PREECEVILLE-The Remembrance Banners that are mounted on the highway are a salute to local heroes of the First World War and those of Second World War veterans who were killed in action, stated Agnes Murrin, Preeceville Legion and Museum member. There are 17 banners honoring 34 veterans from Preeceville and area. This year another 18 names were added to the banners making a total of 35 double sided banners.
Each banner includes the name of the veteran; whether they served in the army, navy or air force; their rank, the years they lived and the field of battle. Also included is their picture if available.
The many veterans gave the ultimate sacrifice and their names were on the Cenotaph or the Memorial in front of the Legion Hall.
The Banner project had been discussed for a few years, since the First World War plaques were installed beside the graves in the local cemeteries.
“The Preeceville Economical Development Committee endorsed and supported the project. The Preeceville and District Heritage Museum had a lot of the information and quite a few of the pictures so it was a good partnership,” said Murrin.
The funding for the project came from the EDC, the Preeceville Legion and a donation from the Preeceville Lions Club. This was a successful project with thanks to everyone who worked together to see the project completed.
The Banners will remain up through the month of November and then be safely stored till next year.
Veterans honoured and featured on the banners were:
First World War veterans- John Apps, 1897-1917. Private in the Army, served in France; William James Gillespie, 1887-1916, Army Private, served in France; Herbert Duguid, 1889-1918, Army, Private, served in France; Melvin Conrad Grice, 1889-1918, Army, Private, served in France; Thomas Joseph Healy, 1886-1916, Army, Private, served in Belgium; Alfred T. Hermanson, 1885-1918, Army, Private, served in France; Sever John Johnson, 1884-1918, Army, Private, served in France; Gilbert Stuart MacDonald, 1889-1917, Army, Private, served in France; Alexander (Alex) Mathieson, 1894-1916, Army, Private, served in France; George Francis Popple, 1896-1917, Army, Private, served in France; Harold Maxwell Turrell, 1896-1917, Army, Private, served in France; Arnold Sofus Petersen, 1891- 1973, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; Clarence Gust Swanson, 1895-1918, Army, Private; Henry Selmer Swan, 1891-1977, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; Harry William Peel, 1887-1966, Army, Corporal, served in England; Thomas Henry Miller, 1897-1983, Army, Private, served in Belgium, Holland and France, and Frans Gustaf Melander, 1881-1917, Army, Gunner, served in France.
Second World War veterans- John William Adamson, 1920-1943, Air Force, Warrant Officer, served in England; Clifford Norman Aune, 1924-1945, Air Force, Pilot Officer, served in England; William (Billy) Daschuk, 1923-1943, Air Force, Sergeant, served in Canada; Gordon Albert Elleraas, 1919- 1944, Army, Lance Corporal, served in Belgium; Willard Albert Ellison, 1916-1945, Army, Private, served in Netherlands; Norman Clayton Hanson, 1916-1944, Army, Sapper, served in France; Edgar Washington Hearne, 1920-1946, Air Force, Corporal served in Canada; Alvin Gordon Lindstrom, 1921-1945, Army, Private, served in the Netherlands; Harry N. Luciow, 1915-1944, Army, Private, served in France; Robert Walter Neill, 1912-1942, Air Force, Flying Officer, served in England; John Sven Overland, 1925-1944, Air Force, Sergeant served in England; Fred Perpelitz, 1920-1944, Army, Private, served in Italy; Harry L. Rachkewich, 1916-1944, Army, Rifleman, served in France; Clifford Lester Reitlo, 1921-1945, Air Force, Flying Officer, served in England; Nels Marvin Sando, 1916-1944, Army, Private, served in Belgium; George Ralph Blackmore, 1912-1941, Air Force, Sergeant, served in England, and James Charlie Carragher, 1918-1944, Army, Trooper, served in France.
Veterans who were added this year to complete the banner project were:
First World War- Herman Judas Lundquist, 1892-1980, Army, served in France and Belgium; George Henry Hawkins, 1891-1970, Army, Private, served in France and Belgium; Oscar Conrad Carlson, 1895-1993, Army, Private, served in France; Douglas Welles Bentley, 1897-1977, Army, Private, served in France; Vonder Willard Lindstrom, 1896-1974, Army, Private, served in France; Elmer Saughmyhr, 1896-1971, Army, Private, served in France; Norman H. Wall, 1899-1996, Army, Private, served in France and Belgium; Ira William Pipher, 1895-1969, Army, Private, served in France; Herman Nellman Nordtweten,1897-1986, Army, Private, served in Canada; Walter Harold Downs, 1895-1957, Army, Private, served in France; George Arthur Gunn, 1897-1950, Army, Private, served in France; Charles Hilton, 1888-1956, Army Private, served in Middle East, Egypt and France; Frank Alexander Gunn, 1893-1978, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; John Montgomery Gunn, 1898-1978, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; Sydney John Beech, 1892-1981, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; Oscar Adolf Clementson, 1889-1969, Army, Private, served in Belgium and France; Richard Edmond Hearn, 1891-1957, Army, Private, served in France and England; Charles Philip Grice, 1877-1936, Army, Private served in France; Thomas Larson, 1892-1976, Army, Private, served in England and France; John William (Jack) Hearn, 1895-1945, Army, Private, served in France; Ole Jorgen Elleraas, 1890-1958, Army, Private, served in France; Edwin Hovey, 1887-1985, Army, Private, served in England; Charles (Charley) Franklin Poole, 1881-1959, Army, Private, served in France; David Jacques,1889-1978, Army, Private, served in England and France; James Robert Wolfenden, 1881- 1936, Army, Lance Corporal, served in England and France; Alfred Capper, 1887-1966, Army, Private, served in France; Anton Olson Morken, 1885-1959, Army-Infantry, Private, served in France; William Glenmore Brooks, 1891-1967, Navy, Petty Officer, served in England; Allan Herbert Adamson, 1892-1967, Army Medic, Private, served in France; John Andrew Crozier, 1893-1988, Army, Private, served in France; Albert E. Pell, 1897-1934, Army Medical Corp, Private, served in France; Ralph Scarth, 1889-1982, Army, Lieutenant Corporal, served in France and Belgium; David William Campbell, 1885-1969, Army, Private, served in France, and Franklin Evans, 1881-1951, Army, Private, served in France.
World War I and World War II veteran, Edwin Kvern,1895-1971, Army, Private, served in France and Belgium, and World War 11 veteran, Lloyd Henry Smith, 1920-1944, Air Force, Pilot Officer, served in Belgium.
