Military Service Recognition Book

59 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BLOW, Frederick Robert Fordham Frederick was born in London, England, on August 8, 1897, the son of Alfred Fordham and Alice Blow. He immigrated to Canada in 1905. On May 18, 1916, he enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the 216th Battalion (Bantams), Canadian Expeditionary Force, in Toronto. On his attestation form, he is described as 22 years old (although he was actually 18) and single. He listed his trade as store clerk, and stated he had no previous military experience. Private Blow sailed from Canada on the S.S. Scandinavian to arrive in England on April 29, 1917. After several months in England, he landed in France on October 22 of that year, assigned to the 2nd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column. For his service at the front, Private Blow was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre on January 29, 1919. He returned to Canada and was discharged on May 28, 1919. Fred married Hilda Violetta Gardner in 1921 and settled in the area of Coldwater, Ontario. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Coldwater Branch 270. He passed away on November 24, 1977 and is buried in the Veterans section of the Woodland Cemetery in Hamilton. BONFANTI, George Ferdinand George was born onAugust 30, 1894, the youngest of seven children, to Paul Bonfanti (from Orsenigo, Italy) and Catherine Hofele of Baden. Private Bonfanti was conscripted on November 3, 1917 and departed Canada on February 2 on the Grampian bound for England. He trained at Camp Bramshott and posted to the 47th Infantry Battalion, sent to France in early June 1918. The 47th was involved in an advance of The Hindenburg Line during the brutal ‘last 100 days’. On August 21, injured, George was admitted to hospital in Rouen, and evacuated to England for treatments. He rejoined the 47th in France just days after the war ended. His posting was officially completed on January 8, 1919 in England. He returned home to Kitchener in March and was officially discharged on the 17th. George married Lucinda Ringel (1896-1987) in 1919 and had three children: Elaine, Donald and Dorothy. On August 31, 1927, at nearly 33 years old, in Freeport Hospital in Kitchener, George succumbed to lung ailments due to his exposure to gas in the trenches in France. Sadly, not many details about George’s life are known, yet his family cherishes his memory. He is interred at St. Agatha RC Cemetery alongside his parents. BOGGS (SHEPPARD), Vera “June” June was born on October 1, 1931, and raised in Dalhousie, NB. She joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on November 9, 1951. While waiting to continue her training as a fighter control operator overseas, she met her future husband. Marriage, however, meant the end of June’s Air Force career. She was discharged on June 18, 1952. The following years were filled with raising a family, working as an office administrator in the health care field, and volunteering within the community. June remarried in her fifties, moving with her new husband to Vancouver. An introductory painting class led to a successful career as a multi-media artist and membership in the Federation of Canadian Artists. In her spare time, June volunteered at the local university, served as a resident artist at The Old School House Art Gallery, provided support to the Brandt Wildlife Festival and helped organize various activities at her local Legion. She is a six-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Westboro Branch 480. Now in her 90th year, June continues to enjoy painting with pastels, bringing to life heart-warming animal portraits and scenic landscapes. She looks forward to continuing her travels, meeting new people, and watching her great-grandchildren thrive and grow.

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