251 www.on.legion.ca McCARL, Gordon Francis “Gord” Gord was born in Arkell, Ontario on January 30, 1924, to Elizabeth and David McCarl. Gord was one of nine kids, Aileen, Jean, David, Beth, Ken, Barb, Bill and Walter. He then moved to Guelph and enlisted in April 1941 in the Army (Regular Force). He served with the 4th Light AA Regiment (RCA) in Canada, the United Kingdom and Central Mediterranean until his discharge on September 4, 1944. He married Mary Kelly on January 31, 1945. They moved to Galt and had two girls, Sandra and Sharron. Mary died on December 18, 1967. Gord then married Marilyn Dronick and they had a daughter Denise. He was a Civil Engineer. Gord passed away on January 3, 1984. McCARTNEY, John Hamilton John was born in Toronto, Ontario on October 31, 1925. After working at Robertson Candies and as a bricklayer, he enlisted in the Army on March 21, 1944 (Units 7ATK, 8LAA). Not eligible for overseas service at eighteen, John was stationed at Petawawa Military Camp for Artillery Signal training (repair/lay field communication wiring) and to obtain his driver’s license. As soon as he turned nineteen, he was stationed in England as a Gunner and Class 3 Driver. He transported personnel by motorcycle to eight underground communication centres built deep under London’s subway, one used by General Eisenhower. When bombing intensified, during air raids, he trucked civilians to five centres each sheltering 8,000 people. A twelve-month post in Italy with #1 Coy Group-Y, Mechanical Equipment Detachment, was responsible for clearing battlefields. Discharged on June 24, 1946, at the age of twenty, he worked for Toronto’s Sewer Department. In November 1953, he married and now with a family, John served five years with the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. He was released on November 24, 1958. John died on January 2, 1981, and is buried at St. John’s Norway Cemetery in Toronto. John was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion. McCARTNEY, Stafford Church “Staff” Staff was born in Slaght, Northern Ireland on November 28, 1901. He earned his apprenticeship as an Electrician in Belfast’s shipyards which would serve him well in the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1923, he immigrated to Toronto working as a patent leather finisher and electrician. He was a husband and father of five children when he joined the Navy (Reserve Force) on September 18, 1940, at HMC Dockyards (now CFB Halifax). His eldest son, John, joined CAF as an underage soldier, while wife Maggie and son Campbell worked to support the family at home. As Electrical Artificer 3rd Class, Staff was in charge of training electrical construction and detonation on Base HMCS Cornwallis and Stadacona II (renamed Peregrine). Halifax dockyards constructed four Tribal-class destroyers and repaired an average of 24 merchant vessels per week. Other ships Staff served on include the Venture, Restigouche and Haida. Staff was regularly promoted over his five years service and was honourably discharged in July 1945 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He’d been part owner of Sunrise Cement and a self-employed painter when T. Eaton Company, a heavy supporter of Canada’s soldiers, hired him in store security. Staff passed away February 12, 1976, and is buried at St. John’s Norway Cemetery, Toronto. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==