The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 241 Pleasantdale Branch 227 was granted its charter in July 1940. Charter members were: N.M. Bonderud, G. Brooks, C. Bunnah, H.W. Bunnah, F.C. Corley, W. Date, J.C. Harley, M.M. Lynam, R.W. Moss, J.M. Nichol, S.B. Shields, F. Walton, S. Webb, R.A. Wilkinson and G.W. Wingham. The Legion held meetings in the school or Municipal Office until it purchased its own building from the Beaver Lumber Company on Main Street in Pleasantdale. In 1945, land was bought from the CPR for $125.00 and the building was moved to the southwest corner. This established a “Legion Hut” on “Legion Grounds.” In 1952-53, Daleville School needed space for Grades I to V and the Legion Hut became a classroom for thirty-six pupils. The Legion then cleared the grounds to make way for a sports ground. Booths and ball diamonds were built and sports days were conducted for years. Boy Scouts and minor sports were sponsored. An open-air skating rink was built and later turned over to the community. The Legion Hut was later sold to the Pleasantdale Community Club. The club moved the building to another location and turned it into a booth. Then the Legion began to share the Ladies’ Auxiliary premises on Main Street. Many building improvements were made. In 1983, a 25-year agreement was struck with the New Horizon Senior Citizens to share the facility. There is a joint Building Fund Committee that manages the premises. The building is used by the public at a low rental rate. The Branch has a history of working closely with the school. The Branch has sponsored the Essay, Poem and poster contest, and over the years has presented many monetary and plaque prize awards to winners at the local, Zone, District and Provincial and Dominion levels. Other cash donations have been made. The school has responded by hosting the Remembrance Day Service. The Community Ladies have been supportive by serving lunch after the service. The school closed in June of 2006. The Branch has been visible in Homecoming parades, Decoration Days, and many fund raising bingos. Membership is currently eleven. LADIES’AUXILIARY TO PLEASANTDALE BRANCH 227 A Charter of the British Empire Service League Ladies’ Auxiliary was granted in 1941 with fourteen members: E.G. Ashmead, C. Brooks, A. Haddon, C. Lynam, W. McPhail, E. Olson, E. Wilks, K. Bonderud, M. Convery, A. Lindsay, J. McMillan, M. Moss, F. Whittaker and H. Wilkinson. The Ladies held meetings in Daleville School and in the homes of each member until the group purchased a building on Main Street in 1955. During World War II, the Auxiliary sent parcels of food, clothes and cigarettes to the servicemen overseas. Also, beneficiaries of war and post-war care packages were the Williams and Lawrence families in England. One parcel contained gum, shortening, butter, tapioca puddings, Jello powders, syrup, pie, tea, rice, candy and Swansdown cake flour. The value of the goods was $5.63 and the postage was $2.50. Contributions were made to Milk for Britain Fund, The Poppy Fund, the Benevolent Fund, DVA Hospital, TVS Tubercular and Mental Hospitals for Veterans, and the Comfort Fund for Veterans. The Auxiliary helped the Legion and catered to many functions put on by the men. The largest were the annual picnics, when enough food was supplied and donated by the ladies to serve five hundred people. The Auxiliary also catered to showers and weddings. Membership once was twenty-three, but as members moved away or passed on, it became necessary to dissolve the Auxiliary in 2004. PLEASANTDALE BRANCH 227 Eatonia Legion Branch # 233 is located in the small town of Eatonia, about two and one-half hours southwest of Saskatoon, and about twenty-seven miles southwest of Kindersley, with a population of 450-500 people. The first meeting of the Eatonia Legion was held on September 20, 1944. It was first known as the British Empire Service League. The Charter Members were: H. Humphries, W.J. Cleland, V.O. Peters, J. Kernelaguen, H. Dunbar, A. Bolding, W.G. Gillies, G.D. Melville, D.M. Meloche, F. Stevens, A. Mathews, H. Lundy, J.W. Hanson, A.F. Kohne, J.J Carr, J.H. Prucha, W.E. Roger, E.C.F.L. Lewsis, and J. Benner. H. Humphries was elected President, W.J. Cleland was elected Vice-President, V.O. Peters was elected Secretary/Treasurer, and H. Dunbar was elected Sergeant-at-Arms. EATONIA BRANCH 233 (Cont’d...)
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