133 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND DOWN, Elmer Elmer was born on June 2, 1920, in Roseneath, Ontario, to Joseph Henry and Ida (Graham) Down. He worked as a farmer and a shipper at Quaker Oats before enlisting in the Army (Regular Force) on June 27, 1941, in Peterborough, Ontario. He qualified as a Driver Mechanic in Woodstock, Ontario on December 12, 1941, then had further training in Petawawa before embarking to the United Kingdom on March 29, 1942. He was posted to 8th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery on April 1, 1943, and embarked for Italy on November 12, 1943. He disembarked in France on February 24, 1945. Permission was granted for his marriage to Muriel May Young on July 21, 1945. After discharge on March 20, 1946, he returned to work at Quaker Oats in Peterborough. He and Muriel raised a daughter, Eleanor, and two sons, Robert and John. One son, Harry, died at birth. Elmer was a long-time member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 in Peterborough. He passed away on November 24, 1989 and is buried in Roseneath. DUCHAINE, Theodore “Ted” Ted was born on April 7, 1916, in Toronto, Ontario. He was one of thirteen members of his mother’s family, four uncles and eight cousins, who joined the armed services at the start of World War II. His uncle, John Wain, was killed at Dieppe. Ted served in the Royal Regiment of Canada, Second Division after enlisting in the Army (Regular Force) on March 27, 1940. During the Battle of Dieppe, Ted was scooped up out of the water by the Slazak, a Polish destroyer, commanded by Captain Romuald Nalecz-Timinski. The Captain commanded his destroyer straight at the beach firing with all its guns before turning abruptly and scooping up at least eighty-five more stranded Canadian soldiers. Ted was wounded in the back and legs and spent six months in hospital before returning to duty in Belgium. Before Dieppe, Ted was stationed at Camp Aldershot in England. During his time there, he met his future wife, Joan Dewhirst, from Manchester. He was discharged on July 12, 1945. In 1947, Ted welcomed his wife and son at Union Station in Toronto. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 286 and Branch 37 for a total of forty years. Ted passed away on August 13, 2005. DROUILLARD, Henry J. Henry was born on December 4, 1925, in Windsor, Ontario. At the age of seventeen, Henry joined the Navy. He went to Halifax and was trained as a Corman. He served in World War II in the medical branch of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve from February 23, 1942 until he was discharged on April 10, 1946. After the war, Henry returned to Windsor, got married and raised six children. Henry owned and operated Superior Cleaners for over thirty years. He was a fifteen-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 578 where he served on the executive committee and ran the branch newsletter for many years. He was also a member of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee. Henry passed away on October 16, 2004.
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