129 www.on.legion.ca DITNER, Clarence Edward Clarence was born on June 13, 1916 in St. Agatha, Wilmot Township to Simon Andreas and Christina Catherine (Ruby) along with eight siblings: Walter Joseph, Anna Mary, “Sister” Leona, Sgt. Hubert Laurence, Rosalie Caroline, Simon William, Edna and Stanley L. Clarence enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) on December 10, 1942 with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and was based in London until he was discharged on March 30, 1946. He married Helen Elizabeth (Robertson), honeymooned in Niagara Falls, returned to St. Agatha, owned and operated Ditner Hardware from 1946 until 1978 and raised seven children: Kathleen (Alderson), John, Mary Lou (Hoogsteen), Peter, Joan (Bryant), Dr. Sandra (Blenkinsopp) and James. He was a member of Greenwood Rod and Gun, member of Knights of Columbus, sat on the board of Waterloo Oxford Secondary School. He was also a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch 530 for 28 years from 1971 until 1999 and his name is posted on the Legion’s Veteran Memorial Wall. His brother, Hubert Ditner, was killed in action during World War II. Clarence passed away on November 18, 1999 and is laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in St. Agatha. DITNER (ROBERTSON), Helen Elizabeth Helen was born on October 4, 1921, in Southampton, Ontario to John D. and Llewella (Snyder) along with four siblings: Steward, Douglas, Donald J., Jean Hammond and Kathleen Margaret (Cousineau). Helen enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in Kitchener, Ontario on September 21, 1942. The next three-and-a-half years were spent in various camps throughout Ontario until she was discharged on May 8, 1946. She married Clarence, honeymooned in Niagara Falls, returned to Clarence’s hometown of St. Agatha and raised seven children: Kathleen (Alderson), John, Mary Lou (Hoogsten), Peter, Joan (Bryant), Dr. Sandra (Blenkinsopp), and James. Helen was kept busy with all the children, plus helping her husband to run the hardware store. She joined The Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch 530. Helen’s service is commemorated on the Legion Veterans Memorial Wall. Helen passed away on April 21, 1993 and was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in St. Agatha, Ontario. DITNER, Hubert Laurence Hubert was born on July 3, 1921, in St. Agatha, Wilmot Township, to Simon Andreas and Christina Catherine Ditner, along with eight siblings: Walter, Anna, Elizabeth, Edna, Rosalia, Clarence, Simon and Stanley Ditner. Hubert enlisted in the Army (Regular Force) in London, Ontario on September 11, 1942 with the Armoured Corps. After extensive training, his unit was on their way to England, then to South Africa where he was assigned to the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, RCIC. They worked their way North and then to Italy. As Sergeant, he led his men into many raids, taking prisoners along the way. On January 4, 1945, Hubert was landing his men in a counter attack at the Navigli Canal when he was killed by machine gun fire on January 4, 1945. He is buried in the Argenta Cap War Cemetery in Italy. Sergeant Hubert Laurence Ditner is commemorated on Page 509 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==