The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 129 HAMILTON, John Ernest Burns WWII Burns was born in Wawota, Saskatchewan in 1920. In the fall of 1940, Burns filled out an application for RCE Regina. He was categorized as a “B” man because of the loss of a thumb. As the war progressed, they began to accept “B” men. On October 16, 1941, Burns enlisted in the 101 L.A.A. Battery. He was on the Cape Town Castle, the flagship in the 24 ships to cross the Atlantic. He trained in Claxton, England as a bombardier (gunner). Orders arrived and they were moved to allied headquarters at Portsmouth, then crossing the English Channel. After landing in France, they spent two days getting guns ready, then into action. Burns served in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany during the Second World War. He returned home in 1945. He was a member of Wawota Legion Branch 113 for more than thirty years. Burns passed away in 1991. HANNAH, Arthur James “Jim” WWII Arthur, known to all as Jim, was the sixth and youngest son of Bob and Kate. He was born in Frobisher, Saskatchewan on July 6, 1926. His other siblings were: Gordon, Harold, Robert, Ernest, Alma and Patricia. Jim attended Frobisher School. As a young lad, he enjoyed playing baseball and hockey. He held various jobs working on the CN Railway, driving a truck for Hamill & Goodwin and helped with the threshing. In 1945, he enlisted in the Canadian Army during the Second World War and when the war ended, he decided to take a barbering course in Moose Jaw. Upon completion of his course, he followed his father’s footsteps and started barbering in Frobisher on October 29, 1947 (a haircut cost fifty cents). He married schoolteacher Olive Jennie McConville on July 22, 1952. They had four children: Margaret Ellen, Arthur Stanley, Betty-Ann and Douglas Wayne. Their golden years of retirement were spent in the Frobisher. HANNAH, Ernest “Ernie” WWII Ernie, the fourth child of Robert Henry and Catherine Rosella Hannah, was born on October 28, 1920 in Wakaw, Saskatchewan. He had three older brothers: Gordon, Harold and Robert and one younger sister, Alma. The family moved to Alameda in 1924 and then to Frobisher. Two more siblings joined the family, Jim and Patricia. Horses were always a passion and a joy in Ernie’s life. He started and completed his education in Frobisher. Life was not easy for a teenage boy in the 1930’s. Ernie worked on a farm for the sum of one dollar per week. Gathering clouds of war over Europe and other world events brought about a significant change in the lives of the Hannah family – sons were heading off to war. On April 12, 1940, Ernie enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment at Weyburn during the Second World War. Once overseas, he held many positions on coastal defence such as rifleman (foot slogger), signalman (delivered messages from headquarters to the office), transport, and chauffeur (drove an officer for a year). Ernie returned to Canada on July 22, 1945 to Frobisher. The return home was a time of new beginnings. His brother, Bob had been killed in the war and his mother also died when he was away. He married Linda Emma Nagel on October 28, 1947 at the church manse by Rev Billy Graham. To this union were born – Robert James, Kathryn Colleen and Melvin Gordon. Travel was part of Ernie and Linda’s retirement plans – a Legion trip to Europe to relive memories of the war. They moved to Yorkton on March 21, 1977 along with the horses. Ernie passed away on September 12, 1999.
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