197 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND LAWSON, Robert Robert was born on January 27, 1879, in Morris Township, Huron County, in Southwestern Ontario. He was the fourth child of John and Lillias Lawson. He was a farm labourer when he enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) on March 24, 1916, with the 161st Battalion and went overseas in November 1916 on the SS Lapland. He was taken on strength with the 58th Battalion and was sent to the field. He was wounded once and returned back to action. He was reported missing in action in October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. On October 26, 1917, he was killed while in a shell hole seeking protection from the German onslaught. His body was never positively identified, and he is remembered at the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial in Belgium. He was awarded the Memorial Cross. Private Lawson’s initial burial place has been located by the Passchendaele Museum and his story has been preserved on their website. They have been in contact with family in Brussels in 2023 to learn more information about the life of Robert Lawson. LEE, Orville Ritchie Ritchie was born on May 4, 1920, in Egermont Township, Grey County, Ontario. He enlisted in 1942, did his basic training at Lachine, Quebec and trained in gunnery at Mont Joli, Quebec. In England, he was stationed at Middleton St. George and flew 35 missions in Halifax and Lancaster bombers. He was a tail gunner with 419 Moose Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and at the end of the war, was an instructor on the gun turrets in Dalton, England. Discharged in 1945, Richie returned to Canada and bought a farm in Normandy Township in Grey County. He married, had three children and retired from dairy farming in 1985. He became involved with the Memory Project and spoke about his experiences at several local schools. Richie was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Durham Branch 308 for about thirty years before he passed away on April 25, 2009. LEBLANC, Jean-Marc Jean-Marc was born on January 30, 1924, in Kapuskasing, Ontario. He enlisted in the Army on April 28, 1943 and served in the CIC Calgary Highlanders in Canada, England, France and Germany. He was wounded and suffered a shrapnel wound to his chest. Recovered, Jean-Marc was discharged onApril 27, 1944 and remained in the Army until he was assigned to guard German prisoners for about a year and half. He had picked up enough German to make himself understood in that language. Corporal LeBlanc received the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, the Defence Medal and the George VI Medal. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Kapuskasing Branch 85 for 25 years before he passed away on May 8, 2010.
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