125 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND DAY, William L. William was born in the County of Middlesex, England on June 6, 1913. He enlisted in the Army on March 9, 1939. He trained in the artillery in Kingston and Petawawa, and later in England. He qualified as a signaler. He served with the 12th Field Battery, 7th Canadian Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany during World War II. He was discharged on September 8, 1945. He was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-45. Upon returning to Canada, he and his wife, Fern, took up farming in Lakeside, ON and ran Day Bus Lines for many years. He was a member of St. Marys Legion Branch 236 for 65 years. William passed away May 28, 2010. DEARING, Herbert R. Herbert was born on August 26, 1921 in Ice Lake, Ontario. He enlisted in the Army. He served overseas where he contracted pneumonia and lost the use of one lung and was discharged. He was a member of Gore Bay Legion Branch 514. Herbert passed away on December 23, 1989. DE VRIES, Jan Jan was born in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands on January 24, 1924. He enlisted in the Army on April 9, 1943. He served with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in England, Normandy, Belgium, Holland, and Germany during World War II. He was discharged on April 6, 1946. After the war, Jan began his career in construction as a carpenter, progressing to Site Superintendent and Construction Manager on many residential and commercial high rise projects. After retirement, he served as President of his Battalion Association for seventeen years. He was instrumental in the creation of the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, and a tireless volunteer for a broad range of community, educational, and memorial activities. His honours include Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur from France and Member of the Order of Canada. He was a member of Highland Creek Legion Branch 258 for 19 years. Jan passed away on May 27, 2012.
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