Sapper Frederick Arthur Bidwell and his twin brother Percy Albert were born in South Wimbledon, Surrey, England to Percy Albert Bidwell and of Mary Louisa Bidwell (nee Stillwell). He had come to Canada with his family as a boy.
Corporal Albert William Slade was born in Reading, England and came to Canada as a young man. His father had been killed during the First World War and his mother had died many years earlier.
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This is the final of five parts and tells the stories of sapper sacrifice during the Battle of the Scheldt. Each story has been researched using the official history of the Royal Canadian Engineers, unit war diaries, unit histories, service records and other available references. Contributions to enhance the completeness and accuracy of the stories will be welcomed and appreciated. |
Sapper Charlie Johnston was born in Victoria Beach, Manitoba, the son of Charles and Harriet Johnston of Great Falls, Manitoba. He grew up on the family farm and was living in Great Falls when he enlisted at Camp Shilo on 9 July 1942. He declared his occupation as being a farmer but said he wanted to be a pipefitter after the war. Charlie reported that he had spent 30 days at the Canadian Army Basic Training Centre with the Winnipeg Light Infantry (November - December 1940) and did not want to go to the infantry but would accept a position in the artillery.
Lance Corporal Murdock Alexander MacDonald was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, to John and Catherine MacDonald, the first of six sons. He left school at age 13 and worked cutting pulpwood every winter and on the family farm in Mabou, Nova Scotia during the summer months.
Sapper Norman Walter Trithart was born in Kipling. Saskatchewan to Anton and Marie Trithart. His was a mixed family of 12 children after his mother died and his father re-married. One brother, Herbert, was serving overseas when he joined the army and returned safely after the war.
Sapper Donald Albion Gunning was born in Ruthven, Ontario to Frank and Lena Gunning. He enlisted in the 11th Field Company in Windsor, Ontario on 22 September 1939. He was a garage mechanic and had worked for four years at the Hudson Motor Garage in Leamington, Ontario.
Robert Strahan Milne was born in Fraserborough, Aberdeenshire Scotland, the son of Franklin and Deboris Anne Bell. He came to Canada with his family and settled in southern Ontario. His declared his trade as painter when he enlisted in London, Ontario in May 1940. He was married at the time and living in Mooretown, Ontario.
Sapper Frank Arnold Lowe was born in Boutilier Point, Nova Scotia, the on of James and Jessie Lowe, of Moser's River, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia. He enlisted in the 1st Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers in Halifax on 18 November 1939.