Elmer Vernon Stewart was born and grew up in Kelwood, Manitoba in a family of ten brothers and sisters. He was married and had served in the reserves for a month when he enlisted on 20 October 1941 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He had completed public school (Grade 8) in Kelwood and had been working as a farmer.
On the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, the CMEA reminds of our 19 Sappers who were killed during the assault. This project started in 2014, for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, when the Juno Beach Center sought to recognize each Canadian Soldier who died on 6 June 1944 during the Normandy Invasion. The CMEA ensured that an appropriate tribute was published for each of our 19 D-Day Fallen Sappers.
William “Bill” Wood was born in Dumfermine, Fifeshire, Scotland, the son and only child of William and Annie Candlish Wood. The family emigrated to Canada and settled in Calgary, Alberta where Bill attended school until Grade 10.
Bill was working in a cement factory and living with his parents when he enlisted in the army on 27 August 1941. He was immediately posted the A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Camp Petawawa, Ontario and transferred to the 10th Field Squadron on 11 September.
William Henry Francis Standish was born in Calgary, Alberta to Francis and Minerva Standish. He was married with two children and living in Lethbridge, Alberta when he enlisted on 13 July 1940. He had prior reserve service in the 91st Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery from June 1933 until February 1935, and stated his occupation was farmer. He was immediately sent to the 3rd Field Company at Camp Petawawa, Ontario for training at A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre.
William Wylie was born in Ballymena, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Ireland to William and Mary Wylie. The family, that eventually included eleven children, immigrated to Canada when William was seven. They settled in Georgetown, Ontario.
Everett Clinton Nichol was born to Edward Stanley and Hazel Nichol of Truax, SK. Everett came from a big family; he had five sisters and six brothers when he enlisted in the 14th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers 19 September 1939 in Regina, SK. He declared he had been working as a mechanic and as a cook’s helper on his attestation paper.
Hugh John Nelson was born in Battleford, SK, to Frederick and Lily Nelson. When he was young, his family moved to Eburne, BC where he was working as a truck driver when he enlisted in the Army on 24 August 1942 in Vancouver, BC. Sapper Nelson received basic training in Chilliwack and arrived in the UK on 1 April 1943. He was assigned to the Engineer Reinforcement Unit where he qualified as a Class III Driver and Group ‘C’ Driver-Operator (Heavy Equipment).
Arthur William “Bill” Lee was born in Fulford Harbour, Saltspring Island, BC, the son of William Hudson Lee and Margaret Christina Lee. He enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force in July 1940 in Victoria, BC. He had completed three years of high school in Ganges, BC and declared he was a labourer and had a motorcycle licence at that time. He was directly assigned to the 4th Field Park Troop in North Vancouver, BC. The Troop was posted to Camp Petawawa in January 1941 where Bill continued his training.
Keith Warren Merrick was born in Malden, Washington, USA and came to northern British Columbia as a child. He was working on the family farm in Pouce Coupe BC when he went to Dawson Creek, BC to enlist in the army on 24 July 1940.