187 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca MADILL, James WWI James was born on February 8, 1887, in Minnedosa, Manitoba, the ninth child of twelve of Robert and Rebecca. He grew up on the family farm just outside of Bethany, eventually following in his father’s footsteps to become a farmer himself. After World War I had raged on for a couple of years, and with Canada facing a massive number of casualties, James headed east to enlist at the age of 29. On April 8, 1916, he signed his attestation papers at Fort Frances, Ontario, agreeing to undergo training and be sent overseas to fight in the war. He joined the 44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Number 820549. While the full details of everything that happened leading to that decision have long been forgotten, his family can only imagine the bravery and strength of character he had to be able to step up and volunteer. As he was not married and had no children of his own, James made the selfless decision to fight in a war thousands of miles from his family and life on his small farm in Bethany. On October 26, 1917, the Canadian Corps joined a battle that had been raging on at the Ypres Salient in Belgium, considered to be one of the most dangerous places to be stationed on the Western Front. The Canadians joined the British Army where they had started a new offensive hoping to capture a ridge and break through the German lines near the ruined village of Passchendaele. James was part of the division sent into the Battle of Passchendaele, and two days later, on October 28, 1917, at the age of thirty, James was killed in action. Just nine days later, the Canadians finally captured the ridge. James is remembered with honour on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to those who died in battle and have no known grave. His name is also listed on the cenotaph in Minnedosa, as a soldier who fought in World War I and never made it home. A headstone has been placed to honour him next to his parents in the Boyd Cemetery in Bethany, close to the beloved homestead he left behind. James is a true hero, and the sacrifice he made for us all to have the freedoms we have today will never be forgotten. MALUTA, William WWII William was born in Benito, Manitoba on January 16, 1925. He enlisted in the Navy in Saskatoon on April 27, 1943 and served with the RCNVR. A/BWilliam Maluta was discharged in Saskatoon on March 17, 1945. He was married to Sylvia. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Flin Flon Branch 73. William passed away in 2011.
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