225 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND GERVAIS, Omer D. Omer was born in Espanola, Ontario on February 25, 1925. He joined the Army on January 17, 1944. He ended up in the IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards and served as a Tank Driver in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Holland during World War II. Along the way he earned the France and Germany Star, the Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and the Holland Medal. Omer volunteered to remain in Germany after war’s end to help with the rebuilding of Germany. He was discharged on July 26, 1946. Omer retired to his home in Espanola and on nice days can be seen travelling to town (on his scooter) to visit his family and joining his cronies at the Legion. He has been a member of the Espanola Legion Branch 39 for 67 years. GIONETTE, Gerald G. Gerald was born in Sudbury, Ontario on November 21, 1942. On December 2, 1959, he applied to join the Canadian Army. On January 30, 1960, he was transported to the 6th Personal Depot in Toronto, ON for testing, physical and acceptance. His selection was the Queen’s Own Rifles. On March 17, he was again transported back to the Queen’s Own Rifles Training Depot in Currie Barracks, Calgary, AB. Gerald graduated from there on August 19, 1960 and was transferred to C Company (C-Coy) of the 1st Battalion of the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada as a Rifleman, again in Currie Barracks in Calgary. On November 11, 1960, the 1st Battalion of Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada was off to Fort McLeod – Delinghophen, West Germany to replace 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada as part of the Canadian Army NATO FORCE Brigade and he stayed there until March 10, 1963. He returned to Toronto, 6 Personal Depot to get his discharge on March 17, 1963 at the rank of Rifleman Group 2 Machine Gunner. He served for 3 years and 8 months in Calgary and 28 months in West Germany. Gerald joined the Thessalon Legion Branch 182 in 1965. GIBERSON, Vernon George Vernon was born in Arthurette, New Brunswick on May 16, 1926. He enlisted in the Army on January 18, 1943 and served with the 56th Bty, 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II. He served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He landed on Juno Beach, took part in battles for Caen, Falaise Gap, Battle of the Bulge, Dieppe, and Germany and the Liberation of Holland at Nijmegen. He was discharged on January 21, 1946. He returned home and farmed in New Brunswick before re-enlisting on February 19, 1954 and serving with the Royal Canadian Engineers until he retired on May 16, 1976. Lt V.G. Giberson then returned to farm in Middlesex County, Ontario. His medals include the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, CVSM and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Forces Decoration and clasp, Peacekeeping Medal and Nato clasp. Vernon married Marion Anderson in 1947 and raised ten children. After her death, he married Lucy L. Landry in 2010. He has been a member of Melbourne Legion Branch 510 for thirty years.
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