177 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND EICHLER, Benjamin William Benjamin was born in Ayr, Ontario on March 17, 1920 to Julius and Verna Luella (Robson) along with one brother, John and three sisters, Adele, Margaret, and Kathleen. He attended Ayr Public School and Continuation Schools, his favourite sports were hockey, softball, and skiing. He was employed with the Reid Lumber Coal Co. and in June 1940, William joined the Army. He was assigned to the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, RCIC and trained in Canada and then England prepared Benjamin to serve in World War II. He was shipped across the channel and into France, his unit was advancing toward the River Seine and under heavy bombardment from the Germans. On August 14, 1944, Benjamin was caught in the blast of one of the bombs where he received severe stomach wounds. On August 29, 1944, Benjamin died as a result of toxaemia. Sergeant Benjamin Eichler is buried in the Bayeux War Cemetery, Bayeux, Calvados, France and his name will live forever on page 299 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. His first cousin Doug Eichler and sons are members of The Royal Canadian Legion New Hamburg Branch 532. EICHLER, George Rocko George was born in New Hamburg, Ontario on January 12, 1896 to Bernhard and Lucy (Rocko) Eichler. He started his working career hauling supplies with horse and wagon. On April 12, 1916, he joined the Army during World War I in New Hamburg with the 111th (South Waterloo) Battalion and was sent to Ottawa to the Railway Construction and Forestry Depot for training. He was trucked to Montreal and on September 1, 1917, he boarded the SS Megantic and then disembarked at Liverpool, England. He was posted to DC CFCTOS Base Depot in Sunningdale and was then shipped over the channel on October 28, 1917 to France. He was then attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps, 33rd Co. for the next seventeen months. George was in France building railway lines, shoring trench walls and any other job that needed doing. The war was over, but George was kept busy until March 24, 1919 when he was sent back to England and posted to CFC Depot at Sunningdale and then finally he was transferred for return to Canada and then discharged on May 18, 1919. George passed away in 1960 and is buried with his brother John R. in the Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg. EICHLER, Carl Douglas “Doug” Doug was born in New Hamburg, Ontario on October 25, 1922 to Charles Carl and Hazel Mae (Robson) Eichler along with three brothers: Bruce, Paul and Wilfred and one sister, Nora Mae. Doug joined the Army on December 8, 1942 and served with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. His involvement during World War II took him throughout Continental Europe including getting wounded in Italy. He was discharged on January 6, 1945. Doug married Cora (Schnarr) and they had four boys: Gerry, Daniel, James and Patrick. After the war, he worked in the auto body repair trade until he retired and then enjoyed fishing, playing cards and throwing horseshoes. He was a charter member of The Royal Canadian Legion New Hamburg Branch 532 with 51 years of membership. Doug passed away on March 17, 2003 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg. Doug’s sons, Gerry, Dan and Pat are member of Legion Branch 532.
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