203 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND HOULE, Albert Ulric “Bert” Bert was born March 24, 1914, in Massey, Ontario. He enlisted in the RCAF (Regular Force) in North Bay on September 15, 1940, earning his wings in 1941 and ultimately became a fighter pilot, flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires. He served with RAF Squadrons 145 and 213 and R.C.A.F. Squadron 417 in North Africa, Malta and Italy. He achieved the status of “double Ace” and eventually became Commanding Officer of 417 (City of Windsor) Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1942, and in 1944 he was awarded a Bar to his DFC and received this decoration at Buckingham Palace from King George VI. On February 14, 1944 over Anzio, Bert’s Spitfire was hit from behind and injuries to his neck nearly ended his life. Shortly thereafter he was ordered to Canada to assist in training younger pilots. He remained in the R.C.A.F. after the war and was Commanding Officer at various bases, retiring in 1965 as Group Captain. He was a fifteen-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Manotick Branch 314. Bert passed away on June 1, 2008 and is buried in Beechwood National Military Cemetery, Ottawa. HOWARD, Burton Dix Burton was born on December 11, 1918, and moved to Elora, Ontario in 1938. Between 1939 and 1940, he worked as a tanner at Collis Leather in Aurora, Ontario. Howard served as a private in the Irish Regiment of Canada 2nd Battalion during World War II between 1940 and 1941. On January 3, 1941, Burton enlisted with the RCAG and was trained at 3 AGS and 14 OTU. He joined 630 Squadron RAF on November 15, 1943. On February 21, 1944, Burton was serving as rear gunner on Lancaster ND338 during nighttime operations when ND338 was shot down over Plittersdorf, Germany. HUDSON, John Wilson “Jack” Jack was born in Normanby Township, near Hanover, Ontario on June 25, 1925. He joined the 97th Reserve Battery in Walkerton in November 1942 and enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) in Toronto on September 18, 1943 in the Royal Canadian Artillery. He was stationed in Petawawa until July 1944. On July 10, 1944, he went overseas and saw continued action in France, Belgium, and Holland. He transferred to the Winnipeg Grenadiers followed by the Algonquin Regiment. In a letter received by his parents dated October 18, 1944, he stated that he had been wounded with shell fragments in the thigh and neck but was still in the front lines. On October 31, 1944, he was captured in Wellwerg, Netherlands with his parents receiving a MIA letter on November 8, 1944. He was with the Algonquin Regiment in Holland. Lance Corporal Hudson was in a prisoner of war camp in Germany until May 1945 then returned to England. Jack married Kathie from Edinburgh, Scotland on September 11, 1945 and returned to Hanover in the spring of 1946. Kathie followed in July 1946. Jack went on to own a farm, have three girls, and run a well-remembered business until his passing on March 3, 1986, at the age of sixty. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 130.
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