Private Chas (Charlie) Dell
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45
Royal Montreal Regiment
WW II
Chas (Charlie) Dell was born 28 July 1923 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan to Henry and Elizabeth (Deg) Dell. He was the third of 7 children, Elsie (Macmillan), Tillie (Tuford), Charlie, Violet, Fred, Mabel (Leech), Pearl, and Gerald. The family lived in Lloydminster until 1926, Charlie was 3, when they moved to Portage la Prairie where Charlie grew up and got his education.
Henry Dell, Charlie’s father, enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps 08 July 1940 and his brother Fred also enlisted while underage. Charlie joined the Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) in New Westminster, British Columbia and after training was sent to England. The RMR was initially a Machine Gun unit when sent to England and in January 1943 they were re-designated as a Reconnaissance Regiment and became part of the Canadian Armoured Corps. They were converted back to Infantry in April 1944 and designated as the First Army Headquarters Defence Company (RMR). They left for France 28 July 1944, Charlie’s 21st birthday. Charlie served in France and Holland. It was in Amsterdam that he met his future wife.
In 1945, after the war and while stationed in Amsterdam, Charlie met and married Helena (Lenie) Kassteen. Charlie was repatriated in late 1945 and Lenie came to Canada as a war bride, sometime in 1946. They settled in Portage la Prairie, where Charlie had grown up, and started to build a life together. Charlie and Lenie had 4 children Ralph, John, Terry and Grace while living in Portage la Prairie. They moved to Morden in 1954 and had another daughter, Lenie.
Charlie went to work for Manitoba Telephone System in 1947 and stayed with them until retirement in 1982. Throughout his time in Morden he was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion. The Legion was a big supporter of children’s sporting activities and Charlie spent much of his time coaching baseball in the summer and supporting his kid’s hockey endeavors in the winter.
Chas (Charlie) Dell died 24 July 1991 at 67 years, just 4 days short of his 68th birthday. He is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Morden, Manitoba.
Sapper John Dyck
1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45
Royal Canadian Engineers
25 October 1919 – 30 March 1988
John was born 25 October 1919, the second of four children of John and Maria Dyck. He grew up in the Lowe Farm area and enrolled in the Canadian Forces in the fall of 1942 at Plum Coulee. As a farm kid he had gained lots of mechanical experience, fixing equipment, and ended up being a mechanic – driver. He served in France and Germany until the end of the war and was returned to Canada. He was demobilized, 02 April 1946, and wasted no time getting to Morden to see the girl he had met a before being sent to Europe. John went directly to the Masons Hospital, she was a nurse, and asked for her. The Matron went and found her and said,” Agatha, there’s a soldier here to see you.” John and Agatha Peters were married 23 June 1946, a short 2 1/2 months after his return.
John worked as a mechanic for a short time but eventually ended up at the Morden Experimental Farm, now the Morden Research Station, and became a Steam Fitter a certification he maintained for the remainder of his life.
John and Agatha lived most of their married life in three different houses on First Street and raised three children. Linda 1954, Ronald 1955 and Sharon 1959. John participated in many Legion activities. He and Agatha were also involved in the Horticulture Society and won some community awards for landscaping. He enjoyed experimenting with the grafting of apple trees, something he did for more than 20 years, and some of his handy-work is still growing at 337 First Street.
John was a great believer in the Credit Union organization and got involved as board member, eventually becoming the manager of the Morden Credit Union in the early seventies. He was the manager when Morden, Manitou and Miami Credit Unions merged and remained as the overall manager until his health forced him to retire in 1984.
John always loved his work but his passion was fishing and it did not take much convincing that this would be a good week to go to Grand Rapids. He enjoyed his trips with friends but loved the trips with his family, especially after there were grandchildren that went as well. There were days he would just drive the boat and never put a hook in the water because, “its way more fun watching everybody else catch fish”. Many friends and family that went fishing with John, got Master Angler Awards but that honour never fell on him. Just too busy watching and enjoying the fun.
Johns was diagnosed with lung cancer (Mesotheliomia) mid 1987, the result of working with asbestos as a Steam Fitter. He passed away 30 March 1988.
Information submitted by Linda and Sharon.
Gunner Francis (Frank) Doney
1939 - 1945 Star, France & Germany Star, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45 Canadian Korea Medal, Canadian VolunteerService Medal for Korea, UN Korea Medal
Fort Garry Horse WWII
Signal Corps Korea
(1920-2014)
Frank was born in Morden and grew up on the family farm northwest of Thornhill. At the age of 17 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces, serving with the Fort Garry Horse – Light Artillery. In WWII, Frank served as Gunner in the #5 Coy, Canadian Forestry Corps in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe from 1940-1945.
Frank served from 1950-1952 as a Signalman in the Canadian Army Special Force, Signal Corps in Korea where he was awarded the Korea Medal.
In 1953 in Winnipeg, he married Iris Wilhelmina Annie Scott of London, England and made their home back in Thornhill. They were blessed with two children, Malcolm and Susan.
In 1965 the family farm was sold and the Doney’s moved to 12th street in Morden across from the park. In Morden he held several occupations including machinery mechanic, pipeline laborer, Stationary Engineer at Morden Fine Foods, Morden Hospital, and CSP Foods in Altona.
Frank’s participation in two international conflicts remained especially important to him as he became involved with the Morden chapter of the Royal Canadian Legion. He helped organize sports programs, and bingos. Frank was a life member of the Legion and served on the executive and one term as President in 1970. Speaking to students about Remembrance Day was incredibly important to him; he and Iris continued to take part in school ceremonies well into retirement.
Information submitted by Sue (Doney) and Murray Braun
Corporal Iris Wilhelmina (Scott) Doney
Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45
Women’s auxiliary Air Force
1921-2008
WW II
Iris was born and raised in London, England. Her father served in the Second Boer War and in the Black Watch Regiment as a Sergeant Major and in World War I. In 1940 she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). One of her responsibilities during the war was to deliver parts by plane to various airfields in England. She was discharged from the service in 1946 at the rank of Corporal.
In 1948, Iris moved to Lethbridge, Alberta to live with her sister Lily and husband John Doney (Frank’s brother) where she worked in a dress shop and specialized as a graduate corsetiere. In 1951 she moved to Winnipeg and worked at The Bay until she married Frank in 1953. Iris and Frank moved to the Thornhill farm and raised their two children, Malcolm and Susan. In 1965, the farm was sold and they moved to Morden.
Iris became involved in the Morden Horticultural Society and everyone enjoyed her English style garden. She worked at the Simpson’s mail order office and Appelt’s Jewelry in the 1960’s and then worked at the Elementary School library. In the 1970’s she worked at the Morden Town Library and was known as “the library lady” until she retired. Iris was a long serving member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Information submitted by Sue (Doney) and Murray Braun