sold their farm and moved to Grande Prairie. John found a construction job at first, and then was employed by North Canadian forest Industries Ltd. In 1974 John and son, Wayne, purchased land in Lake Saskatoon area, NW 20-72-8-6, and four years later they bought a house which was moved to the property. John and Nellie had 6 children: Wayne (1943), Elaine (1947), David (1951), Linda (1954), Sandra (1955), and Allan (1957). On May 31, 1982, John passed away in Grande Prairie at age of 69.
Source: Lake Saskatoon Reflections pp.111-112 (Family photo p. 111)
AGS – Obituary Index
Campbell, Kenneth Raymond
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton
Regimental No.: M38388
Force: Army
Kenneth Campbell, born on December 27, 1917, was the son of William and Martha Campbell. His brothers Delbert, Percy, and Donald also served in WW II. In 1932 the family moved from Fort Saskatchewan AB to Eaglesham AB. Enlisting on March 9, 1944, Kenneth served in the army during WW II, and he married Agnes Glen from Westlock, who had also been in the army. After the war, they returned to Eaglesham, obtained land and farmed. They had five children: Patricia, Margaret (Peggy), David, Darcy and Laura. All of them attended school in Eaglesham. Kenneth passed away in 1971 in Eaglesham. Agnes continued to run the farm with the help of the children, and she died in 2000.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 159-160
AGS – Obituary Index
Campbell, Percy
Percy Campbell was born in Sturgeonville AB in 1925 to parents William and Martha (Scott) Campbell, and was one of 11 siblings. In 1932 the family moved to the Eaglesham area from Fort Saskatchewan. Percy and three of his brothers, Delbert, Kenneth, and Donald served in WW II. After the war Percy settled on the land 77-25-W5 which he obtained from VLA.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Smoky Peace Triangle p. 163 (photo)
Campbell, Peter
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Peter Campbell, born in 1903 in Spirit River AB, was the son of Alex C. Campbell from eastern Canada, who came west with the Klondikers. His mother was Metis, from Lac St. Anne AB, and her last name was Gautier. Growing up in Grande Prairie, he attended the first school there, and was taught by I.V. Macklin. Peter trapped with Olaf Peterson known as “Big Swede.” Then he served for 4 years with the Calgary Highlanders in WW II. It was reported that during one of his leaves to the Peace Country in 1941, he travelled a total of 60 miles by foot in order to visit his mother who was 80 years at the time. After the war he extensively guided and packed for geologists, oil exploration, and forestry officials. He married Christine Eaton (who was formerly married to Frank Aldridge with whom she had 3 children). They settled in Beaverlodge AB. Peter was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. At the age of 83, Peter passed away in Beaverlodge on February 7, 1986, and was buried in the Legion Plot at the Grande Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 90-91
G.P. AGS Website – Obituary Index
The Herald Tribune – Dec. 4, 1941
Caouette, Roland
Card, Bill
Bill Card was the son of Mr and Mrs Ira Card of Sexsmith AB. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force in WW II and was in the Ferry Command. His brothers Gerald and Robert also served with the RCAF.
Source: Herald Tribune – Dec. 14, 1944 p. 3 c. 5
Card, Gerald
Gerald Card was the son of Mr and Mrs Ira Card of Sexsmith AB. Joining the Royal Canadian Air Force during WW II he was posted in England. His brothers Bill and Robert (“Bob”) also served in the RCAF.
Source: Herald Tribune – Dec. 14, 1944 p. 3 c. 5
Card, Robert Keith (“Bob”)
Rank: Flying Officer; Sergeant
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Robert “Bob” Card was the son of Mr and Mrs Ira Card, and he was raised and educated in Grande Prairie AB. He was a well known hockey player. In 1942 he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Graduating from the Macleod Service Flying Training School (SFTS), he first became a bomber pilot over Germany, and later he became an instructor. He married Audrey Janet Goodsir on June 11, 1943 in Lethbridge AB. In December 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. Bob was president of the Canadian Legion. His brothers Gerald and Bill also served in the RCAF in WW II.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p. 99
Grande Prairie Capitol of the Peace p. 112
Herald Tribune – July 15, 1943 p. 4 c. 4 (marries)
- Oct. 5, 1944 p.1 c.2 (pilot)
- Dec. 14, 1944 p.3 c.5 (DFC medal)
Carder, Alfred Cecil (Dr.) “Al”
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Army
Born in Calgary on April 20, 1910, Al Carder was the fourth of 5 children of John and Harriet Carder. He grew up in the farm area of Cloverdale, BC, and as a young boy was fascinated with plants. In 1935 he had earned his BA and BSc from the University of British Columbia, and found employment at the Experimental Station in Beaverlodge, AB. When the war broke out, he joined the Canadian Army in 1941, and became a private with the Light Anti-Aircraft Division. Mostly he was shooting down enemy planes. Discharged in 1946, Al returned to work in field husbandry at Beaverlodge, later working in forage crop and weed control. Taking a leave from the Experimental Station, he earned his MSc from McGill University in 1948. In 1950 he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Wedd Tidman. They were married in 1954 in her hometown of Petersfield, England, and returned to Beaverlodge. The Carders had 3 children who were born there: Judith, Mary-Clare, and Andrew. Also in 1954, Al earned his PhD from University of Wisconsin, and concentrated his studies in the new science of agro-climatology, and his research was on plant responses to climate effects. He received the Canada’s Centennial Medal from the Canadian Department of Agriculture. Al and Mary moved to Cordova Bay (near Victoria BC) in 1970. In his retirement, Al was active in hiking, building a cottage, and doing more research. He wrote and published books about giant trees, and was bestowed the Ancient Forest Alliance’s Forest Sustainability Award. Mary passed away in 2008, and Al died on December 21, 2014, in Victoria at the age of 104.
Source: Family and Personal Life Reference files – GP Archives
Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 91-92
Carleton, Laurie
Carleton, Lloyd
Lloyd Carleton was the son of Ben and Ellen Carleton. In 1922 the family moved from Keremeos BC to Saskatchewan to farm. When there was a drought, they moved to Goodfare AB area in 1929, continuing to farm with cattle and crops. Staying there until 1935, they then moved back to Keremeos. Lloyd enlisted for service in WW II in 1940 and was posted overseas. Later, Lloyd settled in Cawston BC. Lloyd’s brother Ray also served in WW II overseas.
Source: Pioneer Round up pp. 70-71
Carleton, Ray
Ray was born in Keremeos BC, the son of Ben and Ellen Carleton, and one of 8 siblings. The family moved to Saskatchewan in 1922 where they farmed. The drought hit in the late 20’s, so they moved to the Goodfare AB area and continued farming in 1929. They left the area in 1935 and returned to Keremeos where Ray settled. In 1940 he joined the Canadian Armoured Corps and was posted overseas. According to Ray, he had some “harrowing experiences” while being a Prisoner of War. Fortunately he was able to escape, and he was awarded the “Oak leaf and Cluster” for being the most escaped POW. After the war, Ray married Gertie Stevens from Hythe, the daughter of Charlie Stevens. On December 4, 1946 he received a citation for distinguished service. Ray’s brother Lloyd also served overseas in WW II.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 70-71
Carley, John
Force: RCAF
John Carley joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942. Trained in Edmonton and Calgary, he was a wireless operator. He was discharged from service on October 17, 1945.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 pp. 99 and 120
Carley, Percy
Force: RCN
Percy Carley joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1943. He was posted in Edmonton, Toronto and Ste. Hyacinte PQ, and was discharged in November 1945.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 pp. 99 and 120
Carlstad, Alvin George
Alvin Carlstad, the eldest son of Hans and Otilie (Gravdahl) Carlstad, was born September 27, 1919 in Gull Lake SK. He had 6 siblings. During the Depression years the family moved to Gwynne AB, (in the county of Wetaskiwin). Alvin and his brother, Jenning, served in WW II. Alvin enlisted in 1941 until 1946, and was posted in Germany, Holland, and Britain. Jenning died in 1943, and the following year his family moved again, to Valhalla Centre. Alvin married Mildred Christianson and they settled in Valhalla. They raised 6 children: Inez, Brenda, Joann, Harley, Merilyn, and Lorraine. Alvin passed away at age 69 at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton AB on March 8, 1989. His ashes were buried at the Valhalla Cemetery.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 470-471
AGS website: Obituary Index
Carlstad, Jenning
Jenning Carlstad, the second son of Hans and Otilie (Gravdahl) Carlstad who originally came from Norway, was born in Gull Lake SK. Because the soil on their farm was not producing crops during the Depression, his parents and 3 brothers moved to Gwynne AB (Wetaskiwin county). Three more siblings were born there. Jenning enlisted to serve his country in WW II. On April 16, 1943 he died suddenly.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 470-471
Carmichael, Hugh Harold
Previous Military Service: African Boer War (likely the 2nd), and WW I
Hugh Carmichael who was born in Ontario, served in the African Boer War before he took a trip to New Zealand where he met his wife Florence Ann, and they were married there. After the wedding they moved back to Ontario, and then to Edmonton AB where they lived for several years. In 1914 Hugh, his brother Percy, and their uncle Frank Biggs took homesteads in the Hythe AB area. They first built a log house, and then in 1924-25 they built a large frame house. During WW I, Hugh was an engineer overseas, and in WW II he was in England as a Home Guard soldier because he was too old for the army. Florence and Hugh had 6 children: Albert (died at age 18), Edna (died at age 21), Hazel, Ethel, Helen (died at age 21), and Jim. After the 2nd World War, Hugh returned to Hythe and built bridges for Public Works until his retirement. Florence who was very active in the Hythe community died in 1954. Hugh and Percy (who was living at Hugh’s house) were suddenly killed in a home accident in July 1959. All 3 were buried at the Hythe Cemetery.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 187-188
Carney, Bernard
Bernard was the son of Sergeant Major and Mrs. Edward Carney of Buffalo Lakes area, where he grew up on their homestead. He and his sister, Nora(h), served in WW II. Bernard was wounded in action. On February 28, 1946, he married Margaret Lundie McKenzie of Teepee Creek at Christ Church Anglican church in Grande Prairie. The young couple settled in Grande Prairie and had 2 daughters, Patricia and Colleen. Later they moved to Edmonton. Margaret died at age 91 in 2015, and was survived by Bernard.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 – name only
La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 315 – name only
Buffalo Trails pp. 74-75 (photos)
Herald Tribune March 7, 1946 p. 4 c.5 (marries); March 4, 1954 p.3 c.4 (opens tire, battery shop)
AGS – Obituary Index (Margaret Carney)
Carney, Ed
Enlistment: 1940
Carney, Norah
Force: Army
Nora was the 2nd eldest daughter of Sergeant Major and Mrs. Edward Carney of Buffalo Lakes. She grew up on a homestead, and when WW II broke out, she joined the armed forces. Her brother, Bernard, also served in the war. Later she married Norton Loblik of Edmonton. They had 3 children.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 – name only
La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 315 – name only
Buffalo Trails pp. 74-75 (photos)
Herald Tribune – Mar. 7, 1946 p. 4 c. 5
Carpentier, Glen
Regiment: Royal Canadian Electric Mechanics
Force: Army
Born in Saskatchewan, to parents Charles and Alma Carpentier, Glen was one of 9 siblings. His family moved in 1930 to Little Smoky AB area, and later they moved to New Fish Creek (Valleyview area). From 1935 to 1942 Glen worked on Highway 34 as a road grader with four mules, and was known as “Mule Man.” He married Chrissie Cunningham from Little Smoky in June 1940 in Grande Prairie. Coming home from their honeymoon, they found their log cabin (on Glen’s homestead called “Sleepy Hollow”) on fire. With help of wonderful neighbours, a new house was constructed in 4 days. After two years they moved to Vancouver Island. There Glen joined the army with the RCEM, and he was posted in England. In 1946, after his discharge, the Carpentiers returned to New Fish Creek, and Glen obtained more land through Veterans’ Land Act (VLA). In their new house they had 3 children: Kathy, Gary, and Susan. Chrissie died in 1956 from cancer, and Glen remarried in 1957 to Katherine, a widow with 5 children. Glen worked for the town of High Prairie, then for the Alberta government maintenance department. In 1960, he began a job on the Alaska Highway as maintenance equipment operator for the Canadian Army. Fourteen years later, when Glen was disabled, he and his wife retired in Sicamous BC.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 420-422 Photo pp. 420 and 421
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune – June 13, 1940 p. 6 c. 4 (marries)
Grande Prairie Herald Tribune – June 23, 1956 p. 3 c. 5 (wife dies)
Carpentier, James Harris
Born in 1926 in Findlater SK, Jimmy was the son of Charles and Alma Carpentier. In 1930 the family moved to Little Smoky, AB to homestead, and in 1936 they moved to New Fish Creek. Jimmy and 3 of his brothers, Glen, Melvin, and Lloyd volunteered for service in WW II. He married Mary, and they had 6 children: Phillip, Debbie, Mary, Jane, Gregg, and Jamie. In March 2009, Jimmy died in Rocky Mountain House AB, at age 83.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 418-420 Photos p. 419
AGS – Obituary Index
Carpentier, Lloyd
Lloyd Carpentier was the son of Charles and Alma Carpentier who moved from Saskatchewan to Little Smoky AB in 1930. In 1936 the family moved to New Fish Creek. During WW II Lloyd and three of his brothers, Glen, Melvin, and Jimmy, volunteered for service. Lloyd married Valva Nelson of High Prairie on January 1, 1948, in Grande Prairie. They had one daughter: Sherrie.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 418 -420; Herald Tribune Jan. 29, 1948 p. 5. c. 3 (marries)
Carpentier, Melvin
Born in Saskatchewan, Melvin was the son of Charles and Alma Carpentier, and the fourth of 9 children. In 1930 the family moved to Little Smoky AB to homestead, and in 1936 they relocated to New Fish Creek. During WW II Melvin and three of his brothers, Glen, Lloyd, and Jimmy joined the forces. Being a farmer, Melvin filed on the land SE 26-72—22-W5, and he grew very good crops. He also did pulpwood work, and hauling with his truck. The first car Melvin owned was a 1928 Chev. He left New Fish Creek to live in High Prairie. Melvin was not married.
Source: Where the Red Willow Grew pp. 418 – 422
Carr, Frank Herbert
Regimental No.: J 9364
Rank: First Officer Pilot
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Grave Ref: 489
Biography: Date of death January 6, 1943
Source: Unknown
Carrell, D.O.
Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26
Carson, H.F.
Source:
Where the Red Willow Grew p. 303 (Name only in Roll of Honour)
(Possibly Franklin Howard Carson? p. 501 and AGS Obituary index)
Carty, George
Carveth, James Lawrence “Jimmie”
Rank: Sergeant
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Jimmie Carveth was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald “Pat” and Gladys (Clarkson) Carveth. He was born in Grande Prairie AB on December 21, 1923, and took his early schooling in the Twighlight and Five Mile schools, and later obtained an Engineering Degree at the University of Alberta. During WW II Jimmie was a sergeant in the RCAF. On July 16, 1948 he married Lina Josephine Anderson (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Anderson of Gunn AB) in Grande Prairie. The couple settled in Calgary and raised two boys: Donald and Ray. Jimmie worked for Stearns-Rogers as a chemical engineer for over 25 years, and he also coached minor league sports. Lina passed away in 1984, and Jimmie died on June 18, 1986 at age 62 in Calgary.
Source:
Pioneers of the Peace p. 139
Grande Prairie Herald Dec. 25, 1923 p. 1 c. 3 (birth)
Herald Tribune July 22, 1948 p. 6 c. 5 (marries)
Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune June 20, 1986 (Obituary)
Cashaback, Michael
Force: Army
The only son of Nicholas and Pauline Cashaback, Mike Cashaback was born on November 15, 1919 in Cochrane, ON. He moved with his family from Ontario to Edmonton in the mid 1920s, and 2 years later to Esher (now Silverwood near Rycroft) where he received his education to grade 8. In 1941 Mike joined the Canadian Army as a blacksmith, but was employed as a cook. Later he became a provost (with the military police). Mike married Evelyn Betty Lamper on July 21, 1942. While in Holland, Mike was wounded on March 19, 1945 at Niemagen, and he sailed back to Canada on the hospital ship S.S. Nelson, returning to Silverwood. After the war, Mike tried farming, then worked as a blacksmith and in a lumberyard. In 1958 he became the Rycroft Village Policeman. The Cashaback family had 4 children by this time: Michael, Ozann, Gail, and Debra, and they moved to Grimshaw AB in 1962. There Mike continued police work until 1964, and began building houses for J. B. Tissington in Grimshaw and Peace River. When Evelyn Betty and Mike divorced in 1975, he moved to Madeira BC, keeping active in the Legion and Lions club. He passed away in Vancouver on November 9, 1981, and his ashes were spread on Pender Harbour, his favourite fishing spot.
Source:
Chepi Sepe p. 183 (photo)
Wheatfields and Wildflowers p. 461
Caux, Lucien
Force: Army
Born on June 22, 1919 in St. Narcisse, Quebec, Lucien Caux was the third eldest of 12 children of Louis and Emerilda (Langlois) Caux. In 1941 Lucien and his brother Rene left Quebec and settled in the Peace River country, obtaining homesteads in the Guy area, Alberta. The following year, 1942, Lucien took basic training for the army in Grande Prairie. During that time he met his future wife, Thelma Brulotte. They were married on November 14, 1945, and had 8 children: Lucille, Denis, Juliette, Jeannette, Laurent, Gilbert, Angele, and Doris. Lucien farmed for 27 years, while he also worked at sawmills, did bridge building, and carpentry in the winters. In 1966, he sold the farm and moved to Donnelly for 7 years, then to Edmonton working for Facto Homes for 7 years. Thelma remarried in 1976. Lucien moved to Falher AB in 1980, and then to Lloydminster AB 2 ½ years later where his retired.
Source:
Guy pp. 244-245 (photo)
Cave,
Regiment: No. 3 Platoon C. A. (8) T. C. No. 132
Source: Photograph 2005.53.01 (1943)
Note: Trained in Grande Prairie AB
Cave, Albert
Force: Navy
Albert was one of 2 children of George and Ruby (Mitchell) Cave of Grande Prairie AB. Both Albert and his sister, Georgina, were born and educated in Grande Prairie. During WW II Albert joined the Navy, and later he married Beverly Burdock of Unity SK. They moved to Victoria BC, and they had 2 children: Cheryl and Todd.
Source:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 325 (photo)
(possibly Herald Tribune – Feb. 10, 1955 p. 10 c. 3 (marries)
Cawthra, William Ronald
Regiment: Royal Canadian Artillery
Regimental No.: M 50442
Rank: Gunner
Force: Army
Ronald Cawthra, born on Sept 3, 1924, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Eva Cawthra, and one of 11 children. His family moved from Ernfold SK to Clairmont AB in the late 1920’s. In spring of 1929, the family moved to a farm near Sexsmith AB. The older children attended North Sexsmith School. Ronald served in France during WW II and was killed in action on August 29, 1944 at the age of 19. He was buried at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.
Source:
Commonwealth War Graves
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 Our Roll of Honour; p. 410
Chalifoux, Adam
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. I p. 44 (photo)
Chalifoux, Chellevon
Regiment: Canadian Infantry
Rank: Private
Chellevon Chalifoux was born in Grouard AB, and he had his early education at the Catholic convent there. He was the son of Mrs. Mary Chalifoux (spelled Chelifoux in news article) of High Prairie. In spring of 1940 he enlisted for service in Peace River, and in 1942 he went overseas. Sadly he was killed in action in France in 1945. Chellevon had two brothers who served with the Canadian Army: Joe, also serving overseas, was killed in an accident in England in 1942. Another brother was discharged after 2 years service due to an injury in Calgary. He also had an older brother, Joseph, who was a veteran of WW I.
Source: Herald Tribune March 29, 1945 p. 1 c. 4
Chalifoux, Joe
Force: Canadian Army
Joe Chalifoux was the son of Mrs. Mary Chalifoux (spelled Chelifoux in news article) of High Prairie. Serving in the Canadian Army during WW II he was killed in an accident in 1942 in England. His brother, Chellevon was killed in action in France in 1945, and another brother serving in the army was injured in Calgary. An older brother was a veteran of WW I.
Source: Herald Tribune March 29, 1945 p. 1 c.
Chambers, Russell Theodore “Ted”
Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Ted Chambers, born in 1903 in Puslinch ON, was the only son of Mr and Mrs Daniel and Bertha (Cummins) Chambers. He moved to the Peace River country over the Edson Trail with his parents and sister Rhea in 1912. The family settled on a homestead in the Two Rivers district (Southeast of Beaverlodge AB). The children attended a makeshift school in the Halcourt church, and later went to school in Grande Prairie. In the early 1930’s Ted worked for Bob Kranz constructing the Flour Mill. He married Madeline Ada Tyrrell (daughter of Arthur and Marie Tyrrell) on April 21, 1934 in Wembley AB, and the couple farmed in Two Rivers. Ted and Madeline had two children: Joan and Dale. During the Second World War, Ted served with the Edmonton Fusiliers for 5 years. Having a hobby of finding fossils, Ted found a huge hip bone on the banks of the Beaver Lodge River, which was believed to be from a mammoth dinosaur, in September 1938. Ted was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was killed in an accident on the Wapiti bridge on July 5, 1965. Madeline died in December 1992 in Beaverlodge.
Source:
Beaverlodge to the Rockies pp. 549-550
Along the Wapiti – p. 412 (name)
p. 346
Northern Tribune April 26, 1934 p. 5 c. 3 (marries), and September 22, 1938 p. 1 c.2 (fossil)
Chambers, Milton Edward
SE 11-80-6-W6, 2-1-47, V ag lease
Source: Alberta Land Book
Chapman, Cecil
Cecil Chapman, who was the oldest son of Walter and Hertha (Yost) Chapman, was born on December 8, 1925 in Halcourt AB (40 km west of Grande Prairie AB). In 1929 the family moved to a homestead in Gordondale (88 km northwest of Grande Prairie). Cecil completed Grade 8 in the Gordondale school in 1941. Then he worked in Dawson Creek BC and Fort St. John BC. He joined the army in 1944, enlisting in Calgary, and was posted in Halifax. After the war, he settled in Regina SK where he met and married his wife, Lillian Witrock. They married in August 1947, and had 3 children: Lois, Brenda, and Raymond. For over 28 years Cecil was a furniture salesman for Robert Simpson Company in Regina.
Source:
Homesteader’s Heritage pp. 363-364 (photo of family p. 364)
Grande Prairie Herald - Dec. 28, 1925 p.1 c. 3
Charest, Aime
DOB January 29, 1916
DOD September 29, 1976
Source:
Guy p. 145 and 256
Charest, Armand Hilaire
Regiment: Strathcona Horse
Regimental Number: M63816
Armand Charest was born on December 6, 1915, in Beaumont AB, where he grew up. On May 13, 1941 he enlisted with the army and served in England, North Africa, Italy, and western Europe, and he was discharged on February 4, 1946. Armand married Louisa Regina Leger (“Louise”) on October 27, 1947 in Westlock AB. They lived in Edmonton until the following year, when Armand worked for the Department of Highways and built ferries at Dunvegan, Watino, Peace River, and other places for 4 years. Louise worked with the crew as a cook for 3 years. In spring 1952 they moved onto their homestead in Eaglesham which they obtained from the Lassiter Project. The Charests had 4 children: Mariette, Eugene, Louis and Denise. They farmed for over 25 years. Armand died at age 85 in 2004 in Grande Prairie, and Louise died in 2006 in Eaglesham.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 169-170 (photos)
Charest, Gaston
Gaston Charest was born on August 10, 1923 in Kedgwick, NB. At age 4, he moved with his parents, Benjamin Charest and Cora Gagne, to Girouxville AB. He attended Pelletier School, and in 1941, at age 18, he enlisted with the army and was posted overseas. When he was discharged in 1946, Gaston bought a quarter section of land, SE 13-77-22-5, and he also worked at lumber camps. He married a girl he went to school with, Noella Giroux (daughter of Roland Giroux and Aline Guindon), on November 7, 1951 in Falher AB. They lived on their quarter for many years, and had 6 children: Doris, Michel, Daniel, Carol, Viviane, and Lise. In 1962, the Charests started raising beef cattle and stopped working at the lumber camps. In later years, Gaston helped the boys with farming, and enjoyed woodworking.
Source:
Reflexions p. 417
Charest, Larry
Larry Charest was born on January 28, 1920, and he was baptized in the Beaumont Church in Alberta. He moved with his family to Falher in 1928, and in 1931 they settled on a homestead in Guy. A school was built on the homestead, so Larry had a shorter distance to walk. Formerly he walked a 14 mile round trip to school when he was only 7 years old. During WW II he spent 4 ½ years in the army as a cook. After the war he obtained land from VLA (SE 15-75-20-W5 and SW 14-75-20 W5), and he farmed on his own. On April 14, 1974 he married a widow, Germaine (Thibault) Paradis, at McLennan AB. Larry then sold the farm and bought a house in Kelowna BC.
Source:
Guy p. 256 (photos)
Charest, Roger Arthur Joseph
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders, RCIC
Regimental Number: M/38850
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Army
Grave Reference: 2.G.11.
Born on October 26, 1920 in Matane, Quebec, Roger Charest was the son of Benjamin and Cora (Gagne) Charest. He came with his family to Falher, AB in 1927, and they later settled on a farm south of Girouxville AB. There Roger attended Pelletier School. As a young man, he worked for farmers in the area. In 1941, at age 21, he enlisted with the army with the Calgary Highlanders. Being stationed first at Prince Rupert, BC, he was transferred to Europe. Roger made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he was killed in action on October 8, 1944 in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. He was buried in the Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands.
Source:
Reflexions p. 229 (photo), p. 422 (photo)
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves
Charney, Bill
Charney, Jack
Charney, S.R.
S. R. Charney came from Winnipeg MB to Grande Prairie AB on July 1, 1930 with his brothers Jack and Bill, driving a McLaughlin-Buick. The young men took homesteads in the Clarkson Valley area. S. R. served in the army during WW II, and after returning, he moved to Grande Prairie.
Source:
Across the Smoky p. 347 – Name in Roll of Honour
p. 139 (photo)
Chateauneuf, Louis
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2
p. 99
p. 120
Chattern, C.W.
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Source:
Grande Prairie Herald – June 6, 1941
Employee of Thomas Hardware.
Chausse, Louise
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2
p. 99
Chesholm, Daniel Peter
Chevrette, Camille
Camille Chevrette was born on April 30, 1925 in Girouxville AB, to parents Joseph and Estelle (Remillard) Chevrette. He married Audrey McGregor on December 11, 1954, and they had one daughter, Heidi. Camille moved to Sidney, B.C.
Source: Reflexions p. 427
Chevrette, Rosaire "Ross"
Force: Army
Rosaire Chevrette was born on March 20, 1922 in Falher AB to parents Joseph and Estelle (Remillard) Chevrette. When he was only 6, his father died. Since the age of 15 Ross worked on his own doing threshing and sawmill work. He joined the army for 2 years in WW II. On August 22, 1950 he married Cecile Brochu in Girouxville. Later they moved to Prince George BC. They had 3 children: Leo, Doris, and Jeannette. Retired in 1985, Ross and Cecile travelled in their motorhome. Ross enjoyed several sports and won many trophies for darts, horseshoes, and bridge, while Cecile enjoyed sewing and crafts. Ross died in 2010.
Cheyne, Patrick Gordon
Patrick “Gordon” Cheyne was born in Longside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on August 16, 1921. In March 1939 he joined the Royal Marines, and he was posted in the Mediterranean, and the East and West Indies. He also served in Germany in 1951. After his time in the marines, Gordon worked for the Forestry Commission in Scotland. Making the move to Canada, he arrived in Vancouver on May 3, 1958. A few months later he went on to Calgary, and then he worked for the Alberta Forest Service from 1959 – 1962 in the Blairmore and Coleman communities in the Rocky Mountains. Next, Gordon moved to Grande Prairie AB, filing on a homestead in 1963. (S ½ - 29-83-8 W6) He spent 6 summers as towerman at the Copton and Torrance towers. In 1973 he sold his homestead, and bought a quarter section in Whitburn AB, raising sheep and working out part-time. Gordon passed away in January 2009 at age 78 in Fairview AB.
Source: The Big Bend p. 205-206 Photo p. 206
Tales, Trails and Gumbo p. 199
Childs, Alfred William George
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton, R.C.I.C.
Regimental Number: M/16033
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Active Service Force
Alfred Childs was born on October 16, 1919, in Middlesex, London, England. His parents were Alfred and Harriett Childs, who later moved to Grande Prairie AB. On September 10, 1939 he enlisted in Fairview AB with the Loyal Edmonton regiment, and was posted overseas. Giving his life for his country, he was killed in action on July 30, 1943, at age 23. He was buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Sicily.
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves
Daily Herald Tribune- August 19, 1943
Chisholm, Daniel Peter
Settled on land from VH Lease: NE-4-82-13-W6 in 1956
Source: Alberta Land Book
Chisholm, Frank David
Settled on land from VH Lease: NE – 9-82-13-W6 in 1957
Source: Alberta Land Book
Chouinard, George
Force: Canadian Army
George Chouinard, born on May 5, 1916 in Vegreville AB, was the son of Sylvio and Jenny (St. Hilaire) Chouinard. He arrived in Girouxville AB with his father in 1928, first attending school in the old church, and then at the Girouxville school. After leaving school, George worked in the Girouxville area and in Edmonton. He married Aurore Poirier on July 14, 1939, and shortly afterwards he served in the armed forces during WW II. Returning from war, George purchased the land SE 10-78-22-5 and lived there with his family. Aurore and George had 7 children: Paul, Robert, Andre, Fernand, Rene, Louise, and Linda. In 1962 they sold their land, and moved to Prince George, BC, and later (in the 1980’s) George moved to Richmond BC.
Source: Reflexions p. 429 – 430 (photo p. 430)
Chowace, George
George served in WWII with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Army Airborne Corps from 1941 to 1944. He served in Germany, France and Holland. Comrade Chowace was a member of Valleyview Legion Branch 140.
Chrenek, Matthew F.
Matthew F. Chrenek (Jr.) born in 1922 in Bankhead AB, was the son of Matthew and Mary Chrenek (who originally came from Czechoslovakia). For the first 4 years the family lived in nearby Luscar, and in 1926 moved to Lulu Island, BC. In 1927, they moved to the Sexsmith area where Matthew Sr. had purchased a farm. Matthew and his sister Cecile attended the Mount Star School. At the age of 20, Matthew enlisted in the army, taking his basic training in Edmonton. From there he went to Camp Borden ON for advanced training. In 1943 he was posted overseas, and after taking further training in England, he served in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He was discharged in Calgary in 1946. Matthew married Josephine Rombs in 1951 in Fairview. They had one son, Charles. Starting in 1956, they raised purebred Herefords, and have won many first and second place prizes. One of their bulls won Grand Champion in the Fairview Show in 1975. In 1977, Josephine and Matthew travelled to Europe for the unveiling of the Cairn at Buron, France where Matthew’s regiment was on “D” Day (June 6, 1944). They also attended a ceremony at an all-Canadian cemetery. Over the years, Matthew was an active member of the Legion, being president for several years, while Josephine was active in the Ladies Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion. Matthew died at age 89 in Grande Prairie AB in 2011.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour), p. 1155 (photo)
pp. 163-167
Chricton, Cecil
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour)
Chricton, Jack
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour)
Christensen, Alden Alfred
Settled on land from V Ag. Lease: NE 28-81-13-W6 in 1947
Source: Alberta Land Book
Christian, Doreen
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Postings: Ottawa at #1, SFTS at Uplands
Doreen was the daughter of William and Winnifred (Haughn) Christian. Enlisting in 1942, she became a meteorological observer with the Weather Division in the Air Force. She was discharged in the fall of 1945. After the war she married Jack Love and they had two children: Jeff and Marge.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 1 p. 150
Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 - pp. 99 and 121
Christian, Ralph
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p. 99
Christian, Robert "Bobby"
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Robert (“Bobby”) was born on January 7, 1921 in McLennan AB, the son of William and Winnifred (Haughn) Christian. He enlisted for service with the Air Force on February 19, 1941, his job being a plane mechanic, and doing reconnaissance. He was posted in Penhold AB, St. Thomas ON, Dartmouth NS, Gander NL, and Sydney NS. Bobby married Barbara Corkum on December 22, 1943 in Nova Scotia. They had 3 children: Bonnie, Richard, and Kurt. Robert died on January 5, 1981. Robert’s father served in both WW I and II. His sister Doreen was in the Air Force, and his brother Bill was in the Navy in WWII. He died on January 5, 1981.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 1 p. 150
Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 pp. 99, 120, 203
Christian, William Devilla "Bill"
Bill was born in Avoca, Iowa on November 22, 1897. His family moved to Nampa in 1898. At 16, Bill moved to McLennan and worked on the ED&BC Railroad. He enlisted in the army in 1917, but was discharged just days after enlistment because of flat feet. Bill served in the navy, working on minesweepers off the east coast. In 1918 he married Winnifred Haughn in Nova Scotia and the couple returned to McLennan. Bill worked first as a fireman for the railway, then as an engineer. He also worked as a recruiting advisor and the leader of the Veteran's Volunteer Reserve in McLennan during the Second World War. After the war, the Christians moved to Edmonton. They lived there until 1963, at which time they moved to Delta, BC. In May of 1978, they moved to Calgary and Bill died in September of that year.
Sources: Trails and Rails North, p. 150
Christian, William Raymond "Bill"
Force: Royal Canadian Navy
William Raymond Christian was the son of William and Winnifred (Haughn) Christian, and he was born in 1925 in Nampa AB. He joined the Navy during WW II working as a cook, and he was posted in Windsor ON, Halifax NS, and Cornwallis NS. In June 1951 he married Valerie Bernacki, and they had one daughter, Cindy.
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. I p. 150
Trails and Rails North Vol II pp. 99, 203, 121
Christoferson
Christopherson, Bennie
Bennie Christopherson was born in St. Hilaire MN U.S.A. to parents Carl and Hannah (Ensrud) Christopherson. As a very young child, Bennie moved with his mother and 2 brothers from North Dakota U.S.A. to Cadillac SK, where his father was homesteading around 1911. The family lived through hard times in the 30’s. Hearing stories about the wonderful Peace River Country, they moved to Rycroft AB in spring of 1938. Next they moved to La Glace, and finally settled in Valhalla where they farmed. Bennie and his younger brother Kenneth served in WW II. After the war, Benny lived on the home farm, and worked and farmed in the Valhalla area for the rest of his life. He died in Edmonton at age 77 on September 3, 1986.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up p. 748 (Name in list of WW II Veterans)
pp. 472-473
AGS website – Obituary Index (DHT)
Christopherson, Kenneth Russell
Kenneth Christopherson was born in Cadillac SK in 1923, to parents Carl and Hannah (Ensrud) Christopherson. In 1938 the family moved to the Peace River Country, first to Rycroft AB, and eventually settling in Valhalla where they bought a farm. Kenneth and his older brother, Bennie, served in WW II. He married Rosie Amundsen in 1953, and they raised a family in Sexsmith. Rosie passed away in 2000, and Kenneth died in February 2007 in Hythe.
Source:
Pioneer Round-Up p.748 (Name in WW II Veterans List)
pp. 472-473
SPRA Family and Personal Reference Files
AGS website – Obituary Index
Cirka, Peter
Regimental No: M - 12135
Rank: Private
Force: Canadian Army
Peter Cirka (also spelled Sirka) was born in 1899 in Galecia, Poland. He was married to Katharzyna in Poland, and he immigrated to Montreal, Canada on March 29, 1926. According to the 1926 Canadian Census, he lived in Swift Current SK. On June 21, 1927, he crossed the US border to Rouses Point, New York, looking for work. At some time before the war he lived in the Peace Country, and during WW II he served in the Canadian Army.
Peter died in 1969.
Source:
Guy p. 146
Border crossing document
Census Swift Current SK 1926
Billion Graves - Photo
Clark, Eleanor
Date of Birth: 25/01/1943
Clark, Frederick
Regimental Number: K90051
Rank: Sergeant
Force: Army
Died August 12, 1963 in Grande Prairie AB
Source: Cemetery Records
Clark, W.A.
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Source: Grande Prairie Herald June 25, 1941
Clarke, Charles R.
Clarke, Michael Christopher (“Chris”)
Force: Army
Born on September 24, 1896, in Drogheda County, Ireland, Chris Clarke was one of 13 children. His early schooling was in Ireland, and as a young man he joined the Scotch Reveilliers, and later he served with the Royal Irish Fuesiliers. After his service, Chris came to Saskatchewan and joined the Canadian Army in the First World War. In 1929, he moved to Spirit River AB where he met his wife, Vera Eleanor England. They were married on October 21, 1933 in Spirit River and settled on a farm of their own. Over the years the Clarkes had 12 children: John, Gwyneth, David, Nora, Patricia, Eleanor, Irene, Christina, Michael, Brian, Robert and Kathleen. Chris joined the Army again in 1941 and 1943. In 1969 Chris and Vera retired from farming and moved to a house in Spirit River. Vera passed away in 1974, and after period of illness, Chris died on July 28, 1977 in Spirit River.
Source: Memories and Moments p. 176 – Photo
pp. 160-162
Clayden, Bruce Allen
Clayton, George
Regiment: Signal Corps
George Clayton’s mother had two children (George and Eva) from her first marriage before she married Angus Clayton. The new family moved from Earl Grey, SK to the Peace Country, eventually settling on a homestead in the Aspen Dale district. As a youngster, George was making and fixing anything mechanical, even building his own car. He was employed as a mechanic in Grande Prairie. In 1942, he enlisted with the Signal Corps, and before being posted overseas he married Nellie Childs, in Grande Prairie. Becoming badly wounded in 1944 by mortar fire on the Holland border, he was invalided home in 1945, and spent several months in the Col. Mewburn Pavillion hospital in Edmonton. After his recovery, George continued his mechanic job at Windsor Motors in Grande Prairie, where he worked for several years. Nellie and George had 2 children: George (married to Debra Greenhaugh) and Jean (married to Floyd Thompson). George passed away in 1957. Nellie remarried and moved to Calgary.
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name in list of WW II veterans)
pp. 346-347 (photo)
Family and Personal Life Reference Files – SPRA - newspaper article
Clemo, Frederick William "Bill"
Force: Army
Bill Clemo was born in Cornwall, England on October 6, 1908, and he came to Canada in the late 1920’s. In Alberta he did farm labour and trapping. At one time he took a boat trip to New Zealand. During WW II he joined the Army, and while stationed in Edmonton he met Elizabeth Jesson. They married on January 15, 1943. After the war they moved to Revelstoke BC where Bill worked in a planer mill. When he heard about the Lassiter Project (where veterans could acquire land for homesteading) the family moved to the Eaglesham area in 1953. While farming, Bill also worked a trapline, and picked roots for other farmers. He sold the farm in 1967, and the family moved to Creston BC, and later to Courtney BC. An active Legion member, Bill passed away at age 83, in December 1985 in Courtney. Elizabeth and Bill had 5 children: David, Beth, Roy, Brian, and Kathy.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 177-178 (photo p. 177)
Clesse, Joseph Antoine
Regimental Number: M562590 & J28581
Rank: Flying Officer
Fernand and Madeline (Koecher Gorré) Clesse along with Madeline’s two children, Antoine and Francois Gorré, decided to move from Holden to Northern Alberta in 1915 after reading about the possibility of land ownership by means of homestead applications. He filed on SW 19-72-3-W6 in an area of Bezanson known as East Kleskun. They built a log house that was heated with wood. Lighting was by means of coal-oil lamps and candles. The land was cleared by hand and the farming was accomplished by mules and horses. Joe was born in May 1918. Fernand passed away on December 11, 1918 from the Spanish Influenza and was buried in the Bear Creek section of the Grande Prairie Cemetery. Joe attended the East Kleskun School and enjoyed softball and woodworking.
Joe worked on the farm from 1933 to 1940 and also found employment as a mechanic. He worked for one year as a Feed Sales and Inspector with the Alberta Feed Co-op in Edmonton. To further his interest in mechanics, Joe enrolled in a six-month Diesel & Air Engine Mechanic correspondence course.
Joe enrolled in a 30-day training course with the Non-Permanent Active Militia in Grande Prairie on November 20, 1940 (Regimental # M562590). On October 22, 1941, Joe enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force (Regimental # J28581) as an air-engine mechanic trainee. On June 17, 1944, Joe married Amy Julia Albertson in Kingston, Ontario after receiving permission to do so. Joe underwent training in Edmonton, Dafoe (Saskatchewan), Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Trenton (Ontario), CFD Mountain View (Ontario), CFS St. Hubert (Quebec) and Rockcliff Air Station (Ontario). He served one year as AEM (Leading Aircraftman highest grouping), commissioned as pilot for 2.5 years, acted as Assistant Flight Commander for 5 months and Flight Commander for 6 months. Joe was a distinguished Flying Officer in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan where he trained pilots in preparation to fly during combat. Flying Officer Joseph Antoine Clesse served in Canada and received the Pilots Flying Badge, General Service Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. He was discharged on October 19, 1945 and listed his address as Kingston, Ontario.
Joe and Julia had six children; Susan, Virginia, Anne-Marie, Stephen, Julie and Nanci. They lived in various locations in Ontario but eventually settled in Scarborough and lastly, Mississauga. Joe’s civilian career began in sales; however, he eventually moved into retail furniture and design. He was the proprietor of “Anthony’s Home Furnishings”, in Scarborough and Mississauga until he retired in 1989. He was a talented woodworker, cabinet-maker and builder. Joe put his skills to good use building mantle clocks out of broken airplane propellers. Once retired, he became the superintendent/manager of the condominium building in which he and Amy lived.
Joe passed away on March 3, 1999 in Mississauga. Amy passed away on February 29, 2000 also in Mississauga. Both were cremated with their ashes being scattered at locations that held special meaning for their family.
Note: Joe applied several times to be transferred overseas; however, his requests were denied as his service was needed to train pilots in Canada. As such, he never referred to himself as a “veteran” and seldom spoke of his years in the Air Force.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Service File
Susan Bithrey – daughter
Newspaper articles
Find A Grave
Cloutier, Alfred
Regiment: Royal Canadian Engineer 2nd and 3rd division
Rank: Sapper (Combat Engineer)
Force: Army
Alfred Cloutier, the son of Albert and Emma (Brochu) Cloutier, was born on September 24, 1921 in St. Magloire, QC. When he was 5 years old the family moved to Pickardville AB where they farmed until 1936 or 1937, and then settled in the Girouxville area. Alfred bought his own quarter of land in 1940 (NW 30-78-22-5). He married Lucille Boisvert on June 16, 1942. Enlisting with the Army in February 1943, Alfred trained in Edmonton, Chilliwack BC, Prince Albert SK, and Kingston ON, before being posted overseas. The train took him from Edmonton to Halifax, where he went by boat and arrived in France on February 7. By April 8 he was on the Front Lines in Berlin, Germany. He served with the Occupations Army until returning home in June 1946. Since he was a veteran, Alfred was given a half section of homestead (E. ½ 12-79-23-5) and a tractor. Also he purchased his first automobile – a 1928 Chevrolet. He farmed and logged for a while, later purchasing a three-quarter section in Jean Cote. In 1953, he built a frame house on the half section, and in 1962 he built another one. His crops were damaged by hail in 1962. Due to poor health, Alfred sold his farm to 2 of his sons in 1975, and he and Lucille and the 2 youngest children moved to Edmonton. There he worked for the Separate School Board until his retirement in 1985. Alfred passed away in 1999 (possible), and Lucille died in Edmonton in 2015. Alfred and Lucille had 10 children: Liliane, Gemma, Cecile, Hector, Richard, Roger, Andre, Gilbert, Jeannine, and Guy.
Source: Reflexions p. 431 (Family photo p. 433)
AGS Obituary Index (little information on Alfred A. Cloutier)
Cloutier, Gaston
79-23-W5, 1943
Cloutier, Roland
Force: Army
Roland Cloutier was born on April 15, 1917 in Montmagny QC. He came to the Guy AB area in 1930 with his parents, and attended the Ballater No. 1 School. As a young man, Roland worked hard to obtain his own land. In 1943 he worked for the army in Whitehorse YT in the winter. After returning from Whitehorse, he met his wife, Marie Berthe Fortier, and they married on December 1, 1945. They built a house on their land, and raised 3 children: Cecile, Emile, and Andre. Roland was a good farmer, hunter, and mechanic, and repaired all his machinery. Roland and Berthe enjoyed travelling to Quebec and the USA. In January 1974 they sold the farm and moved to Falher AB. Sadly Roland passed away in November that year.
Source: Guy pp. 264-265 (photos p. 264)
Cochran, W.
Cochrane, Dave
Collins, James Clayton “Clay”
Force: Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve
Clay Collins was born in 1926 to parents Sherman and Verna Collins who lived at Darlingford MB (near Morden). Around 1929 the family moved to Alberta, settling on a homestead in what is now called Happy Valley. When it was time for Clay and his sister Anne to go to school, they moved to Broncho Creek in 1933, while continuing to farm the Happy Valley homestead. The family moved several more times in the Spirit River area. During WW II Clay served with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve for four years, mainly on the Pacific and North Pacific Oceans. While training in Edmonton, he met his future wife, Peggy Brook. They were married on May 6, 1944 in Victoria BC. After his service in the Navy, the couple lived in Spirit River on Clay’s parents’ dairy farm. In 1947 they bought and moved onto his parents’ homestead in Happy Valley, and farmed and did other jobs. In 1965 Clay moved to Chetwynd BC., (Peggy and the children moved there a year later), first working at Fort St. John Lumber Co., and then for Canfor Ltd for 23 years before retiring. Clay and Peggy had 8 children: Carol, Linda, Daniel, Deborah, Corey, Joel, Stephen, and Shannon.
Source: Chepi Sepe pp. 324 – 328 (photos pp. 325, 326, 328)
Collins, Clement Ernest
Regimental Number: R130889
Date of Birth: 16 Nov 1920
Place of Birth: Spirit River
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Branch: Royal Canadian Air Force
Served 27 Oct 1941-8 Feb 1946
Coney, Edward (“Ted”)
Regimental Number: M-17533
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Edward Coonie and his twin, John Norman Coonie, were born August 31, 1904, in Hume Hall Berwickshire, Scotland, to James and MaryAnn Coonie. John Norman Coonie passed away May 18, 1905, in Hume Hall Berwickshire, Scotland.
During WW1, Edward Coonie was conscripted to the British Army. Because Elizabeth Coonie, his sister, is on his Service Record and she was born January 10, 1919, we are under the opinion he had to be conscripted in 1919 making him somewhere around 14-15 years old. There was never any mention of Edward joining WW1 – so we are unsure if he was just conscripted so when he became of age, he would be ready to join or what really transpired.
The Family, Dad – James, Mother – MaryAnn and five siblings, James, Hugh, Margaret, Elizabeth and John, left Scotland on April 28, 1928, and arrived in Quebec, Canada, via the SS Montcalm ship, on May 6, 1928. The family settled on the N1/2 1-73-3 W6, formerly the Frank Orr place, later known as the Fitzsimmons district. Edward, now was known as ―Coney, not Coonie, homesteaded the NE 30-73-2 W6 the first year, then the next five years worked off the farm as wages were good. The first farmer he worked for insisted on introducing and calling him Ted, and as a result the name stuck with him – he was always known as Uncle Ted.
In 1932 Edward married Roberta (Bobby) Richard. In 1938 Edward purchased the Lawler place, SW 33-73-3 W6 and lived here until WW2, when he enlisted in the army.
June 22, 1940, Edward Coney listed in Grande Prairie with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. His personal information at the time he joined was height 5’6‖, weight 134 pounds, complexion Dark, Eyes Greyish, Hair Dark Brown, vision 20/20 and educational background – finished Grade X in Scotland. His Personnel Selection Record stated that for the 12 years before enlisting in the Canadian Army, his occupation was farming grain with horses on 320 acres.
His theatres of service in the Canadian Army were only in Canada. Edward did his basic and advanced training in Edmonton and Calgary – In 1941 he transferred to the Halifax Coastal Bde R.C.A. for eight months. The climate proved to be too damp for Edward causing a lot of joint issues. He was then transferred back to Calgary to work as a clerk in the Mewata Armouries. Edward Coney was discharged on October 17, 1946, and was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
Edward purchased the Blake Wager place after being discharged, NW 30-73—W6 and NE 25-72-4 W6 in the East Kleskun district. Edward and Roberta were blessed with seven children, Marjory born 1933, Jean born 1934, Keith born 1936, Faye born 1938, Rick born 1944, Brian born 1947 and Dean 1952 - Dean passed away at nine months old and was laid to rest in Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Edward Coney passed away December 3, 1992 in Grande Prairie, Alberta at the age of 88 years. He was laid to rest in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Written & Compiled by Christine Thorpe (Coney) & Larry Coney
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 122
GP AGS- Obituary Index
Coney, Hugh William
Regimental Number: M16587
Regiment: Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Hugh William Coonie, born on August 14, 1908 in Langshaw, Roxburghshire, Scotland was the fourth child of James and MaryAnn Coonie.
On May 6, 1928 Hugh and his Parents, James, and MaryAnn and his five siblings, James, Edward, Margaret, Elizabeth and John arrived in Quebec, Canada on the SS Montcalm ship. The next year the oldest sister Mary arrived in Canada with her husband, Alexander and daughter, Mary.
Hugh settled with his Parents in Bezanson until World War 2. Hugh was employed with Buffalo Lakes Lumber camp when he decided to enlist in the army – Hugh and a few friends arrived in Grande Prairie around January 11, 1940 to enlist and were told that they had arrived too soon. Hugh Coney joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment – Regiment number M16587, – when he enlisted in the Army and was stationed overseas.
Hugh was on leave in 1943 when him and Jenny decided to get married but his leave was over before the wedding, so he sent John, his younger brother, in his place on the ship to North Africa. He believed there was no worry as John would be in Phillipsville at the dispersal area and Hugh would be there before John would get any type of placement for combat. But it did not work out as Hugh thought it would because John volunteered to be a gunner on the HMCS Louisburg ship. On February 6, 1943, an Italian torpedo plane released a fish (torpedo) which struck the HMCS Louisburg ship, sinking the ship leaving John in the water for approximately four hours, fearing a shark attack. Thankfully, John was picked up by the HMCS Regina ship.
When the switch was discovered, Hugh spent two months in the Brig (this is lock up, extra work duty and reduced rations) and John spent six weeks in Phillipsville peeling potatoes for their punishments.
When the news arrived in Canada to Hugh and John’s Dad – Hugh was in trouble again because he sent young Jock into battle.
After Hugh was reprimanded by the army, he was sent to take part in the invasion of Sicily which started July 10 and ended August 17, this operation was called Husky.
Hugh had joined the army along side his three brothers, James, Ed and John and brother-in-law, Alexander. Hugh married Janet White Cooney, known as Jenny, on March 20, 1943 in Scotland. When the war was over Hugh stayed in Scotland with his wife. Hugh and Jenny had two children Margaret Ann and Hugh Jr.
Hugh William Coney passed away June 25, 1996, at 87 years old, in the Borders Hospital in Melrose, Scotland and is buried next to his wife, in the Cockburnspath Cemetery, Cockburnspath, a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It lies near the North Sea coast.
Written by Christine (Coney)Thorpe
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 159-160
Coney, James Norman "Jim"
Regimental Number: M11240
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
James Norman Coonie, born on August 17, 1900 in Langshaw, Roxburghshire, Scotland was the first child of James and MaryAnn Coonie.
On May 6, 1928 James, his parents, and his five siblings arrived in Quebec, Canada on the SS Montcalm ship. The Coonies left Scotland on their journey to their new homeland on April 28, 1928. No one is sure why James Coonie Sr changed the spelling of their name to Coney while they were crossing over to Canada, there is speculation but no concrete facts. After arriving in Quebec, Canada the family took a boat to the Great Lakes then a train to go across Canada – they arrived in Grande Prairie May 11, 1928 then the next day headed to the ½ section that the Soldier’s Settlement Board had got ready for the family in Bezanson. With only 14 acres under cultivation the first year was spent clearing and breaking more land on their ½ section 1-73-3. The pictures on the brochures they received in Scotland looked a lot more impressive than what was there. The Coney’s now lived in a wooden home, instead of brick. Also, there was mosquitos, these were new to them, they never had these in Scotland.
James settled with the Coney family in Bezanson until World War II started – when he enlisted in the army and was stationed overseas. He enlisted with the Calgary Highlanders. He was with the “A” Company, Officers WOS – The Calgary Highlanders C.A.S.F. Calgary, Alta and the “9” Platoon “A” Company – The Calgary Highlanders C.A.S.F. Calgary, Alta in 1940.
When the war ended James brought back his English War Bride, Jean, and they settled in Edmonton, Alberta. James and Jean had four children, James born 1947, Malcolm born 1953, Margaret born 1955 and Carol born 1958.
James Norman Coonie/Coney passed away August 3, 1967 in Edmonton, Alberta, just days before his 67th birthday. He is laid to rest in the Beechmont Municipal Cemetery, Edmonton Alberta.
Written by Christine (Coney) Thorpe
Coney, John W. "Jock"
Regimental Number: M104778
Regiment: 49th Loyal Edmonton Regiment
John W Coonie, known as Jock, was born on June 10, 1924. He left Scotland on Saturday, April 28, 1928, with his parents, James and MaryAnn, and five siblings arriving in Quebec, Canada, via the SS Montcalm ship, May 6, 1928. This was a new adventure for the Coonies, who changed their name to Coney while crossing the ocean to Canada. They arrived in Grande Prairie May 11, 1928, and the new life had begun with mosquitos and wooden/log homes.
John’s mother passed away the year after the family came to Canada, John was 4 years old. John Coney joined the army in 1942 during World War 2. John’s Attestation form indicates he joined in Edmonton, with the Edmonton Wing 13 District Depot, November 6, 1942. After joining, John was sent to Calgary for Basic Training. During WW2, he served in the United Kingdom as Artillery, went to North Africa in 1943. John was seconded to a gunner on board the HMCS Louisburg and was on board when it was torpedoed and sunk February 6, 1943. After being in the water for approximately 4 hours, and worrying about the sharks, John and others were rescued by the HMCS Regina. Years later John met the soldier that pulled him onto the HMCS Regina.
John served in Italy, where he joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment before Ortona – John was a stretcher bearer during the Battle of Ortona. They worked their way up Italy, and after the fall of Rome, John was moved to the West shore to train for the invasion of Southern France. The move from Italy to France was called the OPERATION "GOLDFLAKE"; this was the Move of 1 Cdn Corps from Italy to North-West Europe, Feb-Mar 1945. John drove a truck up Europe, and saw battle through Belgium, Holland, Apeldoorn and into Germany.
While in Italy, as told by John and Jack Young “we were walking across the yard when we heard a rocket coming – both dove under a haystack and the rocket hit Jack’s side of the haystack – John said the last he saw of Jack Young was when they took him away on the stretcher”. They finally were reacquainted in 1995 in Red Deer. In 1999 John reacquainted with another army buddy Carl “Evans” Carson. John, Jack and Evans was a bond that rekindled the minute they saw each other.
During his war years, John spent time in hospital with pneumonia. John was hospitalized in Italy, again in Holland in 1945. He was recruited to the South Pacific but ended up in hospital. Jock came home on the RMS Lady Nelson, the hospital ship in 1945.
Jock was discharged January 30, 1946 and for his service he received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal 1939-45, African Star and Defense medal.
On June 10, 1948 Jock married June Lucas. June’s Birthday June 10, 1925 and Jock’s birthday June 10, 1924. June 10 was the magical day. Jock and June were blessed with six children,– Cortez, Christine, Lorie, Kelsey, Larry and Vicky.
Jock & June lived at Watino, Jock operated the Ferry, then Norton’s Sawmill in Crooked Creek. Moved in 1955 to Bezanson, in 1978 to Grande Prairie to retire. Jock’s enjoyed retirement years; golfing & volunteering at GP Hospital.
John was awarded a Life Membership in the Royal Canadian Legion, and June was awarded a Life Membership Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary. June passed away March 2002 – John passed away September 4, 2008, both were laid to rest in the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
Written by Coney Family
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 159-160
Legion Album
SPRA Family and Personal Reference Files - Obituary
Conley, Gordon
Regiment: S. A. R.
Gordon Conley, born in Wembley AB, was one of 10 children of Charles and Elizabeth (Campbell) Conley. The family moved to the Flying Shot Lake area in 1921 and farmed. They built a large house, and six months later it was destroyed by fire in 1924. Then the family moved to Grande Prairie where Gordon went to school. Gordon was in the army in WW II, and his older brother, Mike, also served in the war. Remaining a bachelor, Gordon settled in San Francisco. He was in a fatal accident in 1954, the same year that both his parents died.
Source: Legion Album
Along the Wapiti p. 412 – Name in WW II Veterans List
pp. 347-348 and 140-141
Grande Prairie Herald: Sept. 24, 1918 p. 1 c. 5 (house fire), Oct. 21, 1954 p.4 c.4
Conley, Michael "Mike"
Mike Conley was born around 1916 in the Wembley AB area to parents Charles and Elizabeth (Campbell) Conley. He was one of 10 siblings. His younger brother, Gordon, also served in WW II. In 1921 the Conley family moved to Flying Shot Lake area and farmed. Because the new house that they built was destroyed by a fire, the family moved to Grande Prairie in 1924. Mike and Gordon attended school in Grande Prairie. Mike married Stella Siemens, and they had 3 boys: Bill, Bob, and Pat. Mike worked as a carpenter. He died at age 83, in 1999, in Grande Prairie.
Source:
Along the Wapiti p. 412 – Name in WW II Veterans List; pp. 140-141 and 347-348
AGS Obituary Index (DHT Dec. 13, 1999)
Conolly, John Louis DeVere
Date of Birth: 17 Nov 1923
Place of Birth: Spirit River, Alberta
Regimental Number: R198623 Regiment Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action: 30 Aug 1944
Connors, E.F.
From Grande Prairie
Source: Herald Tribune - October 12, 1939
Member of the first contingent from Grande Prairie, D Company, C.A.S.F.
Connors, Elmer
Regiment: Signal Corp.
Source:
Daily Herald Tribune – Sept. 14, 1939
Connors, J.
Connors, John Vernon "Vern"
Regiment: Regina Rifles
Vern Connors, born in 1908 in Juanatta SK, served in WW II with the Regina Rifles regiment. He died in 1981 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Herald Tribune – May 1, 1941
AGS website – Obituary Index and Cemetery Index
Connors, Laurence Perchie
Laurence Connors was born in Saskatoon SK around 1904, one of 6 children of Mr and Mrs Thomas Connors who came from North Dakota. From Saskatchewan, the family moved to Prince George BC. When they moved to Grande Prairie, they first took the train to Edson, and then journeyed the Edson Trail by horse team, arriving in Grande Prairie AB on August 5, 1914. Laurence attended school in Grande Prairie, and later he went to normal school in Camrose. He accepted teaching positions in various rural communities, including Halcourt where he taught 3 years. Since he found teaching too much of a sedentary occupation, he went into the carpentry business, which he did for most of his life. He also worked in logging and sawmills. In 1940 he enlisted with the army and served overseas until November 1945. Four of Laurence’s brothers also served in WW II. Laurence remained a bachelor, and he lived with his mother taking care of the homestead, as his father was crippled. Laurence passed away in October 1992 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Pioneers of the Peace p.303
Family and Personal Reference Files (GPRA)
Herald Tribune April 3, 1941 (letter, armed forces) p.1 c.1
AGS website: Obituary Index and Cemetery Index
Conrad, Jack Victor
Force: RCAF
Jack Conrad, the second oldest of 6 siblings, was born on April 4, 1920 to parents Harlie and Florence (Davis) Conrad, in Grande Prairie AB. He took his early schooling at MacHenry (southwest of Sexsmith AB), then at Wellington (near Clairmont AB), and he finished his education at Clairmont Lake School. During WW II Jack joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. For the first two years he was stationed at the west coast of Vancouver Island, and then he was posted in England. There he met and married, Jean Farmer. (Jean was a Scottish W.A.A.F. who was serving in the R.A.F.). After the war they made their home in the Sexsmith area where Jack acquired a half section from the Veterans Land Act (S ½ 12-17-6-W6, the original homestead of David Sexsmith.) In the 1960`s he also purchased the north half of the section. Jack and Jean had 4 children: Colin, Calvin, Anne, and Holly. Jack, who was active in agricultural and community organizations, died suddenly at age 58 in March 1979 in Sexsmith.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pp. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour), 1154 (photo), 1128
Daily Herald Tribune Sept. 17, 1953 p.13 c. 3, July 29, 1954 p. 11 c. 2
AGS website – Obituary Index
Conrad, Jean Farmer
Jean Farmer was born, one of four children, in Scotland, north of Edinburgh. During the War, she worked as a cook for the Air Force, including two years with a Canadian Squadron at Lindon. There she met Jack Conrad. They were married June 9, 1945, and ten days later, Jack was shipped home. Jean followed in March, 1946, aboard the Aquitania with other war brides. She was sick for the first two days but then enjoyed the great food. At Pier 21, she remembers the Red Cross ladies taking them shopping – her first experience of an Eaton’ store. Jack met her in Edmonton and they came to Clairmont by train. When they got to Jack’s parents, his mother had saved her largest turkey for the occasion and had invited a Scottish family as well. They raised four children on their farm: Collin, Calvin, Ann and Holly.The series consists of 14 photographs, a booklet, ” Memories of Linton”, and a biography summary based on the taped interview.
Cook, Andrew
Cook, Ernest Harold "Herb"
Herb Cook was born in Monks Morton, Kent, England on July 28, 1901. As a young man he worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Lethbridge AB from 1920 to 1922, at the Ottewell Coal Company from 1923 to 1927, and for the Lethbridge City Police from January to August 1928. He then joined the Alberta Provincial Police which became absorbed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1932. From 1934 to 1938 he was in charge of the Wembley attachment. Maurice and his wife Effie then purchased the Oxley Store. During WW II Maurice was away in the army, while Effie and two children remained in Wembley. Later they moved to Duncan BC, where Maurice passed away. The Cooks had 3 children: Bob, Joan, and Gary.
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (name in WW II Veterans)
p. 348
Northern Tribune Mar. 31, 1938 p. 1 c. 6 (resigns, buys store)
Cook, John
Regiment: 112th BTY
Force: Army
Died at age 79 in June 2002 in Grande Prairie AB
Source: Legion Album
AGS Obituary Index
AGS Cemetery Index
Cook, Lyle
Born in Broadwater, Nebraska, Lyle moved to the Peace River Country in 1920 with his parents, Charles and Grace Cook, and his 5 siblings. The family settled on a homestead five miles north of Sexsmith AB. At one time, Lyle had a young pet moose. In 1942 Lyle joined the army, and he was posted in England. There his met and married his Irish-born wife, Mary Morten, who was working in England. They came back to Canada in September 1946, and acquired a homestead in the Saddle Mountain district. (SW 9 and NW 4 in township 77-4-6.) Lyle and Mary adopted their son, Charles, in 1957. In 1964 they sold their land and moved to Grande Prairie for 3 years, before moving to Quesnel, BC.
Source: Burnt Embers p. 110 photo; p. 293 story and photos
Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 1149 (Name in Roll of Honour) ; p. 415 story and photos
Cook, Maurice
Born in Surrey, England, Maurice Cook came to Canada as a small boy with his parents. They farmed in Kenville MB. Maurice married Eleanor Simpson from Saskatchewan in February 1926, and they lived in Wilkie SK for one year. In January 1927 they moved to Alberta, taking the train to Grande Prairie, and settled on a homestead near Albright. Maurice and Eleanor had 7 children: Billie (who died at a very young age), Irene, Harold, Margaret, Joyce, and June. When Maurice joined the Army in 1942, they sold the farm, and Eleanor and family moved to Rosetown SK to be with her parents. After the war, Maurice and Eleanor farmed near Kindersely SK. Maurice died suddenly on March 6, 1966, at age 62, in Vancouver BC.
Source: Pioneer Round-Up pp. 77-79 (photo p. 77)
Grande Prairie Herald Dec. 21, 1928 p.9 c.5; Sept. 26, 1930 p. 4 c. 3; June 14, 1932 p.2 c.3
AGS Obituary Index
Cookshaw, Robert Ernest "Ernie"
Rank: LAC
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Ernie Cookshaw was born in York, England, in 1904. He was married to Grace, and they had two children, Norman and Wayne. During WW II Ernie served with the RCAF. He was employed by Alberta Power for 40 years, serving Grande Prairie, Drumheller, and Fort McMurray. In 1974 he retired to Nanaimo BC, where he passed away on April 8, 1981. Grace died in 2005 at age 97.
Source:
SPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files (Obituary)
DHT Dec. 18, 1941
DHT Dec. 6, 2005
GPH May 9, 1927 p. 1 c. 7 (marries)
NT May 14, 1936 p. 1 c.5 (builds boat)
Coons, Arnold Bernard
Arnold Coons obtained land from the VH Lease and settled on NE-27-81-11-W6 and SE 27-81-11-W6, Silver Valley area, in 1963.
Source: Alberta Land Book
Corkery, Gwen Simpson
Cote, Lennard
From Whitemud Creek
Source:
Guy p. 146 (Name in WW II Veterans)
Cote, Louis
From Whitemud Creek
Source: Guy p. 146 (Name in WW II Veterans)
Where the Red Willow Grew p. 608
Cotton, Joseph
Born Dec 15 1917 in Strathclair Manitoba. Enlisted Dec. 1942. Regimental #M100716. Discharged
June 1945 . Served in England and NW Europe. Died May 20, 1977
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 87 (Name only WW II Veterans);
Reflexions Vol. ll p.231 photo
Coulter, Charles Robert "Charlie"
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Charlie Coulter was born in Asquith SK in 1911. Arriving in the Peace River country in fall of 1929, he first homesteaded near Pouce Coupe BC. In January 1930 he arrived in DeBolt AB and settled on NW ¼ - 16-71-26. There he broke 21 acres with a horse and built a shack. He sold the property and joined the RCAF in WW II. After the war he settled on N 1//2 – 29-71-26 for 21 years. He died in DeBolt at age 92 in April 2003.
Source: Across the Smoky p. 140
AGS Website Obituary Index (DHT March 17, 2003)
Cousineau, Ray
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name in WWII Veterans)
Coward, Frank
Force: Canadian Air Force
Frank Coward was born on November 5, 1914 in Grouard AB to parents William and Elizabeth (Judd) Coward. The family moved to Dreau (near Girouxville) where Frank and his brothers, Bill and Fred, attended school in Falher where they resided in a convent. In 1927 the family moved to a homestead (in Dreau). After leaving school, Frank worked on farms, and the railroad in Dreau. From 1939 to 1943 he was a grain buyer for Alberta Pacific Grain Co. Frank married Mary Jane Gamble on June 20, 1939. They had two children: Terry and Joan. Enlisting with the Canadian Air Force in 1943 in Edmonton, Frank served during the war in India, and he was discharged in Vancouver. (His two brothers also served in WW II.) After the war he held several different jobs, and in 1949 he started work for the Board of Grain Commissioners in Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. Frank retired in Calgary in 1976. For a number of years, he suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, and he died on May 6, 1989 in Calgary.
Source: Reflexions p. 455-456
Coward, Fred
Fred Coward was born in England to parents William and Elizabeth (Judd) Coward, on May 7, 1913. The family moved to Grouard AB, and then to Dreau in the Girouxville AB area. Fred and his two brothers attended school in Falher where they stayed in a convent for the weekdays. In 1927 the family moved to a homestead in Dreau. Fred and his 2 brothers, William Jr. and Frank, served in WW II. After his discharge from the armed forces, Fred became the postmaster in Girouxville, holding that position from 1946 to 1961. He was also the secretary of the village from 1953 to 1957. Tragically on June 25, 1961 Fred drowned in a fishing accident at Sturgeon Lake AB. His wife, Sonia, and 3 children moved to Edmonton soon afterwards.
Source: Reflexions Vol. 11 pp. 456 – 457 (photo p 456)
Coward, William Jr.
William Coward was born in England on December 20, 1911 to parents William Sr. and Elizabeth (Judd) Coward. When the family immigrated to Canada, they first lived in Saskatchewan, then Grouard AB, and then in Dreau (near Girouxville AB). William and his 2 younger brothers, Fred and Frank, went to school in Falher, staying in a convent during the week, and coming home on weekends. In 1927 the family moved to a homestead near Dreau. William served in England during WW II, where he met his wife, Elsie. (His brothers also served in the war.) Elsie and William were married June 10, 1944. When they returned to Canada after the war, they settled in Whitemud AB for a short time. William obtained his teaching degree at the university, and taught for 17 years in Linaria, Viking, and Daysland. In 1974 William and Elsie retired to Calgary. They had 3 children: Tom, Robert, and Ruth.
Source: Reflexions Vol II pp. 456-457 (photo p. 456)
Cowley, Ardill V.
Regiment: R.C.O.C. (Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps)
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Ardill Cowley was born in 1916, and died in Grande Prairie on July 15, 1981.
Source: AGS Website - Cemetery Index
Cowpar, Ann(e) Margaret
Anne Cowpar was born in 1920 in Lake Saskatoon AB to parents Charles and Julia Cowpar. When the railroad was constructed to Wembley, the family moved there. Anne joined the army in WW II and served overseas. Her brother, Billy, also served in the army. She married Walter Pushkarenko, settled in Vernon BC, and they had 4 children. Anne died in 1993 in Vernon.
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name under WW II Veterans), p. 349
Cowpar, Billy
Billy Cowpar, born in 1925 in Lake Saskatoon AB, was the son of Charles and Julia Cowpar. In 1943 Billy enlisted with the army and he was posted in Canada. His sister Ann(e) also served in the army in WW II. Billy and his wife, Lou Lightfoot, settled in Queen Charlotte Islands, and they raised 7 children.
Source: Along the Wapiti pp. 348 - 349
Cowpar, Ed
Source: Along the Wapiti – p. 412 (Name only in WW II Veterans)
Crabbe, Fred
Craig, Charles
Regiment: Cameron Highlanders
Born in Scotland in 1921, Charles came to Canada with his family in 1930. His parents were James and Sibella (Muir) Craig. In the fall of 1933, the family moved to a farm west of Wembley AB. Charles and his two sisters attended Klondyke Trail School and Hermit Lake School. Five years later, the family moved to a farm east of Wembley. Both Charles and his sister Helen served in WW II. Charles enlisted with the Cameron Highlanders in December 1942 at age 21. After his discharge in 1946, Charles bought a homestead through the VLA southeast of Lake Saskatoon: SE 31-71-7 which was the original Jim Hill farm. The Craig home was the original Hudson’s Bay Trading Post, which then became a doctor’s office, and had been moved across the lake in 1933.
Source: Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name in WW II Veterans), p. 213
Lake Saskatoon Reflections pp. 122-124, 246
For King and Country poster in Wembley
Craig, Helen Mary (“Nellie”)
Force: R. C. A. F. (W. D.)
Nellie Craig was born in Scotland in 1920 to parents James and Sibella (Muir) Craig. With her parents and 3 siblings she immigrated to Canada and settled in the Peace River Country in 1930. The parents rented farms in the Wembley area for 13 years, and the children attended Hermit Lake School and the Klondyke Trail School. Both Nellie and her brother, Charlie, served in WW II. Nellie enlisted in June 1942 with the Women’s Airforce, and she was posted in Davidson SK and Penhold AB in the Post Office Division. Previously, Helen had worked at the Wembley post office for 3 years. Upon her discharge in May 1945, Helen worked as the secretary for the Assistant Minister of Education in Edmonton. In November 1948 she married James Coulson, and the couple had two children: Tom and Maureen. Nellie died at age 85 in May 2006 in Edmonton.
Source:
Along the Wapiti p. 412 (Name in WW II Veterans)
p. 213 (Story and photo)
Lake Saskatoon Reflections pp. 122-124
AGS website – Obituary Index
Crantz, Knut
Source:
Pioneer Round-Up p. 748 (Name only in WW II Veterans)
Crawford, Donald Gordon
Birth Date: 16 Nov 1919
Birth Place: Hythe, Alberta
Residence: Windsor, Ontario
Service Number: J28749
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flying Officer
Killed in Action: 10 Jan 1945
Crawshaw, Tom
Born in 1908, Tom Crawshaw was the 3rd son of Enoch and Jenny Crawshaw from England. The family homesteaded in the Spirit River district in the 1930’s, and Tom worked on farms, ran a store, and did a mail route. Tom joined the RCMP and was transferred to Sydney NS, but in 1940 he was transferred west again to Edmonton, Spirit River, and Grande Prairie. On September 4, 1942 he married Bessie Louise Ferguson, a nurse, and 2 days later he joined the army! His postings were in Canada, England, France and Germany. He was wounded and returned to Calgary, November 10, 1945. The following year he was the secretary-treasurer for the Spirit River School Division. Rejoining the RCMP in 1947, he was invalided in 1953 because of his war injury. He returned to the RCMP as a civilian in 1961 as a property manager, and retired in 1972 when he and Bessie moved to Vancouver Island. They had 3 children: Lynne, Ian (who died as a child), and Michael.
Source: Chepi Sepe p. 183 (Photo)
pp. 332-336
Creighton, Ivan Donald
Birth Date: 23 Dec 1921
Birth Place: Metiskow, Alberta
Residence: Hythe, Alberta
Service Number: M65141
Force: Army
Regiment: Royal Canadian Artillery
Rank: Lance Bombardier
Killed in Action: 24 Oct 1944
Crerar, Percy Campbell
Born in 1908 to parents John A. and Ethel (Porteous) Crerar, Percy and his family moved from Ontario to Grande Prairie in 1913. His father started first creamery in Grande Prairie in 1915. Percy started school in Grande Prairie at age 9.
Source:
Pioneers of the Peace pp. 79-80
Potential Sources: Grande Prairie Herald – Sept. 26, 1940
Herald Tribune- Jan. 2, 1941 p.4 c.4 (marries)
Crichton, Cecil
Crichton, Jack
Source: La Glace Yesterday and Today p. 315 (Name in WW II Veterans List); For King and Country poster in Wembley
Croken, L.C.
Source: Alberta Land Book - Obtained NW – 13-81-9-W6 and SW- 13-81-9-W6 from V.H. Lease
Crocker, Myron Leroy
Myron was born on September 10, 1918 at Delia, Alberta. After WWII he lived in Heart Valley and passed away June 3, 2009 in Grande Prairie.
Cross, Rudolph
Rudy Cross settled in the Eaglesham AB area.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 87 (Name only)
Croswell, Percy
from Valhalla AB area
Source: Pioneer Round-Up p. 748 (Name only )
Crotty, Harold Osborn
Source: Across the Smoky p. 347 (Name only in Roll of Honour)
Herald Tribune - Feb. 20, 1947 p. 1 c. 8 (marries, Sturgeon Heights)
Crowell, Constance Madeleine
Source: Trails and Rails North Vol. 2 p.99, p. 121
Cruikshank, Robert
Regiment: Calgary Highlanders
Regimental Number: R198987
Force: Army
Robert Cruikshank was born on July 19, 1923 in Vegreville AB. He grew up in Tangent (near Eaglesham AB). In April 1942 he enlisted with the Army and was posted in Canada, England, and NW Europe. He was discharged on June 5, 1945.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle p. 87 (Name only)
Crummy, George Kenneth
Regimental Number: J/15612
Rank: Flying Officer
Force: RCAF
George Kenneth Crummy was born on May 22, 1919 in Grande Prairie AB. He was the son of Joseph Michael and Mae Marie Crummy of Grande Prairie. His father owned the J. M. Crummy Gararge Co. Before joining the Air Force, George worked as a hardware clerk. Serving overseas, he was killed in action on June 14, 1943, and he is buried in the Runnymede Memorial Cemetery in Surrey, United Kingdom. (Grave Ref.: Panel 173)
Source: Attestation Paper
Second World War Book of Remembrance p. 150
Legion Album
GPRA Family and Personal Life Reference Files
Crummy, Joseph Byron
Joseph Crummy enlisted for service with the Edmonton Regiment in April 1940 from Grande Prairie.
Source: Herald Tribune – April 4, 1940
Article mentions names of 50 recruits from Grande Prairie who enlisted, and taking the freight train to McLennan to join more recruits from Peace River, for the Edmonton Regiment.
Cunningham, Norman Hector Joseph
Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Force: Reserve Army
Norman Cunningham was born on August 23, 1926 in St. Albert AB, to parents Berl and Ella Cunningham. The family moved several times before settling in the Girouxville area in 1938. While attending school, Norman had a trap line to make extra spending money. He finished school in 1942 and moved around to Edmonton, Edson, and St. Albert for different jobs before joining the reserve army. Taking both basic and advanced training, he became the number two man in the mortar platoon, and he enjoyed army life. (His brothers, Vernon and Ray, also served in WW II.) In 1943, Norman returned to Girouxville, obtaining his own land to start a farm. ( SW 4-77-22-5). Norman married Betty Hermanutz on November 18, 1953 in Mearns AB (where they had attended school together before moving to Girouxville). They settled on Norman’s farm and raised cows, chickens, and hogs besides harvesting. The Cunninghams had 5 children: Sharon, Dale, Sheila, Alan, and Karen. After visiting Kelowna BC in 1973 and finding it very appealing, Norman and Betty moved there in the 1980’s to retire. Norman died in November 1993 at age 67 in Kelowna.
Source: Reflexions pp. 461-463 Photo p. 231
AGS – Obituary Index
Cunningham, Raymond
Regiment: Edmonton Fusiliers
Rank: Corporal
Raymond Cunningham, son of Berl and Ella (Perron) Cunningham, was born on April 7, 1928, in St. Front SK. Moving to St. Albert AB in 1930, and to Mearns AB in 1932, Raymond started his education at Egg Lake School in 1934 in Mearns, then he attended Lefebvre School in Girouxville, and he completed his schooling at College St. Jean in Edmonton. Afterwards he worked with his father and brother Norman on the family farm in Girouxville AB, clearing and breaking land, and farming. Ray joined the Edmonton Fusiliers during WW II and reached the rank of Corporal. (His brothers Vernon and Norman also served in WW II.) In 1946 he homesteaded his own land: S ½ 12-77-23-5 in the Girouxville area, and eventually he farmed 1200 acres. On April 7, 1952, Ray married Beatrice Hebert. They had 5 children: Brenda, Debbie, Joan, Wayne, and Nicole. Having several jobs and hobbies apart from farming, Ray was very involved in community activities. He helped build the church, was chairman of Guy Rural Electrification Association, trustee for the Lefebvre School District, and member of East Peace Gas Co-op. From his early years, he was an avid baseball player, later becoming an umpire. He enjoyed hunting and trapping, and travelling with his family. In his later years, he spent winters in California and Florida. Beatrice died in 1991.
Source: Reflexions pp. 464 – 466, Photo p. 231
AGS – Obituary Index
Cunningham, Vernon "Bill"
Force: Navy (RCNVR)
Vernon, known as “Bill” Cunningham, the eldest son of Berl and Ella (Perron) Cunningham, was born on November 9, 1922 in St. Albert AB. At age one he and his parents moved to St. Front SK. Then they returned to St. Albert in 1929, and he lived with his grandparents while starting school. In 1934 he rejoined is family in Mearns and attended Egg Lake School. The family moved to Girouxville AB in 1937, but Bill stayed behind because he was hired for farm chores by a neighbor. Unfortunately he did not continue his education.
When Vernon enlisted with the navy in 1943, he was nicknamed “Bill”, and he was known by that name from then on. (His brothers, Norman and Raymond also served in WW II.) After brief basic training, he was on active duty serving on corvettes (ships) Nonsuch, Naden, Stadacona, and Avalon. It was dangerous work aboard these ships as they were used for minesweeping and anti-aircraft protection. Bill received honorable discharge in 1945.
For several years he hauled gasoline by truck from Turner Valley to Edmonton. Then he worked for Mills Motors in Alcomdale AB, and he was also a school bus driver. Bill met his future wife, Hilda Janke, while coaching a ladies’ softball team. They married on March 11, 1949 and lived in Alcomdale. With help from the VLA, Bill acquired land in the Whitemud area which he cleared in 1950, and planted a crop in spring of 1951. That summer their Alcomdale house burnt down; shortly afterward their cabin on the homestead also burned to the ground. Bill went into partnership with his brothers in the logging and sawmill business. In 1955 he went to Prince George finding work falling trees, and he moved his family there. After some severe injuries at his job, Bill took up carpentry and built a beautiful house for his family. But a short time later they returned to the homestead, and now having a full line of farm machinery, they prospered at farming. In 1981 Bill was diagnosed with lung cancer, and he passed away that December 7. Hilda moved back to Prince George. Bill and Hilda had 4 children: Gary, Vicki, Cindy, and Sandra.
Source: Reflexions pp. 467- 468, Photos pp. 469, 231
Czupryk (Cooper), Martin
Regimental Number: M562600 & R159030
Rank: Private
Martin, born on August 5, 1918 in Edmonton, was the oldest of nine children in the family of George and Pauline (nee Stusik) Czupryk. He had four brothers; John, Pete, Randy, George and four sisters; Margaret, Mary, Annie, Helen. George was originally from Austria and immigrated to Canada in 1910. He worked all over Canada and the United States. In Canora, he met and subsequently married Pauline Stusik who was also from Austria. The young couple decided to move to northern Alberta where George filed a homestead application on land (NE 18-72-3-W6) in an area of Bezanson known as Kleskun Hill. The children attended the East Kleskun School, Fitzsimmons School, Lindsay High School and St. Joseph’s High School in Grande Prairie.
On November 20, 1940, Martin enrolled in a 30-day compulsory training course with the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada in Grande Prairie. Private Martin Czupryk served with the 2nd Battalion, Edmonton Regiment and was discharged on December 20, 1940. Martin went on to serve with the Royal Canadian Air Force (Regimental # R159030) during WWII.
Martin decided to move to Edmonton where he met Katherine Kokotylo whom he subsequently married on August 25, 1943. Martin had been using “Cooper” for his last name but made the name change official in 1951. Martin’s main employment was as a truck driver on highway hauls. The young couple’s first house was on 98th avenue and 76th street, Edmonton.
Martin decided to go into business for himself and purchased the North Star Service Station which he ran from 1955 to 1970 selling petroleum products first for North Star Oil and later for Shell Oil. He renamed the business “Cooper’s Place”. The Service Station had an attached residence – the portion of the building that is behind the boat that Martin had fabricated.
In 1970, Martin sold the business and moved to Avonmore on 75th avenue, Edmonton. His hobbies included mechanics and sheet metal work. Martin even fabricated a motorhome. Katherine and Martin had two sons, Don and Ken. Ken passed away in 2000.
Martin passed away on January 1, 1981 and was cremated. Katherine passed away in 2000.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Service File
Smoky River to Grande Prairie p. 124
Interview with son Don Cooper