307 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND McKAY, Benjamin Lloyd Murray Benjamin was born in Arnott, Grey County, Ontario on June 1, 1916. He worked on his father’s farm in Holland Township, Grey County and for a time as a receiver and salesclerk at Eaton’s in Hamilton, ON. On March 12, 1942, he enlisted with the Army and was trained at Brantford and Camp Borden. In June 1942, he was sent to England as reinforcement for the Royal Regiment of Canada. He spent four years overseas in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe. In England, he trained as a Regimental signaler. In July 1944, he went to France with the RRC. He was wounded at Caen, and when discharged from a hospital in England, Benjamin was transferred to the Canadian Armoured Corps in November 1944. He served in Quartermaster stores and was promoted to Staff Quartermaster Sergeant SQMS. Benjamin was discharged on July 15, 1946, in Toronto, ON. His first wife was an English war bride. After the war, Benjamin was a butcher in Owen Sound, ON. He was also a life member of The Royal Canadian Legion Chatsworth Branch 464. Benjamin passed away on February 5, 1988 and was buried in Chatsworth Cemetery, Ontario. McLAUGHLIN (ANTONUCCI), Barbara Mary Barbara was born in Teignmouth, England on July 1, 1920. She enlisted with the Army in September 1942. Her main role was being the typist for the Commanding Officer. Part of the duties for Barbara also would entail escorting recruits back to base when they did not return as required, otherwise known as having gone AWOL. The Auxiliary Territorial Service was the Woman’s Branch of the British Army during the World War II. It was formed on September 9, 1938, initially as a women’s voluntary service and existed until February 1, 1949, when it was merged with the Woman’s Royal Army Corps. She met her future husband Bill in Didcot, Berkshire and were married in 1944. In 1956, she and her husband Bill moved from Plymouth to Manchester where they resided for four years. They emigrated to Canada in 1963 moving to London, Ontario. Barbara was employed by Silverwood Ice Cream in London, retiring after twenty years of service. She is a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Port Stanley Branch 410 for twelve years. Barbara and her daughters Kathy and Ann reside in Port Stanley Ontario. McKERRALL, Charles Charles was born on December 17, 1886 in Simcoe County, Ontario, the son of a British mother, Elizabeth, and a Scottish father, Peter McKerrall. The family moved to Coldwater, Ontario. On February 12, 1916, Charles enlisted in the Army during World War I with the 157th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during a recruiting drive in Coldwater. Charles was 28 years old and single. Private Charles McKerrall sailed to England on the SS Cameronia, arriving on October 28, 1916. After training in England, he landed in France on February 11, 1917, to join his frontline unit, the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion. On July 23, 1917, during a raid on German trenches near Avion, Lance Corporal McKerrall suffered a gunshot wound and later “died of wounds received in action”. Lance Corporal Charles McKerrall is buried at Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
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