333 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND SMITH, Robert “Bob” Bob was born in Tara, Ontario on July 14, 1936. In December 1952, Robert left Tara and enrolled in the Army (Regular Force) with the RCEME Soldier Apprentice Plan. Bob served at 202/SKSPWorkshop Montreal, 56 CDNWorkshop Middle East, CALE England Canadian Embassy, Washington and finished his career as a corporal at 202 Workshop in Montreal. He received the UN Peacekeeping Medal and Canadian Forces Decoration. Bob and Mildred were married in 1966 after his release from the military. He had his own electronics repair business in Port Elgin for two years before working for Edwards Fire Alarm System in Owen Sound where he worked until illness forced him to retire in 1986. Bob passed away in December 1987 and is survived by his wife, Mildred, who resides in Summit Place, Owen Sound. The three brothers, Bob, Bill, and Ron, along with Rick Kennedy also from Tara, were the only Bruce County boys to join the Soldier Apprentice Program. SNELLING, William Harvey William was born on February 12, 1897, in Grey Township of Huron County, Ontario, to George and Sarah Snelling. It was later found that his actual birthdate was June 11, 1899. Many young men were determined to “go to war” and lied about their age on their attestation papers. He was a farm labourer. William enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the 161st Huron Battalion in Brussels on January 29, 1916, at the age of nineteen, or seventeen actually. He left Canada following training on the SS Lapland on November 1, 1916 and arrived in England on November 11. He joined the 7th Battalion and fought in France and Belgium during 1917. He suffered an injury which left partial loss of function in his elbow. He was sent home in July 1917 and was discharged on January 24, 1918. He returned to farm with his family in West Monkton, Ontario and married Ivy Tarr. He died in Westminister Hospital on May 16, 1967, at the age of 68 and is buried in North Logan Cemetery in Logan Township. William also worked as a barber in Monkton. SMITH, William F. “Bill” Bill was born in Orillia, Ontario on December 8, 1937. On December 11, 1953, he enlisted with the Signal Corps in the Soldiers Apprentice Plan. His postings included Kingston, 1st Canadian Infantry Division Sigs Regt Borden, S6 Canadian Sigs Squadron UNEF Middle East, following the Suez Crisis, then Eastern Ontario area Sigs Squadron, Ottawa Wireless, 5 Sigs Squadron, RSS Central, HQ Central Command and CFB Borden. On January 1, 1979, after 25 years of service, Bill retired with the rank of Sergeant and took a civilian position at Borden as the NPF HR Manager, a position he held for seventeen years. He received the United Nations Emergency Force Medal, Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Medal, Canadian Centennial Medal and Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp. Bill was attending OSCVI when his application to join the Soldier Apprentice Plan was accepted. So, just like his brothers, Bob and Ron, he joined the Apprentice Plan along with Rick Kennedy, and as far as we know, the three brothers and Rick were the only ones from Grey-Bruce area to join this program. Bill retired in Tara with his wife Sandra who he married in 1986 in Barrie. Bill’s only son, Murray, died in 2010. He is a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Tara Branch 383.
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