233 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND LAFRANCE, Charles Wilfrid Laurier Wilfrid was born on December 23, 1920, in Pembroke, Ontario. He enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the Pembroke Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment on May 8, 1941, then off to Kingston to form the 32nd Battery of the 14th Field Regiment. After basic training in London, Ontario, the 32nd battery formed the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Wilfrid oversaw a four-man 40 mm Bofor gun B Troop (unconfirmed rank of Sgt). The 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment would become part of 3rd Canadian Division landing at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. In September 1944, he was attached to the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa in France. He returned to England to marry Winifred Shepherd on November 1, 1944. A few months later, he returned to the continent in April 1945 attached to Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin, & Halton Regiment) 1st Canadian Army Headquarters in Belgium and Apeldoorn, Holland. Discharged on December 1, 1945, Wilfrid returned to Canada. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, and War Medal 1939-1945. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Waubaushene Branch 316 for 64 years. Wilfrid died on December 18, 2014. LAFRANCE-SHEPHERD, Mary Winifred Winifred Lafrance (Shepherd) was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England on April 10, 1921. She enlisted on April 25, 1940, with the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), British Army. After Basic Training in the Men’s Military School, Corporal Shepherd served as a pay clerk with the Royal Army Pay Corps stationed in Southern England at the Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth. She experienced many bombing raids. She was medically discharged on September 26, 1944. Winifred was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945. She met Wilfrid, a Canadian soldier, at a dance at the Lansdowne Hotel (still exists today) in Bournemouth, England in February 1943. They were married on November 1, 1944, in her hometown of Castleford. She immigrated to Canada on the last war bride ship, the Aquitania, arriving at Pier 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia in August 1947. She was a dedicated housewife, cleaned homes and cottages, and worked at the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland, Ontario. Wilfrid and Winifred have three children, eight grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren. Winifred was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Waubaushene Branch 316 for 54 years including a Charter and Life member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Winifred died on March 4, 2004, at the age of 82. LAFRANCE, Rosemarie Rosemarie was born in Penetanguishene, Ontario on October 11, 1956. She enlisted in the Canadian Forces on January 3, 1980. After basic training in Cornwallis, NS, she attended Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics MOC 911, Supply Technician. Postings include: CFB Borden Base Supply in June 1980; CFB Downsview Base Supply in 1983; French Language Course at CFLS St. Hubert, Quebec in 1986; CFB Rockcliffe (DPROC/RO) Ottawa in 1987. In 1990, she was promoted to Master Corporal CFSAL Supply Training Company as an instructor. Further postings include: ATC Meaford in 1993; 400 THS Borden (Aircraft Supply) in 1996; CFB Borden Base Supply in 1999. She was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 and posted toASU Downsview. In October 2000, she retired from the Regular Force and transferred to the Reserve Force at Regional Cadet Support Unit Headquarters CFB Borden. Rosemarie retired from the Reserve Force in 2005. She received the CF Decoration with Clasp and the Canada Pride Citation. Rosemarie graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education degrees and retired in 2021 as a Vice Principal with Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. She has been a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Waubaushene Branch 316 for 48 years and resides in Coldwater.
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