457 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND SMITH, John Leonard John was born on January 14, 1924 in Melaval, SK. He served with the British Columbia Dragoons and Canadian Armoured Corps after enlisting on January 9, 1943. He traveled to North Africa on the Queen Mary then he went to Italy. He drove a tank from Naples to Rimini. When war ceased, he returned to Canada on the Queen Elizabeth. He farmed in Ontario until his retirement. John has been a member of the Ferris Legion Branch 430 and McDonald Legion Branch 183 for 67 years. SMITH (DOWSWELL), Melba I. Melba was born on February 12, 1923 in Toronto, ON. She joined the Air Force when she was eighteen and was sworn in. The minimum age for women going overseas was twenty-one. At the medical, it was determined that she was underage. She was sent home with the promise: “We’ll call when you’re old enough.” They called and Melba joined when she was nineteen. She spent four years in the R.C.A.F. as an “Equipment Assistant”, two in Canada and two overseas. She came home in 1946 and married Dr. Jim Smith on June 25, 1949. Melba has recently received the Bomber Command Bar from Veterans Affairs Canada, Minister Hon. Julian Fantino and wears it proudly. SMITH, John W. John was born on June 24, 1915 in Foxton, New Zealand. He enlisted in the Army in 1941. He married Maud Wilson in August of 1941. Shortly after his honeymoon, Jack reported to Camp Borden for Basic Training. From there, it was on to England with the 34th Canadian Corps Troop. Jack was promoted to Corporal and was assigned to the R.C.A.S.C. He was in action in Holland, Belgium and Germany, A happy reunion occurred near the end of the war. While walking down a street in Germany, Jack was overwhelmed by the site of his brother-in-law Edgar Wilson walking towards him. They had no idea they were in the same area and they hadn’t seen each other since leaving Canada almost four years before. Jack was honourably discharged on December 31, 1945. He returned to his wife Maud and their home in Welland, ON. Jack became a professional Firefighter for the city of Welland retiring after 30 years of service. John passed away on June 2, 1996.
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