Volume 6 - Legion BC/Yukon Command Website

British ColumBia / Yukon CommandHolmberg, Keif OlanderKeif was born in Sturgis, Saskatchewan in 1929. He served in the RoyalCanadian Air Force from 1951 to 1971 with 434 and 427 Squadrons inCanada and Germany. After retiring from the RCAF, Keif had a secondcareer as an underground miner for Cominco. He lives in Kimberley, BCand has been a member of Legion Branch #227 in Okanagan Falls fortwenty years.Holmes, William DumbletonWilliam was born on June 10, 1893 in Bangalore, India. His family moved to Victoria,BC where William farmed and served with the local militia unit. He enlisted in the 30 thBritish Columbia Regiment on January 11, 1915 and sailed for England on February 23 rd .In England William was transferred to the 7 th Battalion, 1 st British Columbia Regiment,which served in France and Belgium with the 2 nd Infantry Brigade, 1 st Canadian Division.On the night of November 16-17, 1915, the Canadians attacked the Germans across theDouve River. William, now holding the rank of Captain, was awarded the Military Crossfor bravery. His citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry and resource near Messines onthe 16 th and 17 th November 1916, when in charge of the scouts during a bombing attack.”On June 13, 1916, William was killed in fighting between Hill 60 and Sanctuary Wood.He was 23. William is buried in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in the Ypres Salienton the Western Front. He is listed on the Langford Roll of Honour Scroll in PrinceEdward Legion Branch #91 in Langford, BC.Irwin, William Draper (Willie)Willie was born on July 30, 1923 in Quesnel, BC. He worked on a farm untilhe was sixteen and then enlisted in the Army as the Cariboo’s youngestsoldier. He took basic training in Vernon, where he contracted a heavy coldwhich developed into pneumonia. He recovered and was transferred toAlberta where he contracted rheumatic fever and returned to Quesnel wherehe died in Quesnel Memorial Hospital on November 3, 1942 after sufferingtwo heart attacks. Willie was buried in the Quesnel Cemetery. Two of thepallbearers at his funeral, E.A. Winder and Alf Purmal, had lost sons in thewar.www.legionbcyukon.ca149