301 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND MacFARLANE (CASTLEMAN), Edith G. Edith was born in 1922 in Brockville, Ontario and grew up there with her seven sisters. While working in a munitions factory in Toronto, Edith decided to join the Canadian Women’s Army Corp. As she tells her grandchildren “I wanted to ride a motorcycle but ended up in an office”. Edith enlisted in May 1942 and spent most of the next two years training and working in Canada. In March 1944 she was approved for overseas Service and arrived in England in April 1944. Edith was stationed in London and worked in the casualty office. Each night a list of the killed and wounded came in and she would dispatch the cables to next of kin. While in England, Edith met her future husband, Gordon MacFarlane, who was serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. They were married in Toronto in 1946 and spent the next ten years in British Columbia where their children were born. In 1957 they returned to Brockville, Ontario. Edith is still an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion Brockville Branch 96 with 53 years of membership. She is a Life Member of both the Branch and the Ladies Auxiliary and volunteers every year to distribute poppies. MACK, William Frederick “Bill” Bill was born in Toronto, Ontario on June 20, 1921 and moved to Walkerton with his parents shortly after. He enlisted with RCR’s, Princess Patricia Light Infantry division in 1939. He was deployed overseas in 1939 where he was stationed for a brief period in England. Shortly after arriving in England he discovered his best friend Melchoir Bogdon from Walkerton standing beside him. Bill had no idea he had signed up. Shortly thereafter, they were deployed again and fought in Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany and fought on the beaches of Normandy. Bill was mentioned in a book by Stone Galloway as he and his comrades had gone back in to search a farmhouse that had been previously searched by another group and found some Germans who were in hiding, which saved the life of many of his comrades. Bill came back to Walkerton and lived out his last years. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Walkerton Branch 102 and played last post every November 11 ceremony until a time when health did not permit it. Bill passed away on September 25, 1987. MacFARLANE, Gordon G. Gordon was born in Kleskun Hills, Alberta on September 27, 1920. His family moved around a bit until they settled in St. Charles, Manitoba. In 1940, Gordon joined the army in Winnipeg looking for adventure like so many young men did. He was sent to England the same year with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. In 1944 he met his future wife Edith who was serving with the Canadian Women’s Army Corp. Gordon spent almost five years in England in various postings before returning to Canada in October 1945. Gordon and Edith were married in Toronto after demobilization. They lived in British Columbia for ten years where their children were born and then moved to Edith’s home town of Brockville, Ontario. Gordon became an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 96 in Brockville and was Branch Sports Officer in 1960. Gordon passed away on June 6, 1966.
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