359 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND MINER, Henry Bedford “Harry” Harry was born on June 24, 1891 in Cedar Springs, Ontario. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on January 12, 1915 and served with the 58th Battalion in France during World War I. On August 8, 1918 at Demuin, France, Corporal Harry Miner rushed an enemy machine gun post, single handed and killed the entire crew and then turned the gun on the enemy. He received a severe head and shoulder wound, but refused to withdraw. He then rushed a second machine gun post with two others and put it out of action. Then, he rushed an enemy bombing post single handed, bayoneting two of the garrison and putting the remainder to flight. By this time, his wounds caught up to him and died later that day. He was 28 years of age. He was awarded the Victoria Cross and the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic actions. He is buried in Crouy British Cemetery, Crouy-sur-Somme, Somme, France. In 1984, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 185 in Blenheim changed its name to “Corporal Harry Miner, V.C. Branch 185 (Ontario). MITCHELL, Clarence W. Clarence was born in June of 1924 in Strathroy. At the age of seventeen, Clarence enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve on August 5, 1942 as an Able Seaman and completed training at HMCS Prevost London and HMCS Cornwallis in Halifax. He served on HMCS Beaver sweeping for mines on the east coast of Canada and USA, and also served on HMCS Annapolis on route to England. Clarence manned the 4.7 mm cannon, the Oerlikons and the ten pounders, then graduated to the wheelhouse as a helmsman steering the ship. Once in England, he served on HMS Puncher running the Murmansk Runs providing supplies to a Canadian hospital in Russia. Clarence served in Africa, Russia, Norway and England and was honourably discharged on September 15, 1945. His medals are 1939 – 1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp and Maple Leaf, War Medal 1939 – 1945. He was awarded two Russian medals for participating on the Murmansk Run, 1939 – 1945 Arctic Medal. Clarence has been a member of the Sir Arthur Currie Legion Branch 116 for over seventeen years. MITCHELL, Bertram J. “Bert” Bert was born on the Family farm in Utica, Ontario on December 13, 1921. He enlisted in the Army on September 25, 1942 and did his basic training at CFB Borden and was sent overseas. His badge number was B133262. Bert was in the 5th Armoured Brigade and was in the Hussars Tank Core. Bert fought in England, Italy, France, Belgium and Holland during World War II. He was discharged on May 30, 1946. He belonged to the Port Perry Legion Branch 419 for 38 years. He farmed the family farm for ten years and then he went on to drive for McCallum Car Transport until his retirement. Bert passed away on January 7, 2009.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==