A Tribute to Our Perth & Area Soldiers
Robert Borthwick and his brother, Joseph Borthwick – born and raised in Perth, then returned after the war and raised their own families there.
submitted by: Erin Borthwick
photo above: Sgt. William M. Allan, D Company (4.2 mortars), 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Landed at Normandy, June 6, 1944, D-Day. From the Scotch Line, Perth, ON. Became a Life Member, Perth-Upon-Tay Branch (244), Royal Canadian Legion.
(photo – used with permission of Lynne Allan -his daughter)
Crawford, Donald
Another poem by Don Crawford:
Crawford, Patrick
source for items on Patrick Crawford: Joanne Crawford
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source: Joanne Crawford
Murphy, Joseph Clement ‘J.C.’
photos submitted by: Allysa Murphy, great-grandaughter of Joseph Clement ‘J.C.’ Murphy
Soldiers marching down Gore Street in Perth
photo from the Perth Legion
photo above: Robert ‘Bob’ White, son of William White and Helen (Hannaford) White of Perth, brother of local sports legend Rusty White.
photo used with permission – his niece, Janice (Jordan) Gordon
“Mr. and Mrs. W. G. White received word that their son Robert J. “Bob” White, recently decorated with the Distinguished Flying Medal for gallantry in action, has now been promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer in the R.C.A.F. Overseas since January, 1942, and posted with the Bomber Command, he participated in some 25(?) raids on industrial Italy, Germany, and occupied France as navigator. On completing his operations he became an instructor and at present is carrying on in that capacity. Born 25 years ago in Perth, he attended the public school and P.C.I. and was very popular with his fellow students. Outstanding in athletics, Bob starred on Collegiate and town rugby teams for a number of years and made a name for himself as one of the great middle wings turned out at the P.C.I. In hockey he was a hard hitting defense man, playing junior hockey for four years he was regular defense man with the Blue Wings when they reached the Memorial Cup semi finals in 1938(?). After graduating from the junior ranks he played with the Perth Crescents and the Smiths Falls Mic Macs. Bob was also an outstanding Junior base ball player, starring at third base and at the plate where his heavy hitting was a real feature. Although his future operations with the R.C.A.F. are necessarily uncertain his many friends are wishing him every success and Perth is justly proud of her first decorated flyer in this Second Great War.
Flying Officer, Robert White Receives Medal From The King
“Fifteen members of the RCAF, most of whom are officers, attended a recent investiture at Buckingham Palace, to receive Distinguished Flying Medals from the King. Among those who received this honor and talked with the King was Flying Officer Robert “Bob” White, whose citation stated that the award was made for exceptional coolness and courage in raids on many important enemy targets. “Bob” has recently been promoted from Pilot Officer to Flying Officer and has been overseas since January of 1942. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. White, 15 Basin St., Perth.”
‘Perth Courier’, April 6, 1944
“F.O. Robert White, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. White, 15 Basin Street, has been posted as missing after air operations.”
‘Perth Courier’ August 17, 1944
F.O. Robert White Now Presumed to Have Died
“Mr. and Mrs. W. J. White, 15 Basin Street, have been advised by the Dept. of Defense, Ottawa, that their son, F.O. Robert White, who was reported missing after air operations over enemy territory on March 31, has now been presumed dead. A crew of seven manned the bomber which did not return and they are all presumed to have died. Shortly before he was reported missing on March 31, Bob was decorated with the D.C.M. at Buckingham Palace by the King.”
Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment “D” Company
Perth, Ontario, 1942
Back row, Left to rt: Gordon Rutherford, Arnold Douglas, Pte. Dodds, Fred Buker, Sydney Sparks, Tom Oxford, Del Blackburn.
First row, Left to rt: Hugh Douglas. Gilbert Blair, Jack Lackey, Leslie Fetlock, Pte. Aikman.
photo: ‘Perth Remembered’
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Missing from the Perth Courier’s list, but not forgotten:
Barrie, Henry, served in both WWI and WWII
Henry Barrie
Henry Barrie is in the top row, second from the left
(submitted by his grand-daughter Elaine Delisle)
Burns, George
(submitted by Brenda Burns)
Ferguson, Robert
Frizell, Ernest Darou, died 1943, buried overseas.
Goodson, Renfred ‘Bob’ Arthur
(submitted by Corinne Rivington)
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Hall, George Cecil
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Kanelakos, James; Flight Sergeant, DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal), POW
Laroque, Kenneth Joseph
Lee, Joseph Patrick
McGrattan, Kenneth Merle (Gillies Corners)
McGrattan, Marguerite Pauline
(Perth Courier, July 26, 1945 page 1)
Wilmer and Ormond Paul, from Poland, Ontario
“Ormond’s war record shows that he landed in Sicily, and served throughout Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Before he passed I asked him where he was when it was announced the war was over. His face lit up and he said, “I know exactly where I was. Nijmegen Holland.”
“Ormond Paul came home on the ‘Queen Elizabeth’, and was given a package with the Christmas dinner menu, a calendar for 1946, and a photo of the ship packed with soldiers.”
(notes from Roy Paul)
Left to Right: Wilmer Paul, Ormond Paul
Ormond Paul, in Italy, 1944
Paul, Ormond M.F. C-28750
Paul, Wilmer,
(from Poland, Ontario, photos submitted by Roy Paul)
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Rattray, Howard John
Rattray, Willard Arnold
Rattray, Clarence William
Rattray, John Elmer
(from Carleton Place) – submitted by Gloria Wilson
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Sweeney, Norman
Norman Sweeney
photo submitted by his daughter, Norma Sweeney
Weir, William Devlin
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Wood, Alva
Wood, Eldon ‘Pete’
Wood, Elva
(from Snow Road) – submitted by Trish Fournier
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Roll of Honour – Calvin United Church, Bathurst (Tay Valley) Township
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Local War Heroes: Kyle, McGlade, and Dicola
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
Article by ‘St. John’s School’, Perth, Ontario:
St. John’s School Playground
to Be Dedicated to Local Fallen Heroes and Veterans
“The St. John Playground Committee has chosen two local fallen Canadian Forces heroes and one local Veteran to be part of the dedication of their new playground.
The fundraising efforts for the new playground at the school taking place under the auspices of the Let Them Be Kids foundation dictates that any new playgrounds built are dedicated to a Canadian Forces fallen soldier or veteran from the area. After much reading and research by a Grade 6 class at the school, St. John’s has chosen Flying Officer William Kyle, Corporal James Michael McGlade, and veteran Corporal Francis DiCola to immortalize in the dedication of their new play structures.
Flying Officer William Kyle, born and raised in Perth, flew Dakota aircraft as a member of the RCAF 453 Transport Squadron based out of Tulihal, India. His squadron was responsible for moving freight and soldiers to and from various bases throughout the South Pacific. On June 21, 1945, a mission Kyle was on failed to return. The story of the missing aircraft came to prominence more than 50 years later, when the wreckage of the missing plane was discovered in the jungles of northwestern Myanmar (Burma), and Veterans Affairs Canada sought to uncover the wreckage and bring it home. Flying Officer Kyle’s watch, found at the scene, allowed Veterans Affairs to identify the crew and the plane.
Corporal James Michael McGlade, born in Perth and a graduate of St. John Separate School and PDCI High School, served the Canadian Forces as a member of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Corporal McGlade signed up for the military in 1940 and was deployed overseas in 1942. Stationed in Antwerp, Belgium, Corporal McGlade’s regiment was responsible for the liberation, capture and preservation of the vital harbour and dock facilities at Antwerp. He was killed there in 1944 and is buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery in Belgium.
Corporal Francis E. DiCola, also a graduate of St. John Separate School and PDCI, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a 17 year old in 1943. As a member of the RCAF Squadron 422 he was stationed at Pembroke Dock in Wales and worked as a radio operator. His job was to dispatch aircraft to various bases throughout Great Britain and the continent. While he was offered the opportunity to act as a guard during the Nuremberg Trials after the war, Corporal DiCola was anxious to return to Canada. He took advantage of the RCAF education packages offered to returning soldiers and took an economics degree at University of Toronto before returning to Perth to run the family business, DiCola Petroleum. Here he raised 7 children with his wife, Rose, and as a businessman and father, has contributed to countless endeavors in our community.
St. John’s is proud to dedicate their new play structures and schoolyard to these local Forces heroes. While the children are playing on the structures building their bodies and friendships, may they also be aware of these brave men who gave of themselves so that we could be free.”
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Be Sure to Visit the Perth Legion Hall of Remembrance:
The Hall of Remembrance displays include artifacts donated by local veterans and their families such as war medals, letters, photographs, souvenirs, and display cabinets featuring army and navy memorabilia. The collection focuses on Perth and area’s contributions in World War I, World War II, Korea, Cold War, peacekeeping missions, and Afghanistan.
http://www.hallofremembrance.ca/exhibits/index.html
Hall of Remembrance – Royal Canadian Legion Branch 244, Perth-Upon-Tay – 26 Beckwith Street East Perth, ON K7H 1B5 Tel: 613-267-4400 (Office)
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Library and Archives Canada Links for WWII Research:
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Search the Canadian Fallen Heroes Database:
Canadian Fallen Heroes Database
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This tribute is
in memory of all of the soldiers from the Perth area
who fought bravely for our country,
so that we might live in peace and freedom.
Lest We Forget……
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Arlene Stafford-Wilson
Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
Honorary Life Member, Lanark County Genealogical Society
Lanark County Pioneer Families Humanitarian Award
Author of : “Lanark County Christmas”, “Lanark County Comfort”, “Lanark County Collection”, “Lanark County Calling”, “Lanark County Classics”, “Lanark County Connections”, “Lanark County Calendar”, “Lanark County Chronicle”, “Lanark County Kid”, & “Recipes & Recollections”
and, “Lanark County Kitchen: A Maple Legacy from Tree to Table”
arlene stafford wilson 