155 The Royal Canadian Legion www.mbnwo.legion.ca OMAN, John Edwin WWII John was born on the family farm in the RM of Clanwilliam on September 29, 1916, the eldest child of Edwin and Wilhelmina “Mina” Oman. As a young lad, he attended school at Lakelet and Hilltop. John worked very hard on his father’s farm, working the fields with horses, chopping and hauling wood, cutting and hauling ice, and doing numerous other chores. He continued to live at home in his young adult years until he enlisted in the army on December 16, 1942, with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Fort Osborne, Winnipeg. John was posted to Fort Garry for his basic training and then on to Shilo for Advanced Training. In June 1943, he was moved to Niagara, Ontario where he transferred to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as they needed reinforcements. The next moves were further east and finally to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he boarded the ship Queen Elizabeth for the United Kingdom for overseas duty. From June 1, 1944 to May 1945, John served in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany, being wounded twice in that time. He was held as a prisoner following the end of the war. He arrived back in Clanwilliam on January 26, 1946 where he decided to farm. He met Ellen Cook in Clanwilliam and they were married there on November 1, 1946. They had two sons and one daughter He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Defence Medal, France and Germany Star, 1939-1945 Star and War Medal 1939-1945. PARASIUK, Metro WWII Metro was born on July 15, 1923, to William (Wasil) and Mary Parasiuk, in Polonia, Manitoba, west of Eden. He attended school there and then farmed with his father until enlisting in the war. Metro joined the Army with the Westminster Regiment (Motor) (5th Division) in February 1943 and was posted overseas in March 1944. He served in France and the Central Mediterranean, finally participating in the Italian campaign. It was during these battles that Metro lost his life. He was killed in action on September 26, 1944 and is commemorated on the Ravenna War Cemetery in Italy. Parasiuk Lake (64 0/3), east of Blackfish Lake was named after him in 1985.
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