105 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND COLWELL, Emerson Emerson was the son of Milford and Treva (Emerson) who lived in the hamlet of Glamis, Bruce County, Ontario. His brother Bruce was in the Medical Corps of the Army Reserve during the war. Emerson enlisted in the Army in the latter part of the war and was in training in London, Ontario when the war ended. He trained in mechanics during his time in the service and it was a skill he put to good use over the years. Emerson returned to the farm in Bruce County, married, and raised a family. COOK, Earle “Curly” Earle was born in Claremont on September 7, 1916. He enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) in 1942 after being rejected by the Air Force when it was revealed that he was colour blind. He served for four years in England, Italy and the Netherlands. He crossed the Atlantic from Halifax to England onboard the HMS Queen Mary. After training in England, he was sent to Sicily where he participated in his first campaign. His unit continued up through Italy until they arrived in Holland. With the liberation of Holland, soldiers were billeted with the Dutch families. He really loved the Dutch people. Earle returned to Canada in 1946 on the Queen Mary. He was treated at Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital dealing with “War Shock”, what would now be called PTSD. Returning to Claremont he married Dorothy Burton in 1949. They had two children, Gerald and Karen. He worked in Charlie Cooper’s Hardware Store in Claremont for many years. Earle was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Claremont Branch. By the time he passed away, he was the Claremont Branch’s last remaining Veteran. CONNELLY, John B. John was born on September 7, 1922 in Campbellford, Ontario. Just after his 17th birthday, he forged his mother signature to sign up in September 1939. He served as a Rifleman with the Queen’s Own Rifles in Canada, Great Britain, France and Belgium where he was wounded for the second time and sent back to England. John was also a Juno Beach survivor. He was discharged from hospital on August 28, 1946. While he received the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star and the Defence Medal, he was most proud of his Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver Clasp. John returned to Canada with his Scots bride Julia, his wife for over 53 years. Together they raised five children. Returning to France for the first time in 2004, he remarked how wonderful it was that the country and people had survived and prospered since he was last there. John was a member of Arrowsmith Legion Branch 49 for twenty years before he passed away on January 4, 2008.
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