35 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BRUYÈRE, Henry E. WWI Henry was born in Ontario in 1895. He joined the Canadian Army in Winnipeg in 1914 and was also discharged there in November 1918. Artificer Corporal Bruyère served in Canada with the #10 Engineers. Henry has been a member of Russell Legion Branch 159. BRYCHKA, John WWII John was born in Gilbert Plains, Manitoba in 1925. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy as a Bandsman (coronet) during the Second World War. He served on Division Strength from February 3 to March 27, 1943 and in the active force from March 28, 1943 until his discharge on June 21, 1946. From January 4, 1944, he served onboard HMCS Prince Henry on the high seas and was assigned during the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. He participated in invasions in southern France, Italy and Greece. John was decorated with seven medals of Honour, as well as two Legion service medals, for 50 and 75 years. He was a member of Gilbert Plains Legion Branch 98 and Dauphin Legion Branch 20 for a total of sixty-five years before he died in 2010. BUDREAU, Donald H. WWII Donald was born in January 1916 in Rainy River, Ontario but he moved with his family to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he finished school and studied physics and navigation at the University of Manitoba. He then worked in mining and on boats on the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories, hauling radium ore. Back in Winnipeg, he met his wife and they married in 1941. Donald enlisted in Winnipeg on May 11, 1942 and took his basic training in Brandon, MB and air crew training in navigation in Saskatoon, SK. After completing his training on February 15, 1943, he was posted with Bomber Command, Squadron 158 in England. He flew 37 sorties over Europe, including the Normandy invasion and Germany. In July 1945, King George VI presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery. After discharge, he worked with Canada Customs until he retired in 1977. Donald was a member of Major Hughes Legion Branch 54 for fifty-nine years. He died in March 2006 at the age of 90. BRYCHKA, Mitch WWII Mitch was born on August 17, 1920 in Ukraina, Manitoba. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy on January 23, 1941 in Winnipeg and initially trained as an Officer Steward for Commander J. D. Prentice (who wore a monocle). Mitch’s Corvette, HMCS Chambly, left in April 1942 on escort duty from Newfoundland to Ireland. Between September 9-11 while on SC42, HMCS Chambly and HMCS Moosejaw sank German submarine #501, the first to be sunk by the Royal Canadian Navy. Mitch was in charge of the depth charges. The crew of HMCS Chambly took nine German prisoners and HMCS Moosejaw took 30 prisoners. Mitch was transferred to Ordinary Seaman in January 1943 and in September, was in Lunenburg at the Norway Mine Sweeper Refit Base. He was honourably discharged on July 23, 1945. Mitch was a member of British Columbia’s Surrey Legion Branch. He died in 2005.
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