151 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca PONCHON, Marius Antonin FRENCH ARMY Claude Felix Ponchon and wife Seychal Jeanne Marie had seven children. They lived on a farm at La Chamba, Canton de Noirétable, Département de la Loire, France. Marius was born in 1883 in France. Marius joined the 6th Artillery Regiment in 1904 and was stationed in Tunisia, where he served for two years and seven months. While in the army he earned one cent a day. Even at this wage they managed to save enough to have a few drinks together. He was a master gunner in which he had to be very skillful while using the 75mm Cannon. While stationed in Tunisia, he learned his trade as a “Charron” (Wheelwright) and “Forgeron” (Blacksmith). While in Tunisia they were warned every morning to shake out their boots as there may be scorpions in them. One morning there was a scorpion crawling across a friend’s face while he was still asleep. Everyone kept very still and quiet. Fortunately, he remained sleeping and did not awaken enough to slap at it and the horrible thing crawled away. One morning while in Tunisia there was even a frost. Being in Africa this did not happen very often. While eating, especially soup, they had to leave a little food as there was always sand in the bottom of the bowl. Marius came to Canada on April 29, 1908. He worked around Winnipeg helping to put in the sewers. Later he and his brother John homesteaded in Fisher Branch area. He resided there with his wife Beatrice (Meilleur) until his death on January 25, 1953. PRUDEN, Phyllis WWII Robert Pruden Sr. served in World War I. The children of Robert Sr. and his wife, Florence; Walter, Robert Jr. and Phyllis also served. Phyllis served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during World War II.
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