45 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BACK, Wilbert Merwin “Wib” Wilbert was born in Toronto, Ontario on May 11, 1926. He lived his life in Toronto attending several schools includingWestern Technical. He was employed by Mutual of Omaha from 1943 until he joined the Navy on April 18, 1944. He was trained as a torpedo man and posted to Scotland to await a new class of destroyer which was being built in Ireland to be used in the Pacific Theatre. The war in Europe ended and he was returned to Canada for Pacific leave. Upon return to Halifax he was posted to HMCS Border Cities, this vessel was to proceed to the west coast but due to some foul up almost all of the crew was discharged. He was sent from Halifax to QTH Toronto for discharge from the Navy on January 3, 1946. He also served in in the 8th Signal Regiment as Able Seaman after the war and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration for his service. Wib married his wife Mary in 1956 and they have two children: Valerie and Christopher. He returned to Mutual of Omaha until he retired in 1990 having served 46 years. He has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Streetsville Overseas Veterans’ Club Branch 139 in Mississauga, Ontario since 2007. BALES, George Eli George was born in Elgin Mills, Ontario on July 17, 1923. He enlisted in the Army on November 24, 1941 with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Rifleman George Eli Bales died of his wounds on November 18, 1942 in England. The regiment was on manoeuvres when George was injured in a grenade accident on the Assault Course at Aldershot, England. He is buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, England. He and his family were residents of the Elgin Mills area. His brother Thomas was killed in Italy on October 31, 1944. BALCOM, James William “Jim” Jim was born in Middleton, Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia on February 12, 1937. He enlisted in the Army in 1954. He was posted to Germany from CFB London in 1955 for two years, Camp Ipperwash in 1957 and Camp Borden. He took a parachute course and a food service course. Jim took a Sergeant Course in 1970 and in 1974 he was promoted to Staff Warrant Officer. He was then posted to Kingston at the Canadian Forces Hospital in charge of Dietary Staff, the hospital eventually closed. He was posted to Camp Ipperwash for the summer on standby with the PPCLI to be K.O. in Cyprus. Jim injured his back and knee doing a high jump at Camp Borden. He was hospitalized and then offered a job as a Base Food Service Officer for Camp 1 Ipperwash Militia Cadets and CFB London. He was appointed Officer Lieutenant Class (B) at 56, then Capitan. Jim was taken off Class (B) Service and went on with Cadets being promoted to Major until his retirement and moving Cadets from Camp Ipperwash to Camp Borden. Jim was awarded with the United Nations Medal Cyprus, Canadian Centennial Medal 1967, the Canadian Forces’ Decoration and Parachute Badge. He is a 43 year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 498 in Grand Bend.
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