45 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BERNEY, Lesley R. WWII Lesley was born in Boissevain, Manitoba, in 1920. He joined the 71st RCA as a bugler and served in England. He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and was a member of Transcona Branch #7 of The Royal Canadian Legion and the Prince Edward Branch #81 of Winnipeg. Leslie passed away in 1979. BERTHELETTE, Leon E. WWII Leon was born on April 10, 1926. He enlisted into the Royal Canadian Navy on August 8, 1944 at age 18 and took his basic training in Regina, SK, and was later posted to the Naval Base in Halifax. From there, he was assigned duties on the Destroyer St. Laurent and other ships patrolling the Atlantic supply lines to England. After many postings, Leon arrived in Halifax on VE Day and was amazed at the celebrations that sometimes turned into violence but was very happy for the event. He was discharged from service on November 7, 1945, and during a brief holiday at home he met Germaine Tardiff and married on January 5, 1950, and had six children (three boys and three girls). Leon passed away in 1998 and was a member of Pine Falls Branch #64 of The Royal Canadian Legion. BERTRAM, William Malcolm WWI William was born in Brandon Hills in 1896. He enlisted with the 45th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on May 4, 1915, saw action in France and was wounded in the battle of Somme. He was lying in the field awaiting burial when one of his friends sent to bury him thought that he noticed a movement and a medical officer was persuaded to recheck William and discovered a heartbeat. He was transferred to hospital in England where he remained for several months before returning to Canada. William was discharged on July 31, 1917, and he applied for enlistment in September 1939 but was found medically unfit. He was a member of St. John’s Ambulance as well as being active in the Brandon Branch #3 of The Royal Canadian Legion for over 40 years. He died as a result of a traffic accident in 1963. BERTHELETTE, Sylvio P. “Bert” WWII & SPECIAL AREA DUTY Sylvio was born in Aubigy, Manitoba, on June 26, 1926. He enlisted in the RCNVR after having spent eight months in the Camerons at age 17. He served on the newly minted HMCS Meon from 1944 to 1945 and later discharged in 1946. He joined a squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1951. From the rank of sapper he advanced to Regimental Sergeant Major (W01) in 1961. Bert’s second discharge from service occurred in 1967 and went on to become a mainstay in many organizations in the community of Pine Falls from union presidents, school trustees, service organizations and political positions. His awards include the CVSM, the 1939-1945 War Medal-MID, the Atlantic Star 1939-1954, the Canadian Centennial Medal-67 and the Canadian Decoration (CD). Bert has been a member of Pine Falls Branch #64 of The Royal Canadian Legion for 64 years.
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