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IN REMEMBRANCE OF VETERANS OF WWI & WW II
The following statistics (World Wars I and II) have been compiled by Brigadier - General (ret.) Gregory Young, a retired high school history teacher from Meadowvale, Ont. Greg married the former Margaret Mathers, who lived across the street at 138 Wellington St., in the chapel of Alma College in 1978. She too is a retired high school teacher. Greg spent time recently in Afghanistan as the Canadian Liaison Officer with the American Armed Forces. He heads a small group of dedicated retired military volunteers who are erecting memorials in European towns honouring the sites where Canadian soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice. Greg is also a noted historian of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Central United Church should be very proud of the outstanding support that church members made to both World War efforts. If you haven't already inspected the plaques at the rear of the church I would invite you to look at them today. You will recognize many of the names who did come back from WWII.
World War II casualties of members of St Thomas Central United Church serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Unlike the First World War, the church's membership suffered only five deaths from a total of one hundred and twenty-two members who were serving with the Forces. Those killed are as follows:
× R/116603 Leading Aircraftman Walter (Martin) Disbrowe, Royal Canadian Air Force, age 20. Son of George E. and Edith P. Disbrowe of St Thomas Ontario. Buried in St Thomas (Elmdale) Memorial Park. Died 30 October 1941.
× Lieutenant George Victor Elliott, Canadian Army, South Saskatchewan Regiment, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, age 33. Son of Lewis and Elizabeth Ann Elliott and husband of Sarah Mable Elliott of St Thomas, Ontario.
Buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium. Killed in action 15 September 1944.
× R/68296 Sergeant Frederick Joseph Hawke, Royal Canadian Air Force, age 26. Son of Fred H. and Winona Hawke of St Thomas, Ontario. Buried in Union Cemetery, Ontario. Died 9 September 1942.
× R/68426 Sergeant Stanley Gregory, Royal Canadian Air Force, 40 (RAF) Squadron. Buried in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery Egypt. Died 27 June 1942
× J/ 85615 Pilot Officer Paul Alvin McIntyre, Royal Canadian Air Force, 429 Squadron. Buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Germany. Killed in action 20 February 1944.
NB - there was no personal information such as age or next of kin for Stanley Gregory or Paul McIntyre.
WWI Casualties
Private William Clifford Jackson ,18th Battalion, KIA, Oct 11, 1918. Age 21. Buried in Niagara Cemetery, France. Son of William & Mary Jackson, 44 Railway St, St Thomas.
Private George Beales, 1st Battalion, DOW, Nov 8, 1918. Age 24. Son of Mrs J. Beales, Ommee St., St Thomas. Buried in Seaford Cemetery, UK
Private Russell Clarence Devlin, 1st Battalion, MIA, Sept 22, 1916. Age 37. Wife Addie Devlin, 11 Hemlock St, St Thomas. Served in the 25th Militia Regiment (Elgin Infantry) before the war. Joined the 33rd Battalion on outbreak of the war and then drafted to the 1st Battalion. Listed on the Vimy Memorial, France.
Private William Brunning, 1st Battalion. MIA 15 June 1915. Age 22. Lived on Crocker Ave, St Thomas. Listed on the Vimy Memorial, France. Served in the 25th Militia regiment (Elgin Infantry) before the war.
Private Walter Boulding, 32nd Battalion. KIA, Oct 8, 1917. Age 45. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium. Wife Eliza Boulding, 410-5th Ave, St Thomas. Served in the 33rd Militia regiment before the war.
Private Walter Preston Mickle, 87th Battalion. KIA, Sept 15, 1918. Age 36. Buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, France. Son of Mr & Mrs Alanson Mickle of Harrow. Wife Mrs Pearl Mickle, 32 Locust St, St Thomas. Joined the 91st Battalion on outbreak of war and drafted to the 87th Bn.
Private Edwin Wesley Frost, 47th Battalion. KIA, Sept 29, 1918. Age 24. Buried in Anneux British Cemetery, France. Son of Edwin Beales, 33 Erie St, St Thomas.
Private Herbert Henry Fillmore, 38th Battalion. KIA, Nov 18, 1916. Age 18. Buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, France. Son of Mr & Mrs Edward Fillmore of Dutton. Lived at 21 Elgin St, St Thomas. Joined the 91st battalion on the outbreak of war and was drafted to the 38th Battalion.
Lt Elmore Leslie Hankinson, 18th Battalion. KIA, Oct 6, 1918. Buried at Haynecourt British Cemetery, France. Son of Charles & Edith Hankinson, 31 Forest Ave, St Thomas. Served in the 25th Militia regiment (Elgin Infantry) before the outbreak of war. Lived at 27 Myrtle St, St Thomas.
Private Abner Ernest Claus, 1st Battalion. KIA, April 24, 1915 during gas attack at Ypres, Belgium. Age 20. Buried at Metern Military Cemetery, France. Son of John & Elizabeth Claus, 41 Locust St, St Thomas. Served in the 25th Militia regiment (Elgin Infantry) before outbreak of war.
Private Edward Bigiton Hartsell, 87th Battalion. KIA, April 9 at Vimy Ridge. Buried at Canadian Cemetery No 2, Vimy Ridge, France. Joined the 91st Battalion on outbreak of war. Lived in Yarmouth Heights, St Thomas.
Lt Clarence Victor Lawrence, Canadian Army Service Corps. DOW, Nov 1, 1918. Age 26. Buried in St Thomas Cemetery, ON. Son of Calvin & Margaret Lawrence, Ottawa. Wife Ruby Lawrence, 200 Elgin St., St. Thomas.
Private Thomas Robinson, 91st Battalion. DOW, May 5, 1918. Age 57. Buried in St Thomas Cemetery, ON. Son of John & Sara Robinson, UK. Wife Annie Robinson, St Thomas.
Corporal Ernest Albert Garside, 18th Battalion. KIA, Sept 16, 1916. Age 30. Buried in Puchervillers British Cemetery, France. Son of Thomas & Alice Garside, Flint, Michigan. Lived at 255 Ross St, St Thomas. Served in the 25th Militia Regiment (Elgin Infantry) before outbreak of war.
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