31 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca BEDARD, Dollard WWII Dollard was born in Fisher Branch, Manitoba in 1922. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1943 and served with the North Atlantic Escort during World War II. Dollard spent two years escorting ships in the North Atlantic on their journey to Germany and England. There were times when he was swept overboard, but was always rescued by his mates. He was discharged in 1945 and married Yvette Desautel in 1946. They had four boys and four girls. He drove truck for the Department of Highways until he retired in 1987. Dollard resides in Winnipeg. BEECH, Gerard Macklin Victor “Gerry” WWI Gerard was born on December 24, 1887 at The Crosshouse, Faekham, Kent, England. His parents were Dr. Lionel and Ida Marie (McKee) Beech. Gerry enlisted with the 101st Overseas Battalion at Winnipeg, and was trained at Shilo. In England, he was transferred to the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish). Overseas, in the European War, he was in Belgium and France. He was wounded on October 8, 1916 on the Somme, France. He was discharged medically unfit on September 26, 1917 after eight months in hospital in Norfolk, England. He sold his farm in order to go overseas and turned down a commission in order to get there faster. When wounded, he laid out 48 hours in no-man’s land. Eventually, he was picked up and brought to field station where his brother, Dr. Alan Beech, was stationed and who looked after him. Gerry married Martha Lenora Glover Cowan in Pilot Mound, MB (Pembina District) in 1913. They had three children: Mary Louise McKee, RN, BSN of Vancouver; William Lionel and Gerard McKee, who both lost their lives in World War II. Gerry and Martha retired and lived in Vancouver, BC. Gerry was grain-buyer for U.G.G. in Baldur throughout the 1930’s and early 1940’s. He passed away in 1971. BEECH, William Lionel WWII William was born on April 22, 1920 at Pilot Mound, the son of Gerard and Leonora Beech of North Vancouver, BC. He married Dorothy Wilkinson of Dundee, Scotland in 1940. He enlisted with the RAF in 1939. William was on the first convoy to England which happened to be arranged by his uncle, Commander W. J. Beech, with whom he was staying. He trained at Doncaster, England and received his commission of Flying Officer in November 1940. He was in the Battle of British flying Spitfires and went down while intercepting German planes sixteen days after his marriage.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==