The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 299 NEWSTEAD, Melvin WWII Melvin was born in 1915 at Balcarres and grew up on the farm. He enlisted in the RCA in 1942 and after being discharged he came to Arborfield in 1946 and worked for Clarence (Slim) Petrie and built a house on his brother Les’s homestead. Mel applied for Veterans’ Land Act land and on October 22, 1946, he married Irene Boisjolie and moved the house to their land. They raised three children: Diane, David and Russell. He joined the Arborfield Legion and Irene joined the Legion Auxiliary. Mel passed away suddenly in 1968 and Irene and the boys moved to Oliver. Diane and family live in Toronto. Irene passed away on December 16, 1998 and is buried at Balcarres, Saskatchewan. NICHOLSON, John Roger WWII John was born in Dubuc, Saskatchewan, on November 11, 1924. He enlisted in the Air Force as a mechanic in 1943 and served four years in Canada. He received a certificate for first aid to the injured on December 7, 1943 and was a member of the Dubuc Branch #77 of The Royal Canadian Legion. He passed away on September 10, 2004. NILLSON, Karl WWII Karl was born in Marchwell, Saskatchewan, on January 28, 1915. He joined the RCE on January 27, 1943, serving in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe and was discharged on February 23, 1946. After the war, he worked in construction, mostly grain elevators and some work on farms. He loved watching hockey and baseball and going fishing. He retired to Marchwell and later moved to Langenburg, Saskatchewan. NILLSON, John Walter WWII John joined the Royal Canadian Engineers on June 8, 1942 and was sent to Sussex, New Brunswick for boat training and then to Box Hill, England, Scotland and other British Isles. After a few months training, he was sent to the front line in Belgium, Holland, France and Germany to build bridges after they had been blown up by the Germans. In France, they were sent out to rescue Allied Troops that were trapped across the Rhine River and bring them to their side amid flying bullets. A few days later, during the night, he helped to build a bridge across the Rhine River for troops, armoured carriers, and tanks to cross in Arnhem. They were captured while still asleep. When the war was over, he was sent back to Canada and received his discharge on December 4, 1945.
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