247 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca WATHNE, Frederick Albert WWI Frederick was born on October 31, 1891 in Iceland, the son of Frederik and Elizabeth Wathne. He joined the 108th Battalion on January 17, 1916. He participated at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele. In battle, he was a victim of gas warfare and a patient therefrom for eighteen months, returning to Canada on January 29, 1919. Prior to war service, Frederick was a store clerk in Kandahor, Saskatchewan. On his return, he was employed as a clerk in Winnipeg. He married Soffia Vigfusson and they resided in Vancouver. WATKINS, Robert A. WWII Robert was born in Brooklands, Manitoba on February 24, 1925. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) in 1943 at the age of eighteen. He initially trained at HMCS Chippawa then served during World War II on HMCS Husky, an armed yacht doing patrol duty on the East Coast. In March 1943, Robert went overseas and served onboard the frigate, HMCS Loch Achanalt. HMCS Loch Achanalt was part of a Striking Force called Escort Group 6. They operated off Norway, the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic. Robert also served on HMCS Niobe, HMCS Stadacona, HMCS Peregrine, and HMCS Cornwallis (Pacific Training). Robert returned to Halifax at the end of the war and served on HMCS Orangeville, a Castle Class Corvette. While in Halifax, he met his future wife, Jean Mattison. Robert returned to Winnipeg, took his discharge at HMCS Chippawa in 1946 and started to work for the Winnipeg Electric Company as a Street Car Operator and Bus Driver. Robert re-enlisted in the RCNR in 1949 and served until 1959. He had two daughters, Deborah in Guelph, ON and Sandra who lives in Winnipeg. Robert retired in 1984 as the Superintendent of Schedules (Winnipeg Transit) after 38 years of service. He has been a member of Henderson Highway Legion Branch 215 for seven years. WEICKER, Dennis WWII Dennis was born in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in 1918. He enlisted in the Army in 1940 with “The Black Devils”. He took his initial training in Brandon, MB where they taught disciplines like marching, caring for uniforms, learning about weapons, etc., and was there for only about a month before heading to Vancouver. He was with the 28th Regiment and served in Canada during World War II. His service was cut short when he developed rheumatic fever and had to be shipped home. He married Beatrice Boullier and they had two daughters, Denise and Yvette. He is a member of Norwood Legion Branch 43.
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