317 www.on.legion.ca SHEPPARD, Leslie Ernest Leslie was born on July 12, 1889, in Bedford, England to Henry James and Florence May Sheppard of Buffalo, New York. Ernest was employed with a construction company as an electrician. He applied to join World War I in Toronto on November 11, 1914 in the Army (Regular Force) with the 20th Bn Central Ontario Regiment. He boarded the SS Megantic and sailed out of Montreal on May 16, 1915, bound for England. After considerable training, he ended up in Bologna, Italy on September 14, 1915. His unit was constantly on the move, he was awarded a good conduct badge on November 11, 1916, granted a 10-day leave on December 20, 1916, and returned on January 1, 1917. He was posted to Shorncliffe, England for a course on May 12, 1917, appointed A/L/C with pay, and returned to his unit on September 15, 1917. He was awarded the MM on November 19, 1917, granted a 14-day leave on December 21, 1917, and returned on January 6, 1918. He reverted his rank back in order to go to the front lines in France, joined his unit, and was killed in action on August 28, 1918. He is buried in Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, France. Leslie is commemorated on page 499 in the First World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. SIMMONDS, James Henry James was born in the Town of Pelham on February 1, 1920. Better known in his community as Uncle Harry, he was a veteran of WorldWar II who served as a Radio Operator with the rank of Lance Corporal in the Seaforth Highlanders. After enlisting, Harry was sent to British Columbia for training and then to Britain in 1943 to join and train with the British 8th Army. In 1944, he was deployed to North Africa, travelling through the Straits of Gibraltar, a journey he described as the scariest part of his service. In November of that year, his unit moved up the east coast of Italy, where Harry was wounded in action in December, suffering shrapnel injuries and shell shock from a bomb blast. After recovering in England, he rejoined his unit and participated in the Liberation of the Netherlands in early 1945. Following the war, Harry returned to Fenwick and joined the Volunteer Fire Department, proudly serving his community for over thirty years, including ten years as Fenwick’s Fire Chief. Upon retiring from the Fire Department, he continued his commitment to service by joining the Lions Club. Harry often joked that he was a “D-Day Dodger” during his service, as he was already deployed in North Africa. In recognition of his service, he received the General Service Medal, Italy Star, Germany Star, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. In 1995, Harry returned to Holland with his wife Micky to participate in the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Liberation of the Netherlands. During his visit, he was honoured to receive a commemorative Medal of Remembrance, presented to veterans at various events, including in the town of Harderwyjk, where he and Micky stayed with a local family. Harry was a proud lifelong resident of Pelham. Born and raised in Pelham Corners, he spent his entire adult life in Fenwick, living in the home he built for his family, surrounded by his sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Fonthill Branch. Harry passed away on February 7, 2004. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
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