Private Henry Feakes
1939 - 1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, 1939-45 war Medal
Lake Superior Regiment
WW II
Henry Feakes was born 14 November 1922 in the village of Weidenfeld, Manitoba. The family moved to Plum Coulee, Manitoba when Henry was 4 years old. As a young boy and as a young man he worked as a farm labourer and also on the railroad.
Henry enlisted in the Armed Forces of Canada 22 April 1943 and received his basic training in Winnipeg. With German U-boat activity in the St. Lawrence some elements of the Canadian Army did serve in guarding the Seaway and Henry served in this capacity. Henry married Eva Wall 21 November 1943 in Morden, Manitoba, just prior to his transfer to the Lake Superior Regiment (Motorized).
The Regiment landed in Normandy 20 July 1944 and for the next 10 months assisted in the task of pushing back the German armies in France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. The LSR (Motorized) engaging in many of the major battles during this time. Henry served with the Regiment until repatriated in 1945.
Henry returned to Canada aboard the hospital ship, Lady Nelson, and then to Winnipeg by train. He was discharged 19 December 1945 and returned to Plum Coulee. Once back home Henry became a well-known carpenter and volunteer firefighter, serving 41 years, and also became a charter member of the Plum Coulee Kinsman Club in 1957 and served until the charter was dissolved 11 June 1973. Henry live in Plum Coulee until he was 90 years old.
Henry Feakes passed away at the Boundary Trails Health Centre in 2014 and is buried in the Plum Coulee Cemetery, Plum Coulee, Manitoba.
Information from Thunder Bay Museum Regimental History and the Family
Corporal Harvey Peter Friesen
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, 1939 – 45 War Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, Minister of Veteran’s Affairs Commendation
Canadian Army WW II
Harvey Peter Friesen was born 14 June 1926, the fifth of seven children born to Peter T. and Agatha Friesen. He was a brother to Mabel, Katherine, Lillian, Florence, Kenneth, and Deanna. They were raised at their family home on Eighth Street in Winkler, Manitoba. As the children matured, they were employed in the family printing business and worked alongside their parents.
Harvey enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1943 and upon completion of basic training was sent to Central Technical School in Toronto, 14 July 1944, where he took a 12 week Course in Machine Operation. Upon completion he returned to Manitoba and continued training at Camp Shilo where he finished Advanced Infantry Training in early 1945. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal (Cpl) and then volunteered for the Army’s Chemical Warfare Testing Program in Suffield, Alberta. After being stuck in the sand dunes at Shiloh, a change of scenery as well as an extra 50 cents on top of their regular $1.50 a day, was appealing.
Cpl Friesen along with the other volunteers arrived at Suffield in early March 1945 and the testing began about four weeks later. Wearing only gas masks and regular army uniforms, the volunteers were taken to an open field and arranged in a semi-circle. In the middle was a canister containing mustard gas. The gas was released and the soldiers were enveloped in the cloud of poisoned vapor.
Reeking with the gas, the men were then taken to a heated room where the most sensitive parts of their bodies - scalp, armpits, knees and elbow bends, necks and groins, soon became laced with the gas and broke out in big, painful blisters. After being hospitalized for about 10 days, the volunteers were returned to their barracks. A medical officer dropped in from time to time to check on the young soldiers but there was no treatment given. When most had recovered, the men were shipped home by train for two weeks leave and then returned to Camp Shiloh. Since the war in Europe was winding down Harvey volunteered for the war against the Japanese in the Pacific but that portion of World War II soon ended and Harvey remained in Canada. He was discharged on 10 July 1946. Harvey slowly healed, but suffered after effects of the mustard gas experiments with weeping blisters into the 1950’s.
Upon his return home Harvey worked with his comrades to establish a local Legion Branch in Winkler, however the Branch relinquished its charter in 1951. Harvey maintained his connection to the Royal Canadian Legion as a member of Branch 11, in Morden.
Harvey always had the best interests of the Legion and Veterans' welfare foremost in his mind and he demonstrated his commitment to fellow comrades, representing the Legion in an extremely positive and proud manner. He and his fellow Comrades lobbied tirelessly for the erection of a Memorial Cenotaph in Winkler. Their efforts were rewarded in 1999 when the Town Council agreed to the project. After 50 years of service, to the Royal Canadian Legion, Harvey was awarded a Life Membership in 2004.
Additionally, Harvey lobbied Canada’s Minister of National Defense, for many years, seeking recognition for the Veterans who were exposed to and injured in, the mustard gas experiments. His advocacy was rewarded when, the Government announced compensation for those Veterans. On 26 August 2005 a memorial plaque was erected at the Suffield Experimental Station in Suffield, Alberta, where the testing took place. Each veteran was awarded a medal, monetary compensation and additional pension programs in recognition of their suffering. For his tireless efforts, Harvey was awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation.
After the war, Harvey joined his father as a third-generation printer in his bookstore and print shop. He married Irene Friesen on 26 December 1950. Together, they raised five children; Bev, Glen, Doug, Carol and Tammy. The business grew to become Pembina Printing Ltd., publishing four weekly free distribution community newspapers.
All five children were employed in the family business at some point. Harvey, along with son Glen, established Pembina Kwik Printing and later, with the purchase of a 5-unit Web Leader Press, Pembina Web Press was established. Daughter Carol managed the newspaper and advertising departments. Pembina Printing Ltd. and all divisions were sold in 1994 when Harvey retired.
Harvey led a very full and active life. For many years his cars’ license plate read: Fly, Fish, Hunt, Ski. Being family oriented and entrepreneurial, Harvey spent summer weekends with his family, packing 5 children into a station wagon, traveling to the Davidson Lake cottage, where they enjoyed fishing, swimming, water skiing and hiking. In winter, many weekends were spent at LaRiviere’s Holiday Mountain Ski Resort, in which he was also actively involved. During spring break, the family again piled into the station wagon for ski trips to the Rocky Mountains, Utah and Aspen. He also owned and operated Pembina Leisure Products, and raced snowmobiles in the Beausejour Snowmobile races with his sons.