World War II Deaths

The Memory Project: Image Gallery

The Memory Project: Image Gallery

Link

William “Bill” Hitchon

Dispatch riders from William Hitchon's unit in Holland, 1945.

I joined the army in July 1940. I tried to get in the year before, but they said I wasn’t old enough. So we signed up in Belleville [Ontario]. We went from there to Kingston and we were in Kingston [Ontario], at that time, we were in the 15th Field Regiment [of the Royal Canadian Artillery, RAC]. Then they sent us to Petawawa [Ontario] and in Petawawa, they changed us from the 15th Field to the 5th Light Ack-Ack[Anti-Aircraft] Regiment. In the fall of 1941, we went to Debert, Nova Scotia. We were only there for a week and we went over to Scotland. That is, we went on the [HMCS] Pasteur. We got to Scotland and they sent us by train down to Colchester [England]. In the summer of 1943, we were chosen, the battery I was in, was chosen to be ack-ack protection when the royal family were on their holidays at Sandringham [House, a royal estate]. We went there and we got there the day before they were supposed to arrive, and I had a bicycle and I was out riding the bicycle. And I saw two girls and a fellow standing on the side of the road. And they had bicycles and I said, “Are you in trouble?” They said, “Yes, one of the chains came off on the bicycle.” “Well,” I said, “that’s no problem.” I put it back on and they thanked on and I went on. And that night, the queen [Queen Mother Elizabeth] came over to where we were staying above the royal stables and she wanted to thank the soldier that put the chain on Princess Elizabeth’s bike. And Evert Fairman was our captain and he said, “Are you sure it was one of our fellows?” And she says, “Yes, he was a Canadian, he was tall and he was riding a bike.” And Evert said, “There was only one of our fellows that has a bike and he’s tall.” So after the queen had left, he called me and said, “Did you put the chain on a girl’s bike?” I said, “Yes.” “Do you know who it was?” I said, “No.” “Well,” he says, “it was Princess Elizabeth. And it was her father and her sister that was with her.” I went down to see some friends in the [4th] PLDGs [Princess Light Dragoon Guards], and got there just before dinner, so I didn’t want to go to see them, it wasI in Worthing. And I was walking down the street and there was an air force parade on down the street, a couple hundred yards. And the planes come in and dropped two bombs towards the end of the parade. And it killed, I don’t know how many it killed, but there was 21 damaged. And they machine gunned up the street, I had one foot on the sidewalk and one foot on the road and I couldn’t move. I didn’t think it was possible that you could be scared, that you couldn’t absolutely move. The next day, the planes come over again and I happened to be on further up the street, and that day I hid behind a fire hydrant. I could move then. Another strange thing happened. We were in Italy and they’d moved us, we were on a month leave back from the front and they put us right in front of the English heavy artillery. And when those guns went off, they’d lift you an inch off the floor if you were laying down. The Germans were naturally trying to knock out those heavy guns, and so we were getting quite a bit of shelling. And Leo Darache and I were playing cribbage. And he had to go to the toilet. And he went out and just went out the door and I called him back. He said, “What do you want?” I said, “Where would you be if I hadn’t have called you?” And he turned around and went back out again and 30 seconds, he was back in and he said, “I’d be dead.” He said, “There was just a direct hit on the outhouse.” And I’ll never know why I called him back. Just something told me to call him back. I’ll never know why. Another time I stepped on a mine and there was three of us walking across this field and I heard it click under my foot and I told them, “Get out of here,” I said, “I just stepped on a mine.” And they got far enough away, I threw myself on the ground, I thought it would blow over top of me and it was a dud, it come up and didn’t explode. Boy, I don’t think I had a dry stitch of clothes on me.

Link

William Stuart Metcalfe

METCALFE, William Stuart (#A/50101) William “Bill” Metcalfe was born in Sarnia on February 21, 1921, the son of Karl Steadman Metcalfe and Julia Stuart Metcalfe, of Port Huron, Michigan. His grandfather was Lieutenant Colonel W.W. McVicar. William attended public school in Petrolia, Central High School in London, and then finished his education at Sarnia Collegiate Institute. He was a member of Central United Church and also of the Central Century Club, serving as the club’s pianist on Sunday afternoons. After high school, William obtained first class honours in his second year at Toronto Conservatory of Music. When William enlisted, he recorded his place of residence as 309 North College Street, Sarnia and his occupation as a grocery clerk. William joined the Canadian Army on August 13, 1940, in Sarnia, with the Kent Regiment. He trained at Chatham, Wolsey Barracks in London, and Kingston where he took a P.T. course. William was then transferred to the trade school at Hamilton, where he took a special course in Wireless. From there he was sent to Camp Borden with the 5th Canadian Armored Division, going overseas in October 1941. Overseas with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals 5th Canadian Armored Division, he had the rank of Signalman. He trained in England and while there he married Helen R. Appleby on February 17, 1943 at Chelsea, Middlesex. The new Mrs. Helen Metcalfe was originally from Petrolia, Ontario. William and Helen would have one son together. Later, at the time of William’s death, his wife Helen and son resided in England. William went on to serve a year and a half in Italy, with the British 8th Army in the Central Mediterranean Forces, and was also in Belgium and Holland. In late 1943, not long after his arrival in Italy, William wrote a letter to his grandfather in Sarnia, Lt. Colonel W. W. MacVicar. The following are portions of that letter: I never saw so much filth and poverty anywhere. These towns are beyond all imagination. The first few days here were beautifully warm, and we thought there was something to this “Sunny Italy” business, despite the fact that the nights almost “did us in”. Don’t know when I ever ran into such bone-biting coldness. You can put on everything you own, and still shake like a model T Ford. Then came the rains, and believe me, it has everything that England ever showed us in the way of rain beaten by a mile. We are bivouacked in a vineyard, using pup tents as a home. They aren’t too bad except that every time you touch the canvas when it is raining, the water pours through in torrents, and being so low we are always touching them, so, there being no room upward, we decided to go down, and now are sleeping some three feet below the surface of the ground in something that is a cross between a tent and a dugout. It is not bad, though, and actually it is comparatively dry and quite warm. We are thankful that conditions are no worse than they are. They definitely could be very much worse. The food is good and can be supplemented with all kinds of oranges, apples and nuts. The one thing here worth mentioning is the music one can hear anywhere in the streets. It seems to be the only thing these people can do properly, and they do it under the least provocation. Some poor broken specimen of humanity shuffling along will suddenly burst forth in a flood of song that would put Nelson Eddy to shame, and when they get about half “vino-ed” up you should hear them. Speaking of “vino”, it is no wonder these people got licked at every turn of the wheel if they have been drinking that brew ever since they were infants. It’s vile! About the only thing I can say for it is that it would make good ink. Approximately one month after VE Day, marking the end of war in Europe, on June 4, 1945, William Metcalfe would lose his life in Groeningen, Holland. In mid-June of 1945, Lt. Col. W.W. McVicar in Sarnia would be notified of the death of his grandson, Signalman William Stuart Metcalfe, which occurred in Holland on June 4. William Metcalfe would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, in the field (Holland), cause of death drowning. Twenty-four year old William Metcalfe is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave VI.B.13. William Metcalfe’s name is also inscribed on the Petrolia cenotaph in the Town of Petrolia.

Link

Virtual war memorial

Marguerite Downes

Maj Marguerite Downes

Major Marguerite Downes, the highest ranking black female officer in the Ontario Canadian Army Reserves, died on June 4 in Toronto of respiratory failure. She was 70. Read More The Globe and Mail

Who's who in Black Canada

The Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Displaying 425 results for your search term(s): signals

Link

Armoured Divisional Signals

https://www.facebook.com/Battlefieldgroningen/videos/1661013800834580/

James Edward Lankin

James Edward Lankin, CD 02 June 1941 - 06 July 2011

     James Edward (Ed) Lankin was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member and Past President of the LCpl David W. Young Chapter, Courtland, Ontario.

     Ed joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals as a Radio Operator in July 1957 and served until his release in September 1977.

     Ed completed a United Nations tour of duty with United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF I) from 1960 to 1961 in Gaza, Egypt. He then completed a tour with the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in Nicosia, Cyprus from 1967 to 1968. Ed did a second tour of duty with United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF II) in Cairo, Egypt from 1972 to 1973. He was also part of the NATO forces in Soest, Germany from 1962 to 1965.

May He Rest in Peace

Daniel Alexander Russ

Daniel Alexander Russ, OMM, CD 11 August 1940 - 17 January 2011

     Daniel Alexander Russ was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member of the National Headquarters Chapter, Ottawa, Ontario.

     Daniel joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in August 1956 and served until his release in 1981.

     Daniel completed United Nations tour of duty in 1960 with 57 Canadian Signals Unit with the United Nations Organization in Congo (ONUC); with 56 Canadian Signal Squadron in Egypt with United Nations Emergency Force I (UNEF I) in 1964 - 1965 and with the Damascus Signal Troop with United Nations Disengagement Observation Force Golan Heights (UNDOF) in 1978 - 1979.

     Daniel also served with the 709 Toronto Communication Reserve Regiment upon his release from the Regular Force.

     Daniel was also a member of the Hamilton Ontario Signals Association and the Royal Hamilton Military Institute.

May He Rest in Peace

Joseph Henry Haywood

Joseph Henry Haywood 24 July 1933 - 08 June 2012

     Joseph Henry Haywood was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member of LGen R.R. Crabbe Chapter, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

     Joseph joined the Canadian Army (Regular) in May 1951 and served in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals until his release in May 1968.

     He completed a tour with the United Nations Organization in Congo (ONUC) in 1963.

     Joseph was also a member of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, Royal Canadian Legion, Norwood St. Boniface Branch, Manitoba and an Honoray Member of Korea Veterans Association of Canada Inc, Tommy Prince M.M. Unit 76, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

May He Rest in Peace

Fergus Powers

Fergus Power, CD 30 August 1935 - 08 July 2015

     Fergus Power was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member in the Kingston Limestone Chapter, Kingston, Ontario.

     Fergus joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in November 1958 and served until his retirement in August 1980.

     He completed United Nations tours with United Nations Organization in Congo (ONUC) during the period February 1962 to December 1962. He completed a tour with the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) during the period October 1973 to May 1974 and he completed a tour with United Nations Emergency Force (Middle East) during the period June 1979 to February 1980.

     He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 560, Kingston, Ontario.

May He Rest in Peace

Gary A.E. Vanstone

Gary A.E. Vanstone, CD 03 May 1937 - 01 July 2013

     Gary A.E. Vanstone was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member of the MGen Lewis W. MacKenzie Chapter, Sydney, NS.

     Gary joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in July 1953 and served with 1st Army Signals, Canadian Forces Station Alert, Canadian Forces Station Masset and Canadian Forces Station Carp. Gary was released in November 1985.

     Gary Vanstone served a United Nations Tour with the United Nations Organization in the Congo.

     Gary was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

May He Rest in Peace

Harold Frederick Norman Smith

Harold Frederick Norman Smith, CD Passed Away - 02 March 2014

     Harold Smith was a Charter Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Founding Member of the Kingston Limestone Chapter, Kingston, Ontario.

     Harold joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) in August 1956 and served 28 years in the Land Element until his release in 1986.

     Harold completed a tour with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt with 56 Canadian Signal Squadron during the period April 1958 to April 1959.

May He Rest in Peace

James M. Cameron

James M. Cameron, CD 15 June 1938 - 23 November 2014

     James M. Cameron was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member in the Prince Edward Island Chapter, Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

     James joined the Canadian Army in January 1956 and served until his retirement in March1985.

     He completed United Nations tours with United Nations Emergency Force with the Royal Canadian Signals Squadron, Rafah, Egypt during the period February 1966 to February 1967. He also served with 73 Service Battalion located at Ismailya, Egypt during the period April 1979 to October 1979.

     He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 17, Wellington, Prince Edward Island.

May He Rest in Peace

Loyd Harold Carr

Lloyd Harold Carr, CD 14 January 1942 - 25 May 2014

     Lloyd H. Carr was a Member of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping and was a Member of the Colonel John Gardam Chapter, Ottawa, Ontario.

     Lloyd joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in June 1958 and served in the Land Element until his release.

     Lloyd completed tours with the United Nations Organization in Congo with the Canadian Signal Squadron during the period April 1962 to April 1963. He then completed a tour with the Canadian Contingent United Nations Disengagement Observation Force Golan Heights with 73 Canadian Signal Squadron during the period November 1977 to May 1978. Lloyd also completed a tour with the Canadian Contingent Headquarters, United Nations Disengagement Observation force in Damascus, Syria during the period Jul 1989 to July 1990.

     Lloyd was also an active member of the Ottawa Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

May He Rest in Peace

NO. 1 SPECIAL WIRELESS GROUP ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS (RCCS) IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

Link

The following personnel are mentioned in accompanying photographs:
Lt. Col. H.D.W. Wethey, 

Major F.H. Rowland, 

QMS J.T. Hanes, 

S/Sgt C.L. Getz Back, 

S/Sgt G.W. Laycroft, 

Sgt. C.F. Colvin, 

Sgt. W.V. Gavrilloff, 

Sgt. W.H.C. Holcombe, 

Sgt. J.E. Lauret, 

Sgt. R.F. McCallum, 

Sgt. K.W. McKay, 

Sgt. T. Murray, 

Sgt W.F. Schrempp, 

Sgt. E.D. Welland, 

Sgt. L.M. Williams, 

Signalman L. Exelby, 

Signalman J.G. Groome, 

Signalman E.A. Lowe, 

Signalman Maywood.

Signalman R. Montreuil,

Signalman J. Taylor.
Signalman J.P. Trottier.

Beatrice Mary Shreiber

"The women had never had jobs like this before and we wanted to prove ourselves. I think that’s part of it. And the men accepted us."

http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/768:beatrice-mary-geary-shreiber/

Ramsey Muir Withers

"Literally, the battalion headquarters was only about 400 metres away - and I got down there and into the command post to report in, and people were looking at me with kind of stony faces and said, “Your friend’s gone.” "
rcsigs,  The Memory Project, Wikipedia, The Canadian Encyclopedia

William Arthur Steel

William Arthur Steel, radio pioneer (b 3 Nov 1890; d at Ottawa 28 Nov 1968).

William Arthur Steel, radio pioneer (b 3 Nov 1890; d at Ottawa 28 Nov 1968). Steel was chief wireless officer in the Canadian Corps in France at the end of WWI and chief radio engineer of the Canadian Army Signals Corps throughout the 1920s, when he organized the Northwest Territories radio system and, together with A.G.L.MCNAUGHTON, invented the Cathode Ray Direction Finder, an early form of RADAR. He organized the NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL'sradio laboratory 1931-32 and was commissioner in charge of engineering operations of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission 1933-36. He retired from the army with the rank of lt-col in 1936 and had a brief excursion in politics, in W.D. HERRIDGE'SNew Democracy Party. He thereafter worked in Ottawa as a consulting engineer in radio and radar, notably aircraft navigation aids and the construction of the DEW Line radar system.

The Canadian Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Beechwood Cemetery

The Memory Project Press Kit

http://www.thememoryproject.com/static/docs/Press_Kit_EN.pdf