Military Service Recognition Book

131 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND DICKINSON, William H. “Bill” Bill was born on February 14, 1922 in Toronto, ON. He enlisted in the Army in 1939. He served as a wireless operator with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division Signals Corps. He landed at Juno Beach on D-Day serving in France, Germany, Belgium, and Holland. Bill lost 22 teeth during hand grenade practice. Bill took the message that stopped 15,000 men from fighting. “Cancel all offensive operations forthwith and cease fire at 0800 hours, May 5, 1945.”He was discharged in May 1945. He returned to Holland for the 55th anniversary of D-Day and returned to Juno Beach, toured battlefields, revisited Bergen-Belsen and travelled the same route back to Holland that he had done 56 years earlier. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and the 1939-45 War Medal. Bill passed away on September 13, 2006. DIGGS, David A. David was born in Halifax, NS on April 17, 1930. He enlisted in the Army in November 1947. He was discharged in June 1973. He had various job from 1973 to 1976 and then worked for Canada Post until 2001. David has been a member of Victory Legion Branch 317 for 47 years. DIETER, John G. John was born on January 26, 1890 in Mildmay, Ontario. He enlisted in the Army on January 13, 1916. He served with the 4th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion in Canada, England and France during World War I. He was wounded on September 8, 1918 at Canal Du Nord in France. He was discharged on February 20, 1919. After the war he moved to Northern Ontario for a while before moving to Chesley where he worked at Chesley Chair Company as a finisher. He had two sons and two daughters. John passed away on April 17, 1954.

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