49 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND BELSHAW, Alexander Waddel Alexander was born on September 30, 1903 in Belfast, Ireland. He married and had four children before he enlisted in the Canadian Army on June 15, 1940. He served with the Royal Canadian Engineers in the United Kingdom, Holland, France, Germany, and Ireland. He was discharged on October 12, 1945 as a Sergeant and returned to Gravenhurst. Alexander was awarded the France and Germany Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the Defense Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Harry Wray Branch 302 for 23 years before he passed away on May 28, 1968. BENDER Richard L. “Dick” Dick was born on May 18, 1925, in Rosetown, Saskatchewan. He lied about his age and enlisted in the Canadian Army at 16. He did his initial training in Petawawa, Ontario and completed his training in Colchester Garrison, England. He served with the 67th Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery 7th L.A.A. Regiment in England, France and Holland. Dick was first a gunner and later a dispatcher riding a motorcycle. He was discharged in September 1946, joined the Ontario Provincial Police in March 1947 and retired as a Superintendent in Belleville in January 1982. Richard passed away on June 30, 1994. BEMBEN, Joseph Joseph was born in Poland on July 14, 1926. During World War II, he joined the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) in 1944 and was discharged in 1946. While serving with the Home Army in Poland, he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. For his actions during World War II, he was awarded the Cross of Valour (Krzyz Walecznych), for deeds of courage and valour on the field of battle. Joseph was also awarded The Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945, The Medal for the Battles of the Oder, Neisse and Baltic, The Medal for Warsaw 1939-1945, and the 1945 Polish Grunwald Shield. Joseph immigrated with his family to Canada in 1961. He settled in St. Catharines, ON, where he worked for General Motors of Canada for 26 years prior to retiring. He passed away on February 24, 2001. Joseph was a member of Polish Veteran’s Branch 418, Royal Canadian Legion for almost forty years.
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