81 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca HALLETT, Leslie Wilbert “Slim”“Les” WWII Leslie enlisted in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Regiment of Canada on June 25, 1940 at No. 10 District Depot, Fort Osborne Barracks, Winnipeg, Manitoba. He served in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. He received the following Medals: the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and 19391945 Star. After training for a few months at Fort Osborne Barracks, volunteers were called to travel through the United States to Galveston, Texas, to transport 300 mules overseas to Britain. Les was one of the volunteers. At this time the United States was not at war and the volunteers became Americans. When the ship docked in Halifax the boys believed they would go on leave, however they were disappointed as they were confined to the ship as they were still Americans. They travelled overseas in a convoy by way of Greenland and Iceland. The ship was old and it did not take long before it became separated from the convoy. The Atlantic Ocean was very rough with continuous dense fog. Days on end they were plagued by German submarines. After thirty days, they docked at Liverpool, England and the boys were glad to see the end of the mules. Les trained in England (Folkstone) then instructed small arms and later instructed physical Training. Eventually in 1942, after several cancellations Les went over to France on the Dieppe Raid. When the raid was over the soldiers on the beach were trying to get into the little boats. When Les tried to get in the tailgate was closed and thanks to two soldiers Les was pulled into the boat. Later he went through France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. At one point there was a house on a hill to be taken. Here Les caught a stray bullet in his face. He was invalided back to England (Basingstoke) where he spent many months in the hospital including many operations and needles. Later he became an outpatient and toured England and Scotland. Upon arriving back in Winnipeg, he spent some time in Deer Lodge Hospital and was discharged from Fort Osborne Barracks on November 1, 1945. Les passed away on November 24, 1979 and is buried in Fisherton Cemetery, Fisher Branch, Manitoba. HALLETT, Gordon WWII Gordon enlisted inWinnipeg in January 1941 to RCASC (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps). He trained at Camp Borden, Ontario. He went overseas in June 1941 and landed at Greenock, Scotland and went to Camp Borden in England. He went to First Canadian Corps Ammunition Park. Then they were split up into four units: First Canadian Ammunition Corps Co., First Corps Petrol Co., First Canadian Supply Co. and First Canadian Central Transport Co. He went to Sicily, Italy in 1943 for eighteen months, then back to Belgium, France, Holland and Germany in 1945. Gordon came home to Canada in November 1945 and was discharged in January 1946. Gordon passed away in Stonewall, Manitoba in March 1990.
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