497 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND WEICHEL, Oscar William “Mike” Mike was born on January 26, 1894 in Elmira, Ontario to John S. and Ida (Rappel). He was educated in Elmira, Kitchener and the Business College in Toronto. Mike was a talented sportsman in hockey and baseball and was within reach of a professional career. At the age of 22, he joined the 118th Battalion and went overseas. During his military service in World War I, one of his legs was severely injured, ending his future prospects in these sports. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in the field. Upon return from the war, he married Olive Elizabeth Hughes in 1923 and they had two sons. Mike worked as a journalist for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, was secretary for the Toronto Harbour Commission and served as Postmaster in Elmira from 1922 to 1958. By the late 1950s, when his interest turned to politics, he won a seat in the House of Commons, Waterloo North Riding in 1958 and then again in 1962. Mike was involved with the local military service clubs; mainly The Royal Canadian Legion, Waterloo Branch 530. After a short illness, Mike passed away on March 1, 1968 and is buried in the Elmira Union Cemetery in Elmira, Ontario. His name is inscribed on Plaque #1 of the Waterloo Legion Veteran Memorial Wall. WELTEN, Edward L. “Ted” Ted was born on April 5, 1905 in England and later immigrated to Canada and settled in the Thedford area. With the onset of World War II, Ted enlisted in the Essex Scottish Regiment, which was dispatched to the United Kingdom, arriving in August 1940. The regiment conducted many military exercises while in the UK. On August 2, 1942, the regiment took part in an assault raid on Dieppe, France, heavily defended by German troops. The Essex Scottish stormed ashore against heavy enemy fire. Many were killed and Ted was among those taken prisoner by the Germans. For the next three years, Ted experienced appalling hardship, as a Prisoner of War, in German prison camps. In 1945, as allied forces advanced across Europe, the retreating Germans were overtaken and Ted and his comrades were liberated by Canadian Forces. At war’s end, Ted returned to Canada, and to Thedford, where he conducted a painting/decorating business. He served a term as President of The Royal Canadian Thedford Legion Branch and was always a valuable member of the community. Ted passed away on May 5, 1991. WELSH, Albert Charles Vernon Albert was born in Toronto, York County on May 1, 1919. He enlisted in the Army and served in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe during World War II. He was attached to the Royal Canadian Corps Signals and then transferred to Canadian Postal Corps. He was discharged on February 18, 1946. He received the following medals: 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. After returning from five years overseas, Albert built his first home in Scarborough. He was married to Marianne Morrison Welsh and had two children, David Albert and Cheryl VanLuven. He has two granddaughters: Shana Squires, married to Justin, with their children Mason and Garrison; Sharlynn Van Luven died in 2009. He then moved to another home in Scarborough. He retired from work in 1969 to spend six months in Florida and six months at his cottage he built in Keene, ON. He loved watching sports on TV and fishing at his cottage. He was a great father and his grandchildren called him “Pops”. Albert passed away on October 28, 2000.
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