257 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND PICKARD-HURST (MELLAFONT), Olive C. “Billy” Billy was born in Radville, Saskatchewan on November 6, 1921. She joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in Wells, British Columbia on February 3, 1943 and after basic training at Fort Vermilion, Alberta, was posted in the Signal Corps at Esquimalt, British Columbia. She was put on an overseas Postal draft and traveled to Halifax, Nova Scotia to sail on March 3, 1944 to England where she served in Farnborough and Aldershot. Billy was transferred to the 1st Postal Tracing Unit, crossed to Normandy, France on August 15, 1944 then went on to Antwerp, Belgium where she served from September 1944 to January 1945. The Battle of the Bulge and the bombing of Antwerp occurred during this time. Billy spent the remainder of the war in Lot, Belgium and she returned to England in November 1945 where she married Albert Hurst on December 6, 1945. She returned to Canada on January 10, 1946 and was discharged on March 19, 1946. Billy has been a member of Haliburton Legion Branch 129 for thirty years. PLAYTER, Wilbert A. Wilbert was born on September 21, 1924. He enlisted into the Army on April 10, 1942 and served with the Prince of Wales Rangers in Canada. He fought fires in British Columbia, guarded prisoners in Nova Scotia and did whatever else was required of him in his duties before his discharge on December 15, 1944. Wilbert was a member of Orillia Legion Branch 34 for more than twenty-five years before he passed away on October 24, 1992. PIERS, Bert W. Bert was born in Pugwash, Nova Scotia on June 30, 1924. He enlisted in the Canadian Army on November 1, 1943 at the age of 19 and served as an Infantryman in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the North Shore NB Regiment. He trained in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and in Woodstock and London, Ontario preparing to be a driver on the Bren Gun Carrier and a mechanic. Bert served in Canada, England, Belgium, Holland and Germany where he was wounded, hospitalized and transferred to the North Novas. He then returned to Germany for the occupation. Bert was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and the War Medal 1939-45. Due to demobilization, Corporal Piers was honourably discharged on July 23, 1946. He has been a Legion member for over twenty-eight years and is currently with Sir Arthur Currie Legion Branch 116 in Strathroy, Ontario.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==