Volume 6 - Legion BC/Yukon Command Website

British ColumBia / Yukon CommandBirnie, George AlexanderGeorge was born in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan on March 31, 1924. In 1941he moved to Saskatoon, where he enlisted in the Army with the CanadianLight Infantry on February 28, 1943. He served overseas with the RoyalWinnipeg Rifles as a Rifleman. George was killed in action at Falaise,France on August 15, 1944 when he was 21. He is buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize, Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France. He was awarded theCanadian Volunteer Service Medal, the 1939-1945 War Medal, and the1939-1945 Star. His mother received The Memorial Cross (more oftenreferred to as the Silver Cross) awarded to mothers and widows (next of kin)of Canadian soldiers who died on active duty.Birnie, James (Jim)Jim was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on September 9, 1890. He came toCanada in 1906 and enlisted in the Army with the 46 th CanadianExpeditionary Force on March 20, 1915. He served with the 29 th Battalionin France until his discharge on August 12, 1919. Jim bought land andbecame a farmer when he returned to Canada. He enlisted in the Army againon September 9, 1940 with the rank of Sergeant and served in Canada atDundurn, Saskatchewan as an Instructor with the Militia Training Centre. Hewas also stationed in Regina. Jim was discharged on July 2, 1946 and movedto Chilliwack, BC in 1949 to work at the local hospital until he retired in1957. Jim was awarded the WWI Victory Medal, the 1914-1915 Star, theVictory Medal, the British War Medal, the Canadian Volunteer ServiceMedal, and the 1939-1945 War Medal. Jim died on February 22, 1979.Birnie, Ronald James (Ron)Ron was born in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan on August 15, 1928. He movedto Saskatoon in 1941 and then to Chilliwack, BC in 1949. He enlisted in theArmy with the 3 rd Field Engineers in Chilliwack on May 30, 1949 and wasposted to Whitehorse, N.W.T.; Victoria, BC; Gagetown, New Brunswick;Wainwright, Alberta; and Chilliwack. Ron served in Korea between 1953and 1954. He took his release on September 25, 1960, operating his owntrucking business and then working for the City of Chilliwack until ill healthforced his early retirement. Ron was awarded the United Nations Medal andthe Korean Medal. Ron died on May 31, 2000.www.legionbcyukon.ca71