Volume 6 - Legion BC/Yukon Command Website

British ColumBia / Yukon CommandBergeron, George ErnestGeorge was born on January 17, 1920 in Montreal. George fought with LesFusiliers Mont-Royal of the First Canadian Army in the Netherlands in1945. A Canadian visitor to the Netherlands met Mrs. Liedeke Alferink, whoshowed the visitor her baby book with a note written by a Major Bergeron,who had lodged with her family in the city of Hengelo, just as she was born.On April 2, 1945, he had written: “My very best wishes for health, successand happiness. May the freedom returned to you yesterday by the FirstCanadian Army last forever.” Mrs. Alferink wanted to locate MajorBergeron, so that she could send a letter of thanks but she learned thatGeorge had been killed in action on April 15, 1945, less than two weeksafter penning that note. He was, however, buried at Holten, only a fewkilometers from Mrs. Alferink’s home in Lunteren and she and her husbandhave since visited George’s grave several times.Bethell, Gary FrancisGary was born in New Westminster, BC in 1947. He served in the Navy inPeacetime on HMCS Saskatchewan, HMCS Gatineau, HMCS Qu’Appelle,and HMCS Columbia in Canada, SE Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.Gary has been a member of Legion Branch #293 Alberni Valley for thirtytwoyears.Birnie, Barry DennisBarry was born in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan on November 1, 1934. He moved toSaskatoon, SK in 1941 and then to Chilliwack, BC in 1949. He joined the Navy atHMCS Discovery on July 21, 1952, did his New Entry Training on HMCSCornwallis, a Cook’s Training Course on HMCS Naden, was posted to HMCSBeaver in 1953 then returned to Naden. From 1954 to 1955, Barry served on HMCSSioux and was deployed to Korea. He also served on HMCS Ontario, Cape Breton,Assiniboine, and Qu’Appelle (twice). In 1970, Barry was posted to Canadian ForcesStation Inuvik, N.W.T. for two years. He retired on July 22, 1974 and moved toSmithers, BC where he started his own business. He moved to Chilliwack in 1988,to Vancouver in 1989, and to the Shuswap area after retiring in 2000. Barry wasawarded the Long Service Medal and Bar, the Service Medal, and the PeacekeepingMedal. He has been a Legion member for thirty-six years, first in Smithers withBranch #63 and then in Salmon Arm with Branch #62.www.legionbcyukon.ca69