369 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND RAWSON, Wilfred “Earl” Earl was born in Champion, Alberta on February 8, 1919. Raised and schooled in Petrolia, Ontario, he began an Embalmer/Funeral Director apprenticeship until his enlistment in the Canadian Army on September 25, 1940. He was a trainee at the newly formed Chatham Military Hospital, then in London, Ottawa, Vancouver, and Nova Scotia, where he began service in the Medical Corps aboard two Canadian Hospital Ships, the Lady Nelson and the Letitia, until his discharge as Staff Sargent on September 21, 1945. Travelling from Halifax to Britain, then to Mediterranean and African ports, both ships transported wounded patients back to England and Canada. They faced many dangers included rough seas, enemy convoys, floating mines in the Adriatic Sea, ammunition ship explosion nearby in Algiers, and anchoring in harbors under frequent air attacks. Earl met his wife, Nursing Sister Janet Nora Rawson, on the Lady Nelson; they married in December 1944. Earl finished his apprenticeship, moved to Goderich, Ontario in 1952, went into retail eventually owning a men’s clothing store. Earl and Nora raised their three children in Goderich; both were active community participants. He was also a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 in Goderich. Earl passed away on February 11, 2011. REID, Raymond Andrew Raymond was born in Belleville, Ontario on September 11, 1923. On June 2, 1943, he enlisted with the Army and was assigned to the Hasting and Prince Edward Regiment. Raymond was a Prisoner of War held in Stalag V11A for four and a half months, then transferred to a United Kingdom Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound and spent two months recovering there. He was discharged on March 13, 1946. Raymond received the Italy Star, 1939-1945 Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, War Medal 1939-1945. He passed away on May 27, 1978. REEVES, Kenneth Kenneth was born in Matale, Sri Lanka, on June 18, 1941. In 1961, Kenneth made an oath to Queen Elizabeth II, and was enlisted to the CeylonArmy. He was trained as a combat engineer and posted to the 1st Field Engineer Regiment as a Sapper where he served actively for 22 years in combat engineer. He was a Drill and Weapon instructor, and took part in counterinsurgency operations and disaster relief, in time of need. In 1980, Kenneth was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 and appointed as a Regimental Sergeant Major of his Regiment. Kenneth was honourably discharged on December 26, 1983. He was awarded the following military medals: Purna Bhumi Padakkma (Campaign Medal), The Public of Sri Lanka Armed Service Medal, The Republic of Sri Lanka 2nd Anniversary Medal, The Presidents Inauguration Medal and also The Sri Lanka Armed Long Services Medal. Kenneth is an eight-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Dambusters Branch 617 in Toronto, Ontario.
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