WW II

Frank Rufus Sheepwash was the son of Edward Edwin and Emma Jane Sheepwash, of Delson Village, Quebec. He was born in La Prairie, Quebec.

Heinen was the son of immigrants, Fred (Dutch) and Melanie (French) Heinen, who came from Holland to homestead just northeast of Kelfield, SK in 1911. Albert was born at Leipzig, SK and the following year, the family moved to Wilkie, SK.  He was a good student throughout his public school years but only completed Grade VIII.

Ivan Halvorson was born in Vantage, Saskatchewan to John Halvorson and Mary Halvorson, both immigrants from Norway.  He was eighth in a family of ten children. His family relocated to Fairview, Alberta where Ivan completed his schooling to Grade Eight. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in May 1941 declaring his trade as labourer and farm worker on the family farm. He was assigned to the 10^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers and kept in Edmonton until mid-August when he joined his unit in Petawawa, Ontario for training.

Robert Thomas Grewcutt was born in Coleman, Alberta, the son of Ebe and Mary Horne.

He was employed as a telegraph clerk working for the Canadian Pacific Railway when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in August 1941. He expressed an interest in becoming a motor mechanic on enlistment. The enlist office selected him as ‘good sapper material’ with leadership potential and noted he was not interested in clerical work. He was 19 years old.

Allan Clifford Fyfe was born on St. Josephs Island, ON in 1923.  He was living in Sault Ste. Marie, ON when he was conscripted for home service on 20 November 1940. He had been working after school in his brother’s furnace business as a truck driver and tinsmith. His enrollment papers attest to his skills in air conditioning and motor mechanics.

Harry Ford was the son of Campbell and Grace Ford of Strathmiglo in the county of Fife in Scotland.

Harry was working as a carpenter and living in Medicine Hat when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Calgary in July 1940.  Harry was immediately posted to the 10^th Field Company and was in Petawawa for training the following month.  Harry was with the company when it was re-roled as a field squadron and assigned to the 1^st Canadian Armoured Division (Later re-named the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division) in February 1941.

Robert Charles Clark came from Calgary, AB where he attended Balmoral and Western Canada High School, the son of Charles and Sarah Clark.  He enlisted in the Calgary Highlanders in September 1939 after having served in the Calgary Regiment (Tanks).  Still too young to be posted overseas, he served at District HQ until 1940 when he was posted to the 10^th Field Squadron in Camp Petawawa where, based on his previous service, he qualified as a driver-mechanic and clerk. He arrived in the United Kingdom in November of that year with his squadron.

John Henry Joseph Chamberlain was born in Beebe, Vermont.  His family moved to Saskatchewan in 1919 and later to Dawson Creek, BC.  He had completed two years of high school when he started working as a chainman on a survey crew in Pouce Coupe, BC.  He was still an American citizen when he enlisted on 24 July 1940 in Dawson Creek.  He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers and posted to the 10^th Field Squadron as a Sapper.  After training in Lethbridge, Alberta, the squadron moved to Camp Petawawa, Ontario in September.