331 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND RYAN, Gerard Majella Gerard was born in Calumet Island on September 12, 1937. He enrolled in the Army (Regular Force) with the Royal Canadian Signals Corps as a Private on November 25, 1957, and was transferred to Logistics Transport as a Warrant Officer in 1970. During his 35-year service career, he was posted to six provinces. He served two tours with NATO in northwest Europe and two tours as a peacekeeper with UNEF Gaza, Egypt. He was commissioned in 1977 and retired with the rank of Major on February 18, 1993. Gerard has been residing in Stittsville, Ontario since 1991 and is a nineteen-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Kanata Branch 638. SANDHAM, John Robert John was born in Norfolk County, Ontario on August 16, 1900, to William J. and Laura M. (Stover) Sandham along with four siblings. John enlisted on February 3, 1917 with the Royal Canadian Engineers. After basic training, “Sapper” John was sent to New Brunswick, boarded the SS Missanabie for his trip to England where he was transferred to the 7th Canadian Railway Troops and sent to the front lines in France. On October 27, 1918, John was struck down by shrapnel with a serious injury to the right shoulder. He was sent to a hospital in England and while recuperating, he met and married Olive Irene (Sawyer). John was sent back to Canada and discharged in London, Ontario on January 15, 1919. John and Olive settled in Tillsonburg where they raised five children. John reenlisted on July 2, 1940 in London, Ontario and was attached to the Elgin Regiment from St. Thomas. He was trained with a Canadian Army Special Force Unit and sent to Great Britain where he served in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. He was discharged at Wolseley Barracks on October 20, 1945 and returned to Tillsonburg. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 153 in Tillsonburg. John passed away on May 22, 1988 and is buried in the Tillsonburg Cemetery. SANDHAM, John William John was born in New York City on July 4, 1921, to John Robert and Olive Irene (Sawyer) along with four siblings, Florence (Lynch), Thomas, Margaret (Brown) and Mildred (Westley). John attended public school and high school in Tillsonburg, Ontario. He answered his country’s call for arms and enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the No. 1 District Depot (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps AF) in London, Ontario on September 17, 1942. After basic training, he was shipped overseas to England where he was trained to be a dispatch rider. His task was to deliver orders from the base camp, riding through battle fields, an open target to snipers, and deliver the parcels to the officer at the front lines. He served throughout Continental Europe until he was discharged on December 14, 1945. He married Julia (Judy)Yurkiw and they raised two children, Steven and Sandra. His military training gave him a lift and he became a Mail Carrier. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Tillsonburg Branch 153. His time was filled with hobbies including at the Legion playing darts etc., family. He became sick, taken to Tillsonburg District Hospital, and died on January 6, 2013. He is buried in the Tillsonburg Cemetery.
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