133 The Royal Canadian Legion www.mbnwo.legion.ca MacKENZIE, Robert James WWI Bert was born in Grey County, Ontario in 1887. He enlisted in the Canadian Army during World War I on March 27, 1915 and served overseas from May 1915 until May 1919. Bert suffered wounds to both legs on August 11, 1918, which resulted in the amputation of the left leg. He was discharged from the Army on May 27, 1920, and remained on Treatment Strength at the Manitoba Military Hospital (Deer Lodge) until August 22, 1920. Upon his arrival in Canada in May 1919, Bert was in hospital in Toronto until November. He was transferred briefly to Calgary and sent to Manitoba Miliary Hospital in Winnipeg. There, he was fitted with an artificial leg and discharged on June 4, 1920. He was then 32 years old, and rejecting both theology and medicine, both of which would have required several more years of study, and perhaps significant physical demand on his legs, he took the five-month Normal School course in Winnipeg, and at Christmas took the principalship of the new school in Myrtle, Manitoba. It was there that he met Olga LaLier who was already teaching at the school, and on August 25, 1921, they were married at her home in Pilot Mound. They continued teaching at Myrtle, then Arrow River, and finally Bert took the principalship of Franklin School in 1925. Olga ceased teaching and they raised a family of four boys, Bob, Jack, Keith and Glen. In 1936, Bert was appointed Inspector of Schools for the Roblin area, transferring to Gladstone the next year. He remained there until his retirement in 1953. It was during those years that quite by chance, he found he had a piece of shrapnel embedded in his hand. The local doctor was demonstrating his new fluoroscope to him, and there it was, about a centimeter square, buried between two metacarpal bones. Obviously, the old wound had healed with the metal in place, leaving Bert completely unaware of it. From 1953 to 1958, he returned to the “military”, teaching academic work to the Apprentice Battery of the Canadian Artillery at CFB Shilo. Bert never lost his interest in the church or in sports. He served as a member of the United church Session in Gladstone, was for many years the Sunday School Superintendent, and sang in the Church and community choirs. He had an unusually wide vocal range, and would sing either base or tenor as soloist or choral member. One year, he won first prize in the baritone solo competition at the Brandon Musical Festival, and was a great supporter of the Music and Arts Festival in Gladstone. Despite the problems with his legs, he loved to get out on the playground and with his undiminished enthusiasm and determination, play soccer with his Franklin pupils, resulting in many an extended recess and noon-hour. As at Queen’s, he involved himself thoroughly in the affairs of his community, wherever he was. Bert passed away in Gladstone on March 26, 1977, at the age of 89, and is buried there. MARTIN, Clarence James WWII Clarence was born on May 8, 1917, in Oberon, Manitoba and was raised on the farm. He was interested and took part in many sports. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1941 and served until 1946 when he was discharged. In 1942, he married Edith Jackson of Langruth and in 1946 they bought a farm north of Neepawa where they raised their four sons. Clarence had a great love for sports, especially curling, hockey, baseball, and golf. He was keenly interested in the sports his children and grandchildren took part in. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Neepawa Branch 23 for 31 years. Clarence passed away on May 12, 1997, in Neepawa, Manitoba.
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