387 www.on.legion.ca YOUNG, William Samuel “Bill” Bill was born in Craigvale on December 29, 1898. In 1916, during World War I, he attempted to enlist in the army at the age of seventeen. Claiming he was needed on the family farm in Craigvale, Ontario and much to Bill’s disappointment, his father refused to let him go. Two decades later after World War II broke out, Bill, now 40 with a wife and two children, decided to enlist in the Army (Regular Force). He dissolved his construction company in Stroud, and joined the Royal Canadian Engineers, 8th Field Company at Camp Borden on September 9, 1940. Bill was stationed primarily in Croydon, England that had suffered extensive damage at the hands of the Germans during the Battle of Britain and the subsequent Blitzkrieg. His primary duty as a sapper was to help rebuild bridges that had suffered structural damage from the bombings that continued. Using his engineering skills, Bill was also credited with creating unique designs intended to minimize damage from future attacks. A few months prior to the end of the war, Bill was hospitalized with a severe case of pneumonia. Bill was discharged on September 14, 1945 following the end of the war and returned home almost five years to the day following his enlistment. Bill passed away on March 28, 1985. ZAVITZ, Owen H. Owen enrolled in January 1916 and received officer’s training in London, Ontario for a period of six weeks in January and February 1915. He found the waiting period was too long and wanted to get in the war, so he gave up his commission and signed up to join the Motor Transport Division of the Army Service Corp of Great Britain. In November 1918, an exploding shell broke his arm in two places. He was released in September 1919. Owen resided in Wallaceburg for his entire life and was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Wallaceburg Branch 18. Owen passed away in 1978. ZIRNHELT, John Harry John joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1960 after two years as a volunteer in the RCAF Ground Observer Corps, and four years in Air Cadets. He is from 150 Mile House, BC. Although he wanted to be a pilot, his eyes did not meet the standard and he was offered the option of a career in aerospace engineering. He started out at Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Quebec. After a year and a half, he dropped out of college and was posted to Station Cold Lake, Alberta. From February until October 1962, he was assigned to the CF104 Program. In October 1962, he was transferred to RCAF 3 Wing Zweibruken, West Germany, again as part of the CF104 Program. In September 1963, he returned to military college and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree and a commission as a Flying Officer. During his summers, he was posted to Centralia, Rivers, and 6 Repair Depot Trenton. On graduation, he was transferred to 6 Repair Depot. In 1970, he was posted to RMC as a lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He left the military as a Captain in 1973 and went on to pursue a career as an engineering consultant. He is a three-year member of The Royal Canadian Legion Alliston Branch 171. We Will Remember Them Ontario Command
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