61 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BONFONTE, Donald Jack “Don” Don was born on December 29, 1922, in Kitchener, to George and Lucinda. His father’s passing in 1927 changed the lives of young Don and his two sisters. Private Bonfonte enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) on January 20, 1944. A member of The Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, assigned to Platoon #14, Coy ‘C’ Company, Don headed to France. He was wounded in combat during the Battle of Verrières Ridge on July 25, 1944. Shrapnel pieces remained in his left leg for life. On November 10, 1951, Don married Doreen, and had a daughter Diane in 1958. His wife unexpectedly passed away on February 23, 2016. Many stories and memories were shared over his tattered photo of 14 members of ‘C’ Company, Don being its last survivor. On November 13, 2016, Don passed away. BOORMAN, George H. George was born in 1896 in Kent, England. He joined the Army in 1914 and served with the Black Watch in England, France and Belgium during World War I. He was wounded three times before being discharged in 1918. George worked for the Department of National Defence and Royal Canadian Air Force at Camp Borden. He passed away in October 1962. BONFONTI, Andrew Matthias Andrew was born on May 21, 1882, in Baden, Ontario. Conscripted, Private Bonfonti’s service began on March 22, 1918, departed on the Scotian bound for England. After training at Witley Camp, on August 29, he was posted to the 47th Infantry Battalion (4th Division) joining them in France on September 6. Canadian Corps, alongside British divisions, fought in the Battle of Valenciennes from October 28 to November 2 recapturing this strategic area. On November 1, with shrapnel in his left arm, Andrew was treated at #22 CCS, Boisleux au Mont. Further treatments were at three hospitals in England. His final transfer on February 25 was to Lenham Sanatorium Hospital in Kent. At the age of 26, Andrew succumbed to tuberculosis. He was interred on March 24 at Lenham Commonwealth Cemetery. In 2020, (St. Agatha RC Cemetery) on the Bonfanti family monument, was engraved words testifying that a beloved son rests in a place of peace and honour in England. Canada’s Books of Remembrance (Peace Towers, Ottawa) first opened on November 11, 1942. Henceforth following a memorial service at 11am, a page is turned in each book. The World War I book reveals Andrew’s page 530, every November 11.
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