Veteran Roland Leigh MacDougal

Roland Leigh MacDougal was born in Tyne Valley, P.E.I. on April 9th 1922.  Roland enlisted in the army on April 16th, 1941, when he was just 19 years old.  He became part of the Prince Edward Island Light Horse 11th Infantry.  He was trained at Camp Borden, a major training center located in Ontario, after which he was shipped overseas.

Roland worked driving a supply truck transporting food and other supplies to the front lines.  He was also became known as somewhat of an unofficial mechanic among the men, as he was known as the one to call if any vehicle was in need of repair.

Throughout his five years spent overseas he was stationed in various places such as Italy, Belgium, Scotland, France, and Holland.  His longest stay, however, was in Italy where he served for roughly two years.  In his five years in war, Roland took part in the Italian Campaign and the Liberation of Holland.

Roland met his wife, Isabella “Ella” Tennant, while he was on leave in Dundee, Scotland at a local skating rink.  Ella lived in Dundee with her family and was only 18 years old when she met Roland, who was 23 years old at the time.  The two were married about a year later on November 14th, 1945.  Today, Ella would be considered a “War Bride”, which is a term used in reference to wartime marriages between soldiers and foreigners.  Before Roland and Ella could return to Prince Edward Island, Roland worked various jobs in England as he patiently waited until he was given permission to return home in March of 1946.  Ella, however, did not travel to Prince Edward Island with Roland until a few months later, as her and many other war brides anxiously awaited their turns for passage to Canada.  Together, the two lived in Tyne Valley, the village where Roland was brought up, and raised four boys, Gordon, Garry, David, and Ian.

Roland’s dedication and remarkable effort as a supply truck driver earned him the Italian Star, Voluntary Service Medal, France-Germany Star, Defense Medal, and a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Roland died September 4th, 1990 due to health complications and is buried in the Tyne Valley Presbyterian Cemetery.  He served as a great honor to his country and will always be remembered by his family and friends.

Veteran Alfred Mugridge

     Alfred Mugridge was born on September 10th, 1934 in Summerside, Prince Edward Islands.  Alfred made the personal decision to join the military at the young age of 18.  After six months of training, he was sent to Korea where he spent the next twelve months of his life.  His duty in Korea was to run telephone lines from the headquarters to the soldiers on the front lines.  This was a highly dangerous job, as the enemy would often have snipers waiting for them.
     Following Korea, Alfred was stationed in occupied Germany for 2 years.  During his time of service, Alfred had leave in many different countries including: Italy, France, Denmark, Poland, Holland, Scotland and even the the city of Tokyo in Japan.  A year later, Alfred joined he Dewline defense in the Artic working on building sites.

     For the next 10 years Alfred drove a tractor trailer, then later worked in the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador for another five years.  He married Kay Dekker and had three children: Gary, Cindy and Karen.
     Alfred continues to reside in Summerside.  I certainly admire his courage and loyalty displayed towards our our country.  This brave man is may grandfather and I thank him for sharing his stories with me.

Alexander Caldwell

          Alexander Caldwell from Alberta was a Private in the Alberta Regiment, 10th Battalion and was the husband of  Jeanie Mutherwell. Alexander fought and died at Vimy Ridge on February 6^th, 1917 at the age of 29.  He is now buried at Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus.

Albert Elmer Eugene Bower

          Albert Bower fought bravely on the beaches of Vimy Ridge but unfortunately died at the young age of 19 on February 6th, 1918.  Albert is the son of Authur F. and Sophia E. Bower and is from Shelburne, Nova Scotia.  He was in the Canadian Infantry, Nova Scotia Regiment, 25th Battalion.  Albert is now buried at the Thelus Memorial Cemetery.

-Johnny Gamble

Veteran Lloyd Frost

          

Lloyd Frost was born April 30th, 1919 and grew up in Enmore, P.E.I.  He joined the Canadian Forces in the summer of 1941 when he was 22 years old.  He trained for a year and a half, living in tents in Charlottetown, Debert, Yarmouth, Halifax and Barrie Field Camp in Ontario.  Like many soldiers, Lloyd couldn’t wait to get overseas.  He was in Debert training in 1943 and for several weeks had been listening to rumours that their squadron was soon to be deployed.  Sure enough, in the spring of 1943 he and his mates boarded the Queen Mary, headed for parts unknown.  For the next few months Lloyd and his comrades were deployed in England and Scotland, moving army equipment to top secret  locations.  They were never quite sure where they were or where they were going.  Again Lloyd was feeling anxious as to where he would be going and what would await him.  It was in the fall of 1943, when he sailed to Italy, and that is basically where he stayed for the duration of the war.  He had a brief detour to an Army Hospital Camp in North Africa where he was treated for Malaria.  Lloyd had always been very slim but the malaria caused him to be as thin as a scarecrow. 

            Lloyd spent the war with the Calgary Tanks.  It was an apt name because he drove tanks, fixed tanks, read in tanks, listened to the radio in tanks and slept in tanks for most of the war.  At times the tanks were even used to haul other military equipment across rivers or out of the muck that they had gotten bogged down in.  The tanks were barely big enough for the driver and the gunner but Lloyd mentions in his letters home that other soldiers would sometimes beg to come in because they were so sick of being cold and wet.  Lloyd, always a compassionate man, usually let them in even though it made for seriously cramped quarters. On a daily basis he didn’t have much to do with the Italians but he did mention that they shared whatever food they had and this was a gift because the men were very sick of the mess tent “bully beef.”  He also spoke of the rain, the mud and the itchy uniforms.  In the summer they got to wear shorts and they greatly appreciated them. 

            Lloyd met soldiers from all over the world and by times fought side by side with them.  He mentioned fighting alongside the famous Gurkhas and being very impressed with their precision and professionalism.  At the end of the war, instead of coming straight home, he helped with the European clean up in Belgium and Holland.  It was overseas that Lloyd met Jean Martin. She was from Plymouth, England but he met her in Scotland where she was posted with the Army Forestry Corp in Britain.  He returned to P.E.I. with his war bride and they had five children together.  He was employed mainly as a carpenter and was meticulous about his work.  Jean later died and Lloyd remarried Doris Forbes thus making him a step father to four more children. 

            According to his family, Lloyd never really wanted to talk much about the war but fortunately his mother saved hundreds of letters that he mailed home.  The letters document all the years he spent in Italy and are full of information. 

            I can’t imagine what being in the war must have been like, but I do know that he had a lot of courage, heart and dedication to our country.

Private Merrill Augustus

Private Merrill Augustus Marshall was born July 4, 1896 and died April 9, 1917.  He was one of the first to die at Vimy and his name is on the monument there. He was a signal man with the Ontario Regiment 48^th Highlanders of Canada.

He was 21 when he died and would have been overseas even younger but was sent home from Val Cartier when it was discovered that he was too young.   His dog tag number is 444330 which is interesting because many believe that “444”s are a sign that your angel is near and the ghost of Merrill Marshall showed up in Brackley, P.E.I. at the same time as he was killed in Vimy.  The family heard a knock on the door April 9^th, answered it to find a very clearly formed ghost soldier.  They immediately knew what happened even though it was weeks before they officially got word.  He was a signalman, a job his brother had gotten him, thinking it would keep him safe but at the very beginning of the Battle of Vimy, he stuck his head up over a bunker and was shot.  His body lay there for awhile and was later blown up by subsequent explosions. He was never properly buried. His ghost haunted a third brother Charles, for many years.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Lawrence Marshall

Lawrence Marshall (born 1892) was wounded in battle five times and sent to hospitals in England five times.  Four different times he asked four different  nurses to marry him and they accepted but permission was not granted  by the military boards.  Fifth time was a charm though  and he  married Elizabeth  Brown who returned home to Covehead with him.

 

-Barb Forbes & Wades Forbes-Bernard

Veteran David Murray

David Murray was born in Nigg, Scotland on August 18^th 1894.  In 1914 he enlisted in The Gordon Highlanders of the Imperial Army of Britain and saw active service in France.

Following discharge from the military in Britain he met Mary Ann Duffus, of Aberdeen, and married her July 29^th 1922. Living in Britain they had two daughters, Margaret and Mary.

In 1927, the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Connell, Carleton County, New Brunswick. In 1929 they had a son, James Murray, my grandfather.

On November 21^st 1939, following the outbreak of war in Europe, he again enlisted in the army.  This time he was a member of the Carleton and York Regiment of the Canadian Army.   On December 10^th, 1939 he sailed from Canada to Great Britain.  He served in Great Britain until his return to Canada on June 18^th, 1943.  He remained in the Army in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick until his discharge from the Canadian Army on June 5^th, 1945.

        Great Grandfather of Patrick Murray 

Veteran Alfred Gallant

Alfred Gallant is my grandfather on my father side; he was born on May 7 1927 and passed away December 26 2010 at the age of 83. In this period of time he married my grandmother, Louise Barrault on September 6 1927, he had six children, Ron Marcel, Marcia, Mike, Dianne, and Donnie  his life he did a few things for money, he work at a local convince store, and worked as an accountant. But he also server in the Vietnam War from August 18 1965 to September 6 1966 at the rank of sergeant. He was discharged on April 30 1973. 

-Adam Gallant

Veteran Harry William Dickie

Harry William Dickie enlisted in 1942, served in Canada for two years and was posted overseas near the end of June in 1994.  He was in England for a very short time, just a matter of days, and was sent to France.  He had volunteered for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders but ended up with the Royal Highland Regiment, the Montreal Black Watch.  Harry was with the unit only a few days when he was captured.  He was attempting to free a wound of one of his comrades when he looked up and saw German soldiers standing over him.  This was near Caen.  72 of his unit were taken prisoner.  He was sent by train to Poland and ended up in a camp where he met Amos Perry.  He was sent to work very well in the low ceiling mines but because of his height, he could not work very well in the low ceiling mines.  Being a corporal, he was placed in charge of a group of prisoners and was required to do mechanic work repairing mining equipment at night.

            When the Russian enemies were getting close, it was decided to attempt to move all the prisoners west.  They were forced to walk as no transportation was available.  Harry's boots were worn through and his feet froze.  He could not walk any further and lay in the snow.  Amos Perry and a prisoner from Cape Breton, Ernest Cameron, helped Harry and practically dragged him for a day or so.  Due to his frozen feet, parts of Harry's toes had to be cut away with scissors.  After a few days he and the other prisoners were carried on express wagon and were taken from place to place for about 3 months.  He was finally liberated in Nuremburg, Germany on April, 1945.  He was flown to hospital in England where he spent a couple of months and arrived back in Canada on the 28^th of June, 1945, almost exactly a year from the time he sailed. 

            The prisoners with Harry were not tortured or severely abused.  They, however, suffered from hunger and cold.  After almost a year away from his family, freezing his feet, and no opportunity for leave or travel except as a prisoner, Harry dearly paid for his service to his Country.

-Danielle Waite

Veteran Joseph John Wedge - Great Uncle of Kayla Arsenault

Josephs Family

Joseph was born to Jean-Pierre Wedge and Marie Blanche Pitre (Doiron) on March 13^th, 1918.  Joseph had 3 brothers, Andy, Frederic and Urban Wedge.  He also had two sisters named Louise and Mary.  Out of the 4 boys of the family, Joseph was the only son to go to war.  He grew up in Charlottetown, PEI and is also buried in Charlottetown.

Joseph’s Journey through War

On April 18^th, 1941, at the age of 22 in Charlottetown, PEI, Joseph John Wedge enlisted in the Canadian Army (Active).  Private Joseph John Wedge saw Service in Canada, Newfoundland, Britain, Central Mediterranean Area and Northwest Europe.  He fought in World War 2 and survived.  He received the 1939 – 1945 Star, Italy Star, France/Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and War Medal 1939-1945. 

He re-enlisted in the Canadian Army (Regular) on February 12^th, 1952, serving in Canada and the Far East; he fought in the Korean Conflict and survived.  Private Joseph Wedge received the Korea Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.  

On May 25^th, 1956, Private Joseph Wedge was discharged and returned home to Charlottetown.  Almost a year after he was discharged, he was, unfortunately, poisoned on March 27^th, 1957 and was buried in a Charlottetown Cemetery. 

The Korean War

Canadians Involvement

            Over 1000 Canadian casualties struggled to repel the communist forces that invaded South Korea on June 25^th, 1950.  Canadian soldiers were involved and played a huge role.  On July 30^th, 1950, three Canadian Destroyers: Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux were ordered to sail for Korean waters, and finally arrived in Sasebo, Japan.  There were 5 others: Crusader, Huron, Iroquois, Nootka, Haida who served under UN command.  A few weeks passed when the first contingent of Canadians, the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry arrived in Korea as well.  In April, 1951, that unit was rewarded with U.S. presidential Unit Citation because this unit prevented enemy breakthrough of the UN lines at Kap’yong.  On May 25^th, 1951, the Canadian Infantry Brigade, which was comprised of the Second Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, and of the Royal 22e Régiment entered the Korean Theatre with supporting arms.  In the fall and summer of 1951, the UN forces continued their advance to 38^th parallel.  The enemies came face to face across a no-man’s-land between a few hundred metres in width to several kilometers.  Canada had 1,558 causalities totalled of which 516 died.  In total, the number of UN Forces (including South Korea) who were killed, wounded or missing was 996937. 
          This was called Canada’s Forgotten War because of all the Canadian heroes that helped liberate the people, but it took 40 years for the government to officially acknowledge their sacrifice once they returned home. 

http://archives.cbc.ca/war_conflict/korean_war/topics/112/

http://www.kvacanada.com/canadians_in_the_korean_war.htm

  World War 2

Canadians Involvement

When World War 2 broke out, the largest and most violent armed conflict in history, Canada was still a very important part of the British Empire. Instead of joining war right away, they waited a week to declare war on the German Nation.  In September 1939, there were 58,337 men and women whom enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces.  Canadians played a vital part in the British Commonwealth Air Training plan, as well.  Over the six years of the war, over 131,553 personnel were trained in Canada, and about 55% were Canadians. Throughout the wars, 1 million Canadians served in the army, Navy or Air Force; 45,000 were killed and 55,000 were wounded.  Moreover, the Sicily campaign, July 9^th to August 17^th, 1943, was where Sicily became the first piece of the Axis homeland to fall to allied forces in World War 2.  It served as a home base for Italy and a training ground for many officers and enlisted men.  7 months later, these men landed on the beaches of Normandy. During the Sicily champagne, Canadians advanced 150 miles which was farther than any other formation of the Eighth British Army.   On the initial D-day invasion on June 4^th, 1944, Allied Troops fought Nazi Germany in Normandy, France. In this invasion, there were almost 14,000 Canadians who were involved.

 Many Canadian soldiers died in Europe, and were buried there.  After both World Wars, there are 109,980 Canadians who were killed.  There are sites in over 70 countries with Commonwealth War Graves Commission who honor these Canadians.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~mfowler/WWII_Canadian_involvement.htm

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/72-16/72-16.htm http://www.army.mil/d-day/

Sergeant Charles Ferdinand Bush

Family and Life Before War

Sergeant Charles Ferdinand Bush was born on July 24^th, 1878 in Norwich, Norfolk, UK.  He was the only son of Alice J. Ward (Formerly Bush) from Gorleston-On-Sea, England, and the late Charles Thornton bush who also served in the South African Campaign.  Before enlisting into the war at the age of 37 on March 17^th, 1916 in Montreal, Quebec, his trade/calling was a steward.  Also, Sergeant Charles Ferdinand Bush had served for 13 years in the 5^th Dragoon Guards.  Once enlisted, he was a single man who seen service in Europe, and was killed in action a year later, at the age of 38. 

Private Allister Gladstone Allen

 Family and Life Before War

Private Allister Gladston Allen was born November 2^nd, 1894 in Torbrook, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.  He was raised by Mr. and Mrs. David C. Allen, of Springfield, Annapolis, Nova Scotia.  Before he was enlisted to war at the age of 21 on December 16^th, 1915, in Middleton Nova Scotia, he worked as a labourer.  He fought in the 25^th battalion and was listed on the Nominal Roll of the 112^th Battalion for2 years until he died in was at the age of 23 on February 6^th, 1918.  

-Kayla Arsenault

World War I facts... excerpt from War Horse Theatre programme

From Dave Robinson:

“Having seen the play War Horse last November in England and the Stephen Spielberg movie over the Christmas holidays, one cannot but to be deeply moved the by the horrors of World War I as seen through the eyes of a complete innocent, in this case a horse. It made me want to look closer to the true cost of war, a war that in reality in its simplest form had as its root cause a ‘family feud’ between the royal families of Europe. A fight over nationalistic ‘bragging rights’ that cost nearly ten million lives.

The Western front stretched 440 miles, from the Swiss border to the North Sea, as a line of trenches, dug-outs and barbed wire fences, with an area known as No man's land between them. And the line moved very little between 1914-18.

On the Eastern Front, the vast eastern plains and limited rail network prevented a trench warfare stalemate, though the scale was just as large. The middle eastern and Italian fronts also saw fighting, while there were also battles at sea, and for the first time, in the air.

WWI caused the collapse of four empires: the Austro-Hungarian; German; Ottoman and Russian. Germany lost its colonial empire and states such as Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Yugoslavia gained independence. The immense cost of the war also set the stage for the break-up of the British Empire and left France mired in debt for 25 years.”

Quick Facts:

Area of France invaded and devastated        10%

Livestock Numbers in That Area               Pre-War                 1918

Cattle & draft Oxen                                   892,000            58,000

Horses & Mules                                         407,000            32,000

Sheep & Goats                                         949,000             25,000

Pigs                                                        356,000            25,000

Agricultural Production Lost to Area

Wheat                          50%                            Oats                30%

Sugar Beet                   60%                            Potatoes          18%

Damage In That Area

Houses destroyed                                         293,000

Houses seriously damaged                             435,961

Trenches & Shell Holes to be filled             436 million cubic yards

Barbed wire to be removed                      448 million yards

Munitions to be destroyed                         21 million tons

Wells to be restored                                     12,118

Railway track destroyed                              1,500 miles

Roads to be remade                                  33,000 miles   

(Note: One million horses were taken to France from Britain, 62,000 were returned)

Content of this General Overview is cited from: “War Horse”, New London Theatre Programme

Veteran James Ambrose Cairns

James Ambrose Cairns was born on March 16^th, 1895, and grew up in Emerald, Prince Edward Island.  When he was 17 he began working at the Royal Bank on October 14^th, 1912 as a clerk.  At the age of 21, he enlisted from Liverpool, Nova Scotia into the war on June 17^th, 1916.  He was deployed to Aldershot, United Kingdom in the 25^th battalion.  On June 13^th, 1918 at age 23, while serving on the Arras front James was killed in action.  He is buried in the Bac-Du-Sad British Cemetery, France. 

            After his death, the Royal Bank honored a plaque of appreciation in memory of him.  It hung in the Royal bank for several years and then was passed down to his nephew (my grandfather).

Mallory Read

Veteran Clyde George Redden

Clyde George Redden was born on November 7^th, 1922, in New Ross, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Black Point with five other brothers and sisters. He was the eldest child of George Alexander and Annie Theresa Redden.

In his day and age, obtaining a grade twelve education was not a necessity—you worked as soon as you could, especially on the coasts of Nova Scotia. But a certain skill set was required in the Royal Canadian Air Force, so he went to the College Sainte-Anne of Church Point, Nova Scotia, through the years 1936 to 1939. Bomb aimers required a deeper education, especially in math, as they dealt with angles and physics.

He initiated his air training in 1942 and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in October of the same year. He was ranked Flying Officer Bomb Aimer on August 6^th, 1943.

He was part of the #155 Squadron RAF, Despite the Elements, and he flew in     the Lancaster aircraft with five other crewmembers: Flying Officer D.M. Price; Flying Officer J.D. Johnston; Pilot Officer D.S. Haggis; Pilot Officer D.M. Hamilton; and Pilot Officer J.C. Brunning. In the early training sessions and missions, various pilots flew the Lancaster with him. But later, when Clyde was more experienced in his practice, F/O Price tended to be pilot. F/O Price was the pilot for practically every mission, up until the end of their service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, according to Clyde’s logbook. These six men, as was any other crew in the Air Force, were best friends. Once they were assigned as a team, they were together to the end.

They flew out of Witchford, England in Lancaster aircraft #ND805 for the last time, October 14^th, 1944. They failed to return from daylight operations at Duisburg, Germany.

F/O. D.M. Price	Missing In Action
F/O. C.G. Redden	Missing In Action
P/O. D.S. Haggis	Missing In Action
P/O. D.M. Hamilton	Missing In Action
P/O. J.C. Brunning	Missing In Action
F/O. J.D. Johnston	Prisoner Of War

Clyde George Redden, 21 years old, and four of his five crewmates were considered “Missing In Action” on October 14^th, 1944. They were never found, and have no known graves. Their names are inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial in Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England. They are amid the names of 20,450 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth. 3,050 among them are Canadian airmen.

“Per ardua ad astra”

Through adversity to the stars

This is the RCAF’s motto; it could also be translated to “Through struggle to the stars”.

This is a Lancaster aircraft, identical to what Clyde and his crewmates flew in. Clyde would be located in the bottom near the front of the plane, where he would aim and drop bombs.

These six men lived together, flew day and night together, and completed their honorable service together. They were together to the end, and through adversity and struggle, made their own way to the stars. Clyde is in the bottom right corner of the photograph

Clyde is my mother’s, mother’s brother. Each generation until myself grew up in tiny fishing villages/communities. I was born into one and later moved to PEI, but my roots are still there, along with his and the Redden family’s. I did not get to meet much of his generation. My uncle Ted, with the help of his daughter, dug up most of this information on Clyde, a relative I’d barely known until now. Despite his age, he hasn’t changed his looks—the Redden boys look a lot alike, and so I got a taste of what my uncle might have been, had he survived the war. It was surprisingly emotional, seeing pictures of my uncle Clyde and meeting uncle Ted, who thought he was eighteen years old and my great-uncle at the same time. This trip will start to connect the dots between that generation of relatives.

-Michaella Donovan