VETERANS’ SERVICE RECOGNITION BOOK – VOLUME 18 / 27 THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND COMMAND CANNON, William “Willie” WWII Willie was born in Pownal, PEI, in 1921, the son of Cecelia and Daniel Cannon and grew up in Mount Mellick. He enlisted in the Army and was a rifleman with the Regina Rifle Regiment serving in Europe during World War II. Willie was killed in action on February 16, 1945, in The Netherlands, at the age of 24. He is buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. BURDETTE, Alton Josiah WWII Alton Josiah Burdette was born in Fairview to parents Thomas and Harriet (Gorveatt). His siblings: Freda, Eleanor, Norma, Gloria, Edison. Following the outbreak of World War II, Alton joined the Canadian Army until 1942. He then became a member of the First Special Service Force, known as “The Devil’s Brigade” from 1942 to 1944. The Devil’s Brigade was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit. The unit was invaluable to operations in Italy. Alton married Sadie Munn and they settled in Toronto, Ontario. Alton had two children: John and Jean. BUOTE, Joseph Ernest WWII Joseph was born in Mayfield, PEI in 1918. He enlisted to serve during World War II as a volunteer in the Canadian Army on April 15, 1943. His basic training as an infantryman was conducted in Charlottetown, PEI and in Aldershot, NS with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. Initially, in 1943, he served in Mulgrave, NS with the regiment guarding the Strait of Canso. His unit was transferred to England later that year where it trained and readied for the Battle of Normandy. In June 1944, his regiment landed at Juno Beach as part of the Ninth Canadian Infantry Brigade. Following days of combat with his platoon, he received a head wound during a night mortar attack outside of Caen and was evacuated to England. Following weeks of recuperation, he was transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps and served in Scotland as a professional woodsman in military camps near Loch Ness. At wars end, and with demobilization, he was repatriated to Canada to join his wife Clarice and three children on Prince Edward Island and was honourably released on July 24, 1945. He was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion North Rustico Branch 13 for 45 years. Joseph passed away in 2004.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==