23 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BASKERVILLE, Mary WWII Mary was born and raised on the family farm near McAuley, Manitoba. She joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in July of 1941. She served during World War II in Kingston, ON. She was discharged in 1946. BEEDIE, William WWII William was born in the R.M. of Winchester, Deloraine, MB on September 9, 1913. He enlisted in the Army and joined the 2 Motor Ambulance Convoy, RCASC. He served in England and in Italy during World War II. He received the France and Germany Star and three other medals. He was a lifetime member of over fifty years of the Deloraine Legion Branch 11 before he passed away on December 31, 2000. BELL, William WWII William was born in Winnipeg on March 12, 1917. He joined the 38th Field Artillery Militia, which later became the Fort Garry Horse Regiment. William enlisted with the Winnipeg Grenadiers when WWII broke out and after basic training was sent to Bermuda to do ship guard duties before rejoining the rest of the Regiment in Jamaica. His regiment was assigned to Hong Kong and they arrived on November 16, 1941. William survived being shot by Japanese soldiers and survived the Battle of Hong Kong when a fellow soldier made the ultimate sacrifice by jumping on a grenade before it exploded. William also survived almost four years of extreme deprivation in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. While a POW, he met his brother Gordon who was also in the camp; Gordon would later die at another POW camp. William suffered from many ailments during his years of service, but enlisted again during the Korean War. He was assigned to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles but because of his many previous war wounds, he was sent home because he was no longer physically able to serve. William worked at Winnipeg Hydro until retirement. William passed away on his 96th birthday, March 12, 2013.
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