Military Service Recognition Book 488 ONTARIO COMMAND RUSSELL, Orvil E. Orvil, born in Petrolia, Ontario on July 6, 1895, was the second in a family of five sons and two daughters born to William and Leah Russell. Due to the early deaths of the parents, the family scattered. When World War I began, two sons joined the Canadian Army, Orvil joining the 1st Canadian Expeditionary Forces on November 8, 1914. Another son later joined the USA Cavalry. Orvil was on the first ship to take Canadian Forces overseas in 1914. He served as an aide in a hospital in Boulogne, France, and also spent some time in England. He left France in February 1919 and arrived back in Canada in June 1919, having spent close to five years overseas. He and Ilene raised a family of two sons and one daughter in Petrolia, and Orvil was active in Legion activities. He was particularly interested in volunteering to teach the history of WWI in school classrooms. He was a member of Petrolia Legion Branch 216 for 68 years. Orvil passed away on November 19, 1988. SABIN, George George was born on February 14, 1936 in Glasgow. He enlisted in the Army in 1956 and after completing his induction training was posted to the 1st Regiment of the Royal Artillery and was attached to the 27th Guided Weapons Regiment. They trained with the United States military on the “Corporal” guided missiles (or “rockets” of the day). Their training location was Benbecula, Scotland which is an island of the Outer Hebrides in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. George was discharged in 1958. He has been a member of Richmond Hill Legion Branch 375 for 43 years. RUSSELL, William Clarence Sergeant Russell, born at Petrolia, Ontario in 1893, was called “Clarence” by his family, but “Will” by his buddies in World War I. At age twenty, in 1913, after the early deaths of his parents, he was left in charge of four brothers, two sisters, a rural mail route, and the farm. When the war began the farm was sold, the family scattered, and he joined the Army. He served with the 58th Canadian Battalion in France during World War I. Clarence was awarded the “Military Medal” for bravery in the field. He rescued Lieutenant Martin and brought him back to the Causality Clearing Station. The next day, on August 28, 1918, Clarence was killed by an enemy machine gun bullet while allowing his body to be used as a tripod by a Canadian machine gunner near the village of Boiry, France. Soon after, the village was captured. Lieutenant W. Johnson wrote to the family that “Will” was “always cheerful and made no complaints… No NCO or man played his part better than did your brother.” Clarence is buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, 8 miles S.E. of Arras, France, Plot 10, Row A, Grave 3. His name is also on the Cenotaph at Petrolia.
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