WWII Surnames H-K

Date of Birth: 1924
Lived in LaGlace.
Rank: Pilot Officer

Source: LaGlace

Regimental Number: R178751
Rank: Leading Aircraftman

Archie was born on November 19, 1920 at Glen Leslie to John and Melinda Hackwell. He had three sisters; Emily, Grace, Helene. In the spring of 1916, John and Melinda (nee Graham) who were from Quebec, travelled over the Edson Trail to reach John’s homestead quarter of land (SE-7-72-3-W6) that was located in an area of Bezanson known as Glen Leslie. Through hard work and perseverance, the Hackwell’s expanded their farm by three more quarters of land and engaged in a mixed farming operation.

Archie completed Grade 8 at the Somme School at Glen Leslie followed by Grade 9 and 10 at the Lindsay High School that was located close to Bezanson. From 1936 to 1942, Archie worked on the family farm. In his spare time, Archie enjoyed baseball, hockey and football.

On July 29, 1942 Archie enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Edmonton for ground duties to train as an Aero Engine Mechanic. Archie received training at various locations across Canada; Edmonton, Halifax, Sydney and Dartmouth. LAC Archibald Leslie Hackwell served in Canada and received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. He was discharged at his request on January 11, 1945.

Archie returned home to the family farm at Glen Leslie and continued to farm with his father. In 1949, Archie married Shirley Love who was from Sexsmith. They had one son, John, and two daughters; Sue, and Reba.

In 1956, John and Melinda moved to Grande Prairie to retire and Archie decided to enter into a new line of work – construction. It wasn’t long before Hackwell Construction became one of the largest construction companies in the Grande Prairie area that provided service to the oil and gas industry. Archie was a long-time sponsor and supporter of local chuckwagon racing. Kelly Sutherland, who won the World Championship 12 times, drove the Hackwell rig for many years. Archie was also a member of the Shriners Club, Masonic Lodge, Elks Club and the Canadian Legion – all in Grande Prairie.

Archie passed away in Edmonton on June 24, 1979 in Edmonton. He was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.

Contributed by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Service File
Obituary

From Grande Prairie

• Lis of Recruits

Notes: n1/2 31-80-7-W6, E 1/2-32-80-7-W6, 1-1-63.VHLease

Date of Birth: 1924

Date of Birth: 20/02/1922

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

Branch: Canadian Navy
Served in Normandy

• On Leave

Rifleman

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Date of Birth: 18/11/1917

Date of Birth: 13/10/1920

From Smoky Heights

• Partial Letter

Regimental Number: M54427
Rank: Lance Corporal; Sergeant

George was born on March 11, 1906 in Bergen, Norway. He completed Grade 8 in 1920 followed by a 6 month commercial course. From 1920-1927, George worked as a carpenter building ships in Norway. In 1927, he decided to immigrate to Canada and farmed with his aunt and uncle, Didrik & Hjertine Jensen, in Fox Valley, Saskatchewan. The Jensen’s decided to pursue the agricultural potential in Northern Alberta in 1929 and George made the move with them. George continued to farm with his uncle until he enlisted.

On July 25, 1940, George enlisted with the Canadian Army (Active Force) at Grande Prairie. He was transferred to the 10th Field Coy R.C.E. at Calgary where he was assigned the rank of Sapper. From there he was transferred to Petawawa Military Camp in Ontario. George arrived at the United Kingdom on December 4, 1941. He successfully completed courses to become a Qualified Carpenter “C” followed by studies on a “NCO Bridging Course”. He was granted permission to marry Elizabeth Bennett Taylor in March 23, 1942. George was transferred to the Mediterranean Area in November 1943. On December 10th & 11th, 1944, the 10th Canadian Field Squadron was engaged in building an 80-foot folding bridge over the Lamone River (Italy) under heavy mortar fire. When the Troop Sergeant was wounded, George was the senior NCO in the troop. For 16 hours, he remained in an exposed position at the bridge site where he could supervise the job. His fine example of coolness and good judgment under heavy fire encouraged his men to return to the site after the many times they had been mortared off. George’s constant supervision was largely responsible for the successful completion of the bridge on a very difficult site and the passage of the supporting arms and vehicles essential to the consolidation of the divisional bridgehead over the Lamone River, the effort for which he received the prestigious Military Medal for bravery. George was transferred to France in February 1945 and remained there for the remainder of the war. George arrived back at Calgary on September 4, 1945 and was discharged on October 19, 1945. Corporal Lance Sergeant George Leopold Hansen (Regimental # M54427) served in Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and the Central Mediterranean Area and received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp and the Military Medal.

George returned to Glen Leslie and purchased land, S ½ 15-72-4-W6, from Charlie Weaver by means of a loan through the Veterans’ Loan Act and entered into a farming partnership with his uncle, Robert McPhee. His wife, Elizabeth, finally received permission from the Canadian Wives Bureau to join him. She sailed on the RMS Aquitania and was processed through immigration at Halifax. From there, she travelled by train across Canada to Grande Prairie and arrived in March 1946. Elizabeth was from Glasgow, Scotland and had worked in a bakery in London where she met George.

The young couple settled into their home and continued to farm. They were both very involved with the West Smoky Legion No. 244 at Bezanson where George was a member for 34 years and was granted Lifetime Membership in 1975. He also served as President in 1956 and 1957. Elizabeth was a member of the West Smoky Ladies Auxiliary No. 244 and elected as Zone Commander, a position she kept until she passed away in 1956. George and Elizabeth did not have any children and George never remarried. He remained on his farm in Glen Leslie until he passed away on September 19, 1984. They were both buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.

Written by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Service File
Newspaper articles
Interview with Arlene McPhee (cousin)

From Smoky Heights

• List of Recruits

From La Glace

• Leaves to Join Air Force

Date of Birth: 1919
Notes: 77-26-W5. 1949

Regimental #104180, Army H and S Highlanders. Enlisted Jan 8, 1943.
Discharged, April 1946. Born in Mildred Sask, Jan 15, 1922.

Regimental #L103396. Ernest was born May 14, 1916 Mildred, Sask. Enlist Dec 10 1942, Discharged March 1946. Served in Canada England and N Europe.

Regimental #L104188. Born May 13 1907, Enlisted Jan 6 1943, Discharged July 15 1943. Died Aug 1, 1977. Legion Funeral.

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

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

Regimental Number: M605120; M67442
Rank: Gunner

Bohdan was born on the family homestead near Bezanson Alberta on May 17, 1920 to Michael and Ksenia Hawryluk. Bohdan’s parents had immigrated to Manitoba, with their parents in 1899 (Michael) and 1903 (Ksenia). Michael and Ksenia were married in 1905 in Manitoba. In 1917 the Hawryluk family travelled by train to Clairmont and by wagon to their homestead near Bezanson. Ksenia’s sisters and their families also came at this time: Nick & Anna Kochalyk and Steve & Mary Sarmaga. The sisters’ parents, Martin and Theodora Boyartchuk, followed in the fall. All four families homesteaded within a mile of each other.

Bohdan, his siblings and cousins attended the nearby Lindsay School, where they learned to speak and read English, integrating into the English speaking community, forming life long friendships, of which many have carried on into the fifth and sixth generations.

Life was difficult for all the homesteaders in the area and the economic conditions of the thirties only added to peoples’ hardships. People got on the best they could by growing their own food, bartering with neighbours and making their own entertainment with dances, music, ball games etc. but most people did not go out and pursue further education or a career. Bohdan was always a huge supporter of Public Education and ahead of his time in supporting further education for women. He always said that it was even more important for a woman to be educated than a man. A man could always get a job as a labourer and support his family but unless a woman had an education she wouldn’t be able to make enough money to support her family in the same way. When I asked him why he hadn’t furthered his own education he said, “It was a different time. There was no money and no job opportunities other than on the farm with Dad.” Thus when WWII came along it was viewed with excitement by many of the young men, Bohdan included. Here was a chance to see the world, earn some money and have an adventure. In later years, when Bohdan talked about his Army experience, the part that he really enjoyed was travelling across Canada on the train, seeing new cities, meeting new people and making new friends.

Bohdan joined a Reserve Unit of the Canadian Army in Grande Prairie Alberta on December 5, 1941 at the age of 22. Here he underwent thirty-four days of Basic Training as a Private, Reg#M605120. Upon completion of Basic Training on January 8, 1942, Bohdan enlisted in the Canadian Amy the next day and was then assigned the Regimental Number M67442. From Grande Prairie Bohdan was sent to Edmonton for a month and a half and then “shipped out” to Sussex NB in March. Bohdan was stationed in Sussex and Fredericton and then sent back to Calgary in July where he was given a Medical Discharge on September 9, 1942.

Bohdan did not agree with the findings of the Army Doctors who found him “Medically Unfit for Service Overseas.” He always maintained that the shadow, which showed up on the x-rays of his lungs, was from a bad bout of pleurisy that hospitalized him for two weeks in October of 1940, followed by influenza that had him ill for most of the winter, and not recovering until March of 1941. In addition, Bohdan had been exposed to an Aunt who died from TB within that time frame. The Army Doctors wanted to do surgery to investigate the thickening in the pleural sac but Bohdan said no as he had been told by “Old Doc O’Brien” that there was scar tissue on his lungs from the pleurisy.

Bohdan expressed disappointment in not being able to go “Overseas “ but when he told this story to me, as a little girl, I always experienced a feeling of overwhelming relief that he had been spared this horror. When my Dad talked with his friends who had been in the war, one of the stories that stood out in my mind was about the airplanes flying overhead and the scream of the bombs as they dropped. For years I would be terrified whenever a plane flew over our house thinking we were going to be bombed.

After Bohdan returned to Bezanson he continued to farm with his Dad eventually taking over when his parents retired to Grande Prairie in the mid fifties. Bohdan married Ellen Ford in July of 1948 and together they raised their family of five on the family farm. Ellen died in1975 and Bohdan continued to live on the family farm until his death in 1999.

To his family Bohdan was a very special, kind, gentle, man. His motto was “Live and Let Live” as long as you aren’t interfering or hurting anyone. He believed in helping people and treating people with kindness and respect whether you were 2 years old or 102, irrespective of color, race or religion. He didn’t preach but taught by example and good humour. Bohdan was also active within the Bezanson Community over the years being involved with the Bezanson Stampede, Curling Rink, Rural Electrification and West Smoky Legion.

Written by Maxine (Hawryluk) Robertson (daughter)

Sources:
Service File

Notes: cook, navy

Notes: Calgary tank reg.

Note: engineer

Martha Jensen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Women’s Division in WWII. Without her parents permission, she “borrowed” her father’s naturalization papers to prove they were Canadian citizens. When her father needed his papers she had to confess what she had done. Martha was sent overseas as a wireless operator to Linton Air Base near York, England where two Canadian squadrons (Goose and Thunderbird) were stationed. When she arrived, there was so much work to be done that they worked 8 hours on, 8 hours off, seven days a week. Breaks in the airman’s pub were much appreciated. During her time there, a very special event was the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with their daughter, the young Princess Elizabeth. After the war, Martha stayed an additional four months, based at Allerton Place, to help with demobilization and bring all the POWs home. After the war she married Alfred Head, who had served in the Air Force at Linton, and lived in the south Peace River Country of Alberta.

• Martha's Photograph
• Martha Jensen fonds
• Blog Post

Regimental Number: SM 17637
Rank: Craftsman

Gordon, born on January 9, 1929 at Gananoque, Ontario, was the 2nd oldest in Roy Edison and Hazel Isabel (nee Deano) Heasler’s family of seven children. He had an older brother Hubert and four younger brothers; Stanley, Bernard, John and Keith and one younger sister, Winona. The family later moved to Lansdowne.

In the fall of 1949, Gordon and two friends came to the Peace River District on a harvest-excursion program. He worked for Percy Clubine and Harry Beaver in the Bezanson area. During the winter months, Gordon worked in various sawmills.

On May 7, 1951, Gordon enlisted with the Army (RCEME) Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers at Calgary. He was transferred to Kingston for further training. On a three-week leave, Gordon returned to Bezanson and married Isabel Stark. The young couple travelled to Kingston where Gordon was stationed. Gordon embarked from Quebec City on November 12, 1951 and arrived at Rotterdam, Holland on November 21st. In October 1952, Gordon successfully completed courses to become a Qualified Driver (wheeled) and a Qualified Vehicle Mechanic (wheeled) Group 2. Gordon embarked from the UK on Nov 15, 1952 and arrived back in Canada on November 25th and was stationed at Calgary until August of 1953 when he was transferred to Kingston and then back to Calgary on November 14, 1953. Craftsman Beryl Gordon Heasler served in Canada and Continental Europe and was honorably released on May 6, 1954.

Once Gordon arrived back in the Bezanson area, he rented the Coney farm in 1955 where they stayed until 1958 at which time he bought the S ½ 2-73-3-W6 from Oscar Albaniti. He later bought the NE 3-73-3-W6 from George Laverick. Gordon farmed during the summer months and worked at lumber camps during the winter months. In 1964, Gordon became the first high-school bus driver from Bezanson to Grande Prairie; a position he kept for seven years. Isabel and Gordon had two children; a son, Terry, and a daughter, Catherine.

The Heasler’s enjoyed camping, fishing and curling. From 1978 to 1981 Gordon served as president of the West Smoky Legion No. 244 at which time he was heavily involved in the construction of the addition to the Legion “Hut”. He was granted Lifetime Membership in 1997.

Gordon and Isabel have three grandchildren; Matthew, Tina, Jesse and one great grandchild Madison.

Isabel passed away in 1991 and Gordon on May 29, 2008. Both were buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.

Contributed by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Service File
Terry Heasler (son)
Family Search website

Notes: 79-25-W5, 1950

Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies pg. 314

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

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

"Bill" Henry was born Nov. 17, 1921 in Macklin Sask. Enlisted May 22, 1941, Discharged Sept 28, 1945 RCASC. Regimental #M35499. Served in Canada, England and NW Europe. Wounded, pension Died in 1993. Filed in Township 79-26-W5, 1951.

From Lymburn

Date of Birth: 24/04/1912

Date of Birth: 1923
Notes: NW 18-81-6-W6, 15-10-46, V Ag Lease

Date of Birth: 02/04/1924

Date of Birth: 21/02/1923

Date of Birth: 09/01/1922

born in Blaine Washington, 19 Mar 1913. His family came to the Peace Country in 1918. He lived in Rio Grande until his retirement in Apr 1972.

He served in the war. “The war years required many of the young men to enlist and I spent two years in training camps with many others from the district.” That’s all he writes in his page and a bit biography.
He married Alice Smith (Wembly, originally Souris, Manitoba) and the lived at the Chas. Engstrom farm. They had four children who all went to Beaverlodge for school.

Beaverlodge to the Rockies Supplement, 267

RCAF

• Home for a Visit

From Beaverlodge

• Enroute to Enlist

From Beaverlodge

• Enroute to Enlist

Source: Beaverlodge to the Rockies pg. 113

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

• Enjoying Army Life
• List of Recruits
• Letter from Italy pg.1
• Letter from Italy pg2

For King and Country poster in Wembley

• Leaves for Edmonton

From Albright

• Enroute to Enlist

RCAF

Hopkins Amy Lee Glen RCAF Regimental # W300347. Born Dec 1, 1921 Cavendish, Alta, Enlisted March 1942, Discharged Nov 1945, Calgary. Served in Canada.

Arthur Hopkins was born Dec 11 1918 at Lake Saskatoon. Joined Calgary Highlanders Sept 11, 1941. Discharged Jan 12, 1946. Served in Canada, England and N Europe. Died Nov 16, 1980 in Spirit River Hospital. Buried in Eaglesham Cemetary.

Source: For King and Country poster in Wembley

Stanly was born Feb. 27, 1925 in Didsbury, Alta. Died June 8 1980 Regimental #M107149. Served 1939-1945 Star CVSM RCA.

Rank: Corporal
From Pipestone

• Mention in Newspaper

Branch: RCAF
Of Lymburn

• On Leave

Born April 13, 1923, Alfred attended Beaverlodge school. In 1942 he enlisted in the army becoming a snipper with the rank of L/Cpl. His devestating good looks attracted all the girls but he married Dorothy Smashnuk who also attended this school. He had been wounded before and was returning to active service when he was shot down while parachuting over Holland.
Source: Beaverlodge High Year Book 1947-48 p.26

Birth Place: Saskatchewan
Service Number: M104912
Force: Army
Regiment: South Saskatchewan Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Rank: Lance Corporal

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Date of Birth: 1922

Oscar was born on July 2, 1922. He spent time in the army during WWII and saw service in France, Germany, Italy and North Africa.
He passed away on September 25, 2005 and is buried in the Emerson Trail Cemetery.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over, p 822.

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

• Enjoying Army Life

Date of Birth: 19/02/1921

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

Source: Pioneer Round-Up pg. 100

Calgary Tank Corps.

• Mention in Newspaper

For King and Country poster in Wembley

For King and Country poster in Wembley

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Served in Calgary

• High Prairie Family

Birth Date: 21 Oct 1919
Birth Place: Beaverlodge, Alberta
Residence: Edmonton, Alberta
Service Number: J20873
Force: Air
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Killed in Action: 19 Feb 1945

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

b. March 31, 1921 in Nilda, Alberta
Killed in Action on Dec 27, 1943 in Italy

Source: Where the Red Willow Grew

• Killed in Action
• High Prairie Family

Killed in Action on 3 August 1943 in Sicily

• Mentioned in newspaper
• High Prairie Family

Taken prisoner of war in Germany.

• Mentioned in newspaper
• High Prairie Family

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

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

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Date of Birth: 11/01/1917

.

• Recruits Join the colors

Killed in Action: 1946(?)

Notes: 79-24-W5, 1952

RCAF

Regimental Number: M104779

Julian Fredrick Jobson was born October 15, 1922 to Fredrick Jobson and Debra Jane (Williams) Jobson, in Davis, Saskatchewan. Julian was the 2nd youngest child having five older brothers, two older sisters and one younger sister. His brother Douglas and 2 sisters passed away in childhood while the family resided on a farm in southern Saskatchewan. During the hungry thirties, Fred and Debra suffering from great hardships and finding themselves unable to feed their family, sent their eldest sons Charles and Earl on to seek out a place where they could survive and raise their family. Consequently, the family walked off their drought-stricken farm and found their way to Grande Prairie, Alberta. Fred and Julian’s older brothers Charlie and Earl quickly found work as farm labourers around Grande Prairie. Shortly after arriving in the new area Fred and Debra would settle their family on a small rented mixed farm. Julian and his siblings; Lester, Lloyd, Julian, and sister Elsie continued their education in Grande Prairie. Julian dropped out of school at the age of 14 after completing grade 8, to assist on the farm and to work as a carpenter and on neighbouring farms for some funds of his own. Julian had a passion for farming and took to animal husbandry and machines like a duck to water. He dreamed of owning his own farm and was known for hoarding his hard-earned money so he would eventually be able to buy his own piece of land.

Following in the footsteps of his 4 older brothers who were already enlisted, Julian (M104779) enlisted for service in WWII with the Canadian Army, November 6, 1942, in Edmonton, Alberta after lying about his birth date. His goal on enlistment was to serve in the Provost Corps and after completion of military and motorcyclist training was assigned to complete his Canadian MP training at Camp Borden in Ontario and on to No. 1 Training Brigade, Debert, N.S. He was deployed overseas for active duty on May 1, 1944. Initially served in England as Motorcycle Provost Corp and in June of 1944 was deployed to North-western Europe where he served in France, Belgium, and Holland while they were under occupation and was in Holland for its liberation and until the war ended. On his return he volunteered to remain in England to assist in the start of rebuilding. Julian was discharged on July 6, 1946 and returned to Grande Prairie to continue his civilian life.

On discharge Julian applied for VLA farm settlement contract and a refresher course in agriculture. He received agriculture refresher training under the supervision of I.V. Macklin and his requested ½ section near Bezanson under a VLA Contract was granted. Julian married Mildred Sloat on Sept. 3, 1947 and they spent their honeymoon on the farm, taking off their first crops. They spent the next couple of winters in a logging camp where Julian logged, and Mildred cooked. Their eldest son David was born while they split their time between logging camp and farming. They were in logging camp when Mildred went into labour with their second child Shirley, it was November very cold with lots of snow they feared they would not make it to hospital, and she would be born in the wagon on route. Fortunately, they made it, but the scare caused Mildred to refuse to go back thus she stayed on the farm and Julian returned to camp alone. They had 4 more children Larry, twins Melvin & Mervin and Gwen. Julian continued to work-out in the oil patch during the winter months while Mildred and the boys looked after the mixed farm. They etched out a living selling cream, eggs; milk fed veal and lamb as well as grain. Besides farming Julian loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, fishing, hunting, the Montreal Canadians and helping his neighbours and fellow veterans. He did not stray far from the farm but did make monthly trips to Grande Prairie for medical appointments and supplies he could not produce on the farm and made an annual trip to Edmonton each August to purchases back to school clothes and shoes for his 6 children.

In 1985, his army career climaxed when he and Mildred visited Holland commemorating the 40th anniversary of Holland’s liberation. That trip proved to ease many of the war burdens he carried in silence up until that time. They stayed on the farm until 1977 when they retired to a large acreage in Clarkson Valley where Julian dabbled in a few cattle, gardening, and landscaping. Julian succumbed to a heart attack and passed at home on Feb. 5, 1991.

Julian was a dedicated, active Legionnaire from the time the war ended until his passing. He served as a zone-commander for many years and was instrumental in bringing several veterans needed and sponsored programs to the areas he represented.

Written by daughter, Shirley (Jobson) Leyman

• Find a Grave

Lester (Les) Jobson was born on April 26 1910 at Girvan, Saskatchewan. He was the second child of Fred and Deba Jobson, who had six sons (one deceased as a child) and two daughters (one deceased as a child). Fred farmed on CPR land north of Trossachs, Saskatchewan. The family struggled to make a living farming the saline soil in that area. Lester was forced to leave school after the ninth grade to go out and earn money as a day laborer to help out with the farm finances. Ultimately, dry crop years, a house fire and a foreclosure by CPR forced the Jobson family to move to rented land near Bladworth, Saskatchewan in the late 1920s. By 1931 the Depression and continued crop failures had forced many prairie families to pull up stakes and move north where there were slightly better economic conditions.

The Jobson family arrived in Grande Prairie, Alberta in the fall of 1932. Lester, his father and two brothers went to work cutting and skidding timber for a sawmill south of the village of Peace River. Fred suffered an accident in the bush and spent the next two years recovering, leaving Lester and his brothers to earn whatever monies they could to support the family. Lester worked on farms and in threshing crews in and around Bezanson and Grande Prairie. In the winter months he hunted and trapped south of Grande Prairie and worked in mills and tie camps near Trail, British Columbia. In 1938-1940 Lester worked mainly for the IV Macklin dairy and farm operation east of Grande Prairie.

On June 23, 1940 Lester enlisted in the Canadian Army enrolling in the Royal Canadian Artillery. His basic training took place in Calgary and his artillery training at Camp Bordon, Manitoba before shipping out from Halifax to England in 1941. While stationed in England he suffered facial and arm burns in an artillery incident and was briefly hospitalized. Upon discharge Lester transferred to the Canadian Provost Corp and served in that capacity in England, Italy and northwest Europe until the end of the war. In that period of time he received shrapnel wounds on at least two occasions, fragments of which remained in him for the rest of his life. Between 1939 and 1945 Lester was awarded the Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence medal, the 1945 Services medal and the Canadian Volunteer Services medal and clasp (overseas). He served for 68.5 months, 60.5 months which were in England, Italy and northwest Europe. He was discharged back to Canada in 1946.

Lester married Hazel McEwan in 1946 and took up farming through the Veterans Land Act on a half section of land (S ½ 14-72-4 W6) on the Glen Leslie corner west of Bezanson. Their son Allen was born in 1947. Faced with the prospect of having to go more deeply in debt for more land and bigger equipment Lester sold the farm (now mostly cleared) in 1965 and moved to Grande Prairie, where he worked for the County of Grande Prairie. Later, in 1967, Lester and Hazel bought a small farm in the Fly Hills outside of Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Lester happily carried on co-operative farming with three neighboring landowners who shared haying equipment and raised feeder steers and heifers. He also worked full time as a hog slaughterer in an abattoir. He died in 1975.

Written by Allen Jobson - son

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

Harry was born on October 6, 1924. He joined the RCAF on November 1, 1942 and was discharged on November 25, 1945. He passed away June 8, 1999 and is buried in Edmonton, Alberta. Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over, p 195.

Date of Birth: 03/10/1918

Date of Birth: 19/01/1910

AC2

Date of Birth: 1920
Service Number: M56325
Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery
Force; Army
Rank: Sergeant
Date of Death: July 10, 1991

• War Brides Collection
• Grande Prairie Cemetery
• Johnston Wedding Photograph

Regimental Number: M33937
Rank: A/Sergeant

Willis, youngest child of Charles and Marie (Laffinier) Johnston, was born on October 18, 1921 in Calgary. He had an older sister, Dorothy (Johnston) Doerkson and two older half-siblings, Irene (Steffen) Belieu and Julius Albert Steffen. The family moved to Bezanson in 1923 to the homestead that Charles had filed on in 1912. Shortly thereafter, Charles purchased a ¼ section of land from “Doc” Labadie to which the family moved as there was a larger house and several outbuildings. Willis received his education at the one-room Bezanson School that was located on their property. Willis enjoyed hunting and trapping as a youngster – trapping which supplemented the family income and with his hunting and his mother’s large garden there was always lots to eat. Willis also had the contract to clean the school barn as another source of income. A trip to Grande Prairie to sell hogs was a two-day affair with a stop over at Glen Leslie.

Willis joined the Army in May, 1941. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1942 at which time he disembarked for England. He was part of the Normandy invasion and remained in the war zone throughout the entire campaign. He also had volunteered for service in the Pacific Theatre. He received the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp and the War Medal 1939-45.

Once the war was over he was discharged at Calgary on May 31, 1946 and subsequently returned to Bezanson/Grande Prairie.

Willis met Vivian Theresa Nelson at a dance in Grande Prairie. She was born March 17, 1926, the 3rd youngest of a family of nine born to Ole and Ellen Nelson of Burdett, Alberta. Vivian had moved to Grande Prairie to stay with her sister in order that she could attend St. Joe’s Business College.

Vivian had received her elementary education at Browndale School and graduated from the Gershaw High School in Bow Island, Alberta. Vivian was very athletic and especially liked to play ball and was known for her excellent pitching arm. Once Vivian graduated from College, she was employed with the Alberta Government in the Department of Lands & Forests in Grande Prairie. While living in Grande Prairie, she played on their Ladies Fastball team.

They married on November 20, 1947 in the McQueens Presbyterian Church located on the banks of Bear Creek. They lived in Grande Prairie at 10002-105 avenue, where the Dairy Queen currently is located. When Willis returned from overseas, he had purchased his father’s ½ section of land. Willis operated land-breaking equipment and opened up a lot of land in the Bezanson area for those that were living there. A daughter Wanda was born in 1950. Willis realized in order to farm full-time he would need to move his family to Bezanson. He moved part of the original house that he was raised in to what would become known as the home quarter. He poured the foundation by hand by mixing the concrete in 5 gallon pails. He built on to the existing structure and the family moved in 1952/53. Shortly thereafter, Willis purchased the original Bezanson School Barn and moved it to his building site. The barn is still located on the farm property.

Willis and Vivian began cattle-ranching with Willis working out most winters in the oilfield construction industry, building roads & leases while Vivian looked after the cattle. Willis and Vivian had land leases that were located on a hogs-back just north of the Smoky Bridge on the east side of the river. Every spring they would move the cattle there for the summer. Willis had made a trail from the bridge area to the hogs-back with a little 440 John Deere caterpillar. The trail is still known to this day as “The Johnston Trail”.

Willis purchased two more quarters of land adjoining what he already owned. Life on the farm was a busy one, looking after the livestock, putting up the winter’s supply of hay, planting & harvesting a large garden, picking and canning wild fruit, butchering chickens. Willis was the “landscaper” and enjoyed planting all the lilacs, caragana hedges, spruce and pine trees and poplars.

As Vivian was such an accomplished pianist, their house was always the site of “house parties” – the main source of entertainment in those days. She often played the mouth organ the same time as she played the piano by means of some sort of contraption she wore around her neck. She also played the accordion – upside down as she was left-handed and also was quite an accomplished trumpet player.

Willis was a very staunch Conservative and campaigned for John Diefenbaker in his bid to become Prime Minister of Canada. Willis & Vivian were very involved in the Community and Willis and several others volunteered their services to build the teacherage at the Bezanson School in 1955. As well, as a member of the West Smoky Legion, Willis donated many hours of volunteer service to assist in the building of the “Memorial Arena” in Grande Prairie. They were always at any functions that their daughter, Wanda was involved in which meant Vivian did a lot of driving – often in a vehicle that was not too road worthy. Vivian was the secretary of the fastball team that Wanda played on, the Bezanson Tigers.

Vivian loved to curl and passed the time in the winters by doing so. Vivian was diagnosed with cancer in 1971. She fought a valiant battle however passed away at the Grande Prairie Hospital on September 2, 1974. The Funeral was held at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Grande Prairie with interment in the Glen Leslie Cemetery. Willis had a memorial trophy made in her name to be given out once a year at the local Curling Rink.

Willis sold the herd of cattle shortly after Vivian passed away and continued to work in the oilfield construction industry in the winter time. In 1977, he sold all of his land except for the home quarter. Willis’ health started to fail as he was diagnosed with cancer for which he underwent radiation treatments in Edmonton. After years of living with a heart condition, he was scheduled for a valve replacement in Edmonton on August 25, 1995 however did not survive the surgery. The funeral was held at the Oliver’s Funeral Chapel and at his request; Willis was cremated with the ashes being interred in the Glen Leslie Cemetery alongside his wife Vivian.

Photograph & biography courtesy of Willis's daughter Wanda Johnston Zenner

• Blog Post

Wagon Trails Grown Over p.825
From Sexsmith

• On Leave

Service Number: R26172
Branch: RCAF
Died: 9 Aug 1984
Burial: Halcourt Cemetery, Halcourt, Alberta

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Service Number: R87959
Force: Air
Regiment Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Killed in Action: 25 Jul 1942
Place of Birth: Grande Prairie, Alberta Date of Birth: 20 Sept 1920

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Regimental Number: M608324
Rank: Sapper

Peter was born on March 3, 1913 in Slater, Manitoba. He was the oldest in the family of seven children; four boys and three girls. Peter was raised on the family farm and worked on the farm when he wasn’t attending school. In August 1933, it was almost impossible to find work in the farming industry. Peter’s mother gave him a cream cheque worth $4.57 which he cashed and decided to move west. He traveled by hopping freight trains until he reached Grande Prairie where he was approached by a farmer looking for someone to assist with the harvest. Peter finally located a family that was originally from his hometown of Slater, the Kockalyk’s, who were living on a farm in the Bezanson area. The Kochalyk’s hired Peter. As he liked the potential of the area, he decided to file a homestead application on land; however, he was told that he had to be a resident of Alberta for three years before he could apply. In the interim, he found work at Jack Fitzpatick’s sawmill. In 1936, he then reapplied for a homestead in the Fitzsimmons area. House parties were the favorite form of entertainment and Peter was an accomplished violinist who loved to play. In 1940, he bought a truck and started to haul grain and lumber. The following year, he bought a new 3-ton truck and did some hauling on the Alaskan Highway from Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson, BC.

In April 1942, Peter married Alberta Vinet. They had two children, Karen and Bobby.

On May 28, 1943, Peter enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army at Calgary. He received basic training at Calgary, Wetaskiwin and Halifax; however, he was granted “leave” to attend to his homestead when necessary. Peter was employed as the Regiment Police Officer for over a year and was discharged on September 25, 1945 in Calgary. Sapper Peter Kebalo served in Canada and received the War Medal 1939-45.

Once discharged, Peter bought Burns Fraser’s a farm in the Teepee Creek area where he farmed and hauled grain. By 1947, Peter fabricated a sawmill on wheels that could be easily moved from farm to farm. A neighbor, Don Brown had a tractor with sufficient power to run the sawmill so the two worked together in a partnership. Peter eventually remodeled the sawmill into one that was self-propelled. The Kebalo’s sold the farm to Bob and Margaret White and the sawmill in 1962 and moved to High Level where Peter once again filed for a homestead. They farmed for 13 years and then sold the farm and bought a house in High Level. Alberta passed away in 1980 and was buried in the Glen Leslie Cemetery near Bezanson.

Alberta passed away in 1980 and was buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery. Peter passed away on July 3, 2000 in Langley, BC and was buried at the Langley Lawn Cemetery.

Contributed by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Wagon Trails Grown Over

.

• Recruits Join the Colors

Regimental Number: M54350, Fifth Armoured Division
From Wembley

• Letter From Italy

Date of Birth: 13/06/1905

Chip was born in Fox River, Nova Scotia on January 11, 1887. He came to Spirit River in 1912 and filed on homesteads at 27-78-6-W6 and 7-79-6-W6; his brother Charles filed on a neighboring quarter. Both brothers enlisted in the Canadian army in the autumn of 1915. On September 16, 1916, Chip was awarded the Victoria Cross by George V for his actions at Courcelette. His citation notes that "Kerr and small group of men charged enemy trench after prolonged grenade exchange. Captured 62 enemy soldiers." According to the London Gazette (October 26, 1916):

“For most conspicuous bravery. During a bombing attack he was acting as bayonet man, and, knowing that bombs were running short, he ran along the parados under heavy fire until he was in close contact with the enemy, when he opened fire on them at point-blank range, and inflicted heavy loss. The enemy, thinking they were surrounded, surrendered. Sixty-two prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Before carrying out this very plucky act one of Private Kerr’s fingers had been blown off by a bomb. Later, with two other men, he escorted back the prisoners under fire, and then returned to report himself for duty before having his wound dressed.”

Chip married Gertrude Clarissa Bridger in London in 1917. In April of 1918, he was discharged, having been found medically unfit because of a deformity of his left foot and right hand (the deformity of his hand would have been the injury he sustained at Courcelette). Chip and Gertrude returned to Spirit River in April of 1918 and raised five children. In World War II, Chip served with the RCAF. He moved to British Columbia after World War II and died in Port Moody on February 19, 1963.

Sources: Chepi Sepe p. 559; Pioneers of the Peace p. 244

• Attestation Paper
• Lives of the First World War profile
• Canadian Great War Project profile
• Letter (August 15, 1916)
• Mention in John Pringle's letter (Aug. 29, 1916)
• Wounded (October 24, 1916)
• Awarded Victoria Cross (Nov. 1, 1916)
• Receives Victoria Cross (March 13, 1917)
• Victoria Cross recipient (April 23, 1918)
• A Victoria Cross Doesn't Keep the Flour Sack Full
• 10 World War I Names Every Canadian Should Know
• Serving in RCAF (February 6, 1941)
• Biography (1934)
• Boys Who Went Overseas
• Spirit River blog
• Wikipedia article
• Mount Kerr
• National Defence & the Canadian Forces article
• Find A Grave
• Blog Post

Killed in Action: March 1945

Regimental Number: M35483
Rank: Private

Herbert, born on November 24, 1921 at the family farm at Glen Leslie, was the 3rd oldest of Herman and Sylvira Kimble’s six children; Elaine, Violet, Herman (twin), Bobby and Ellsworth. After reading about the opportunities for land ownerships In Northern Alberta, Herman decided to relocate his family from Minnesota, USA in 1919. They travelled by train to Grande Prairie where Herman subsequently bought a ½ section of land in an area east of Grande Prairie known as Glen Leslie.

All the children attended the Crystal Creek School. Once Herbert had completed Grade 7, he worked on the family farm during the summer months and in the bush during the wintertime.

On May 25, 1941, Herbert enlisted with the Canadian Active Service Force at Grande Prairie. He trained in Edmonton, Camrose and Red Deer where he successfully completed a course as a Class III Driver in October 1941. Herbert disembarked in England on November 23, 1941 where he completed a trade course as a Storeman T&D Group “C” in April 1943 and was employed at that trade with the RCASC for approximately 23 months. Herbert was transferred to France on July 7, 1944. On February 2, 1945 Herbert was in a supply truck that drove over a land mine that exploded. Herbert suffered fractured legs and injuries to his back and was transported back to a hospital in England where he was in a cast for several months. Once sufficiently recuperated, Herman was sent back to Canada and was discharged on June 26, 1945 at Calgary. Private Kimble received the 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Herbert returned home to the farm and subsequently met and married Jean McLaughlin who was from Bezanson. The young couple acquired land of their own in the Glen Leslie area and built up a sizable farm. They had four boys; Gordon, Monty, Rocky and Robin (twins).

Herbert passed away in 1991 and is buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery. The land is currently being farmed by their son, Monty. Once Jean moved into a seniors’ residence in Grande Prairie, Robin and Rocky decided to reside in the Kimble house on the farm.

Contributed by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Service File
Interview with Louise Kimble

Warrant Officer Class I

• Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Date of Birth: 22/04/1926

RCA

• Wounded

Regimental Number: M605475
Rank: Gunner

John, born on June 1, 1921 at Stuartburn, Manitoba, was the 6th child born to Hryu and Agnistkor Kohalyk (Kochalyk). He had three brothers; Frank, Stefan and Anton and three sisters; Lina, Rosia and Helen. The senior Kohalyk’s had immigrated to Canada from Galicia, Austria in 1900 and settled on a farm near Stuartburn, Manitoba. Stuartburn is considered to be the first Ukrainian community in western Canada. The family eventually moved to Orkney, Saskatchewan where John attended the Marne School. At age 16, John decided to leave school and moved to northern Alberta where his brother, Frank, had established a farm at Bezanson. He was employed in the logging industry for one year and then farmed with his brother for two years.

On November 20, 1942, John was called up for service and enrolled at the Grande Prairie Training Centre where he received basic training. On January 25, 1943, John was transferred to the Training Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia for advanced training. In April 1943, John successfully completed a Clerk Course “Group C” and was employed with the Head-Quarters orderly room staff and at the Reception Centre. Gunner John Kohalyk (Regimental # M605475) served in Canada, received the War Medal 1939-45 and was discharged on July 6, 1944 at Vancouver, BC.

John met Kathleen Stewart and they subsequently married. They had three children; a daughter who passed away at the age of one, and two boys; Steven and Kevin. Kathleen also had a daughter, Louise, from her previous marriage. Kay worked as a waitress and John found employment with O’Keefe Breweries. Unfortunately Kay passed away in 1968 leaving John with two small boys aged five and seven to raise. John was a wonderful father who spent a great deal of time with his children. He retired after working for O’Keefe Breweries for 42 years. Once retired, John enjoyed trips to the Race Track. He passed away on May 9, 1997 at Vancouver and was cremated.

Contributed by Wanda Zenner

Sources:
Service File
Kevin Kohalyk (son) Vancouver BC
1926 Canada Census

For King and Country poster in Wembley

Date of Birth: 08/01/1928

Date of Birth: October 17, 1914
PLace of Birth: Rossdale, Manitoba
Home Town: Webster
Date of Enlistment: 1940
Force: Army
Regiment: R.C.E.
Postings: Holland
Date of Marriage: Jan. 10, 1946
Place of Marriage: Holland
Date of Death: Nov. 6, 1976
Place of Death: Webster
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pg. 428, 1149

• War Brides Collection
• Krzyczkowski Wedding Photograph