181 The Royal Canadian Legion www.mbnwo.legion.ca SINGLETON, Benjamin “Ben” WWII Ben was born on May 7, 1918, to Alfred and Agnes Singleton of Neepawa. He lived on a farm in the Birnie District, and he attended the Glenholm School. The family was close, as was the community. Many of the neighbours were also aunts, uncles and cousins. Frequently, there would be get-togethers, playing football and baseball as well as foot races. They also enjoyed singing and dances. When World War II began, Ben and his older brother Leslie went to Winnipeg to enlist. Ben joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers in September 1939. He spent several months in basic training before leaving for Jamaica in 1941. After Jamaica, he went to Hong Kong where he was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Christmas of 1941. The family learned early in January 1943 that Ben had died as a prisoner of war on January 22, 1943, probably of injuries, at the age of 24. While he was able, he wrote to his cousin, eight years his junior. He wrote of parties and fun. He apparently never had a steady girlfriend. There were two letters from Jamaica. He talked of much hard work, no time for dances. She saved those letters and they were given to his brother Ken. The cause of his death was listed as acute stomach problems brought on by the inadequate diet. Singleton Lake (64 K/9), east of Lac Brochet was named after him in 1972. He is also commemorated on the Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong. SKEET, Albert Ogle WWII Albert was born on January 24, 1909, to Albert and Olive (Russell) Skeet in Edrans, Manitoba. He attended school there and worked as a farmer until his enlistment in the army. Albert enlisted on October 9, 1942, in Fort William, Ontario and was transferred to Brandon, Manitoba on November 30 of that year. He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Artillery, 3 Anti Tank Regiment. On March 23, 1943, he was sent overseas to the UK for training and then on to France on June 4, 1944. Albert was killed in action in France on August 10, 1944. His body was never recovered, but he has been memorialized at the Bayeux Memorial Cemetery at Calvados, France (Panel 21, Column 1). In 1974, he had a lake, Skeet Lake, northwest of North Knife Lake, named after him. Major F. P. Boothe wrote to his parents: During the unsuccessful attack on Quesnay Wood, your son’s troop was advancing behind the infantry. When his carrier was approaching the wood, it was hit by an enemy ATK gun.Your son died instantly and never knew what hit him. Willie Hudson and Holmes were killed at the same time. Your son had been with the battery some time and was an excellent soldier and extremely popular with the men. He was very quiet and reserved and was always alert and on his job. He is very much missed by the rest of the battery and I can assure you he can never be forgotten by his friends here. He was a crack shot with an ATK gun and had come through with flying colours such hell holes as Carpiquet, Les Brissons and other such battles (9 September 1944).
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