The history book ‘Grass to Grain’ lists veterans from the area who gave their lives fighting for our freedoms. This is the list from the beginning of WWII and beyond.
Walter Abbott
Gunner Walter John Abbott, Royal Canadian Artillery, died June 11, 1944, at age 24, from injuries due to an accident near Brighton, East Sussex, England. He is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery, some 30 miles from London, England.
John Barkwell
Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner John Herbert Barkwell, RCAF, died at age 19 on November 11, 1943, when his Halifax Bomber was lost during an air strike against Cannes, France. He is buried in the St. Desir War Cemetery, Calvados, France.
Charles Botham
Private Charles Raymond Botham, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), was killed in action at age 21 on May 23, 1944, in the assault on the Hitler Line in Italy. He is buried in the Casino Military Cemetery in Casino, Italy.
Robert Botham
Able Seaman Robert John Botham, Royal Canadian Navy, died September 20, 1943, at age 22 when his ship, HMCS St. Crowd, was hit by two torpedoes and sank while on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Having no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial.
Gordon Campbell
Ordinary Seaman Gordon Keith Campbell, Royal Canadian Navy, died at age 18 on September 13, 1942, when his ship, HMCS Ottawa, was sunk by two torpedoes fired by U-91 450 miles east of Newfoundland. Having no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial.
Harry Code
Private Harry Reginald Code, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, age 19, was killed February 20, 1945, in the heavy fighting with German forces in the Hochwald Forest some 50 miles southeast of Nijmegen, Holland. He is buried at Groesbeck Canadian War Cemetery, seven miles from Nijmegen.
Arthur Croll
Warrant Officer Class 2 Arthur Leland Croll, RCAF, age 32, died December 12, 1942, on air operations over Tripoli. He has no known grave; his name is inscribed on the Alamein War Memorial, Egypt.
John Wesley Evans
Pilot Officer John Wesley Evans, RCAF, age 22, EDO, May 24, 1943 when his Sterling Bomber aircraft failed to return from air operations. Having no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial in England.
Frederick William Greenfield
Leading Aircraftsman Frederick William Greenfield, RCAF, age 21, died August 14, 1941, in a crash while training with #3 Service Flying Training School, Calgary, Alberta. He is buried in the Madison Cemetery, Madison, Saskatchewan.
Kenneth Hicks
Pilot Officer Kenneth Bradley Hicks, RCAF, died March 8, 1944, at age 26, when the “Mosquito” aircraft he was flying failed to return from a bomber support operation to Stade and Utersen, Germany. Having no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial in England.
Elmer James Lee
Private Elmer James Lee, Royal Canadian Regiment, died August 27, 1940, at age 21 in a German bombing raid. He is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery near London, England.
William James McAlister
Able Seaman William James McAlister, age 20, Royal Canadian Navy, died when his ship, HMCS Margaret, was sunk by collision in heavy fog 400 miles west of Ireland on October 22, 1940. Having no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial.
Ivan McDonald
Private Ivan George McDonald, South Saskatchewan Regiment, died of his wounds at age 22 on September 21, 1944, in what has been called the Battle of the Scheldt Estuary west of Antwerp, Belgium. Ivan was buried in Adegem War Cemetery near Ghent, Belgium.
Donald Douglas McKeracher
Private Donald Douglas McKeracher, Argyll and Sutherland Highlands of Canada, age 22, was killed on January 30, 1945, near S’Hertogenbosh, Belgium. He is buried in the Groesbeck Canadian War Cemetery near Nijmegen, Holland.
Glen McNichol
Flying Officer Glen Alexander McNichol, RCAF, age 21, died April 17, 1943, when his Lancaster suffered severe damage from the flak guns near Pilsen. Wounded in both legs and flying with only two engines, he managed to keep flying until a night-fighter finished off the crippled Lancaster. He crash-landed on the Main Street of the little town of Pontavert. Glen was killed when the plane hit a house at the end of the street; the rest of the crew survived. He is buried in the Pontavert Communal Cemetery, Pontavert, France.
John Allen McPhee
Flight Sergeant/Air Gunner John Allen McPhee, RCAF, age 20, died December 12, 1942, while crash-landing his Halifax Heavy Bomber near Helmsley, Yorkshire. He is buried in St. Catherine Churchyard, Barmby-on-the-Moor, Yorkshire, England.
Arthur Theodore Morgan
Flight Sergeant Arthur Theodore Morgan, RCAF, age 29, died from complications from surgery in a London hospital on August 9, 1942. He is buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery near London, England.