311 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND JOHNSTON, Donald E. “Don” Donald was born in 1923 in Arden, Ontario. On a warm June day in 1940, 17 year old Don Johnston and his chum Sandy Pringle left their farm homes in Arden and made their way to Kingston, Ontario looking for work. Times were tough and there was a War on. A few days later on July 1, a card arrived at home- “Dear Mother: I’ve got a real good job and a new suit in the bargain… sell the young colt if you have to” – “see you soon- Love, Don.” They had joined the Army! After a year of training at Debert, NS they were shipped overseas and trained in England. On June 6, 1944, the Glengarries were among the first to land on Normandy Beaches, Don and Sandy with them. On June 8, Don was hit by mortar and died of his wounds on June 10 at the age of 21. He rests in Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, France. Sandy after suffering severe head injuries returned home disabled and later died in a car accident. A Letter received by Don’s mother in January 1945 from Capt. John Palmer (SD&GH) quotes in part: “but it was his constant cheerfulness and willingness that caused him to be so particularly valuable to us all… one particular incident demonstrated his calibre. One some 36 hours before he received his fatal wounds a comrade near him was wounded. Intense mortar fire was falling and others were unequal to it and would not go to his aid… but Donald went through the heavy fire to Company Headquarters and fetched a stretcher… then with another man carried the casualty to safety – undoubtedly saving this man’s life… that man was Pte Cota B.F.”… Donald’s memory is still fresh among his comrades.” …Yours most sincerely – signed John P. Palmer (Capt. J.P. Palmer). JOHNSTON, Vince Vince was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 6, 1933. He enlisted in the Army on January 4, 1952 and served with the Royal Canadian Regiment 1, 2 and 3 in Fort York, Germany as a Peacekeeper. He was discharged on October 6, 1970. After his military service, Vince worked for Revenue Canada until his retirement. He has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion for 36 years. JOHNSTON, Edward Louis Edward was born in Cape Croker, Bruce County on August 1, 1935. He enlisted in the Air Force on January 30, 1953 and served with 426 (T) Sqdn, 2 (F) Wing 416 Sqdn, RCAF Station Chatham, NB. He served in Canada, France, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Aden, Congo, Zambia and Greenland. His service units include: 426 (T) Sqdn RCAF STN Lachine, QC; 2 (F) Wing 416 Sqdn Gros Tenquin, France; RCAF Stn Chatham, NB; RCAF Stn Cold Lake, Alberta; 435 (T) RCAF Stn Namao, Alberta; 426 (TRNG) Sqdn RCAF Stn Trenton, Ontario; and 134 ATU Sanaa, Yemen. He was awarded the Special Service Medal, the Peacekeeping Medal, the United Nations Yemen Observer Mission Medal, the Canadian Decoration Medal and the Justice of the Peace. He was discharged on February 9, 1973. Edward has been a member of Wiarton Legion Branch 208 for 28 years.
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