2011 Convention – Penticton, BC - Legion

www.legionbcyukon.ca
Bethell, Gary Francis
Gary was born in New Westminster, BC in 1947. He served in the Navy in
Peacetime 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 thirtytwo
years.
BRITISH COLUMBIA / YUKON COMMAND
Bergeron, George Ernest
George was born on January 17, 1920 in Montreal. George fought with Les
Fusiliers Mont-Royal of the First Canadian Army in the Netherlands in
1945. A Canadian visitor to the Netherlands met Mrs. Liedeke Alferink, who
showed 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, success
and happiness. May the freedom returned to you yesterday by the First
Canadian Army last forever.” Mrs. Alferink wanted to locate Major
Bergeron, so that she could send a letter of thanks but she learned that
George had been killed in action on April 15, 1945, less than two weeks
after penning that note. He was, however, buried at Holten, only a few
kilometers from Mrs. Alferink’s home in Lunteren and she and her husband
have since visited George’s grave several times.
Birnie, Barry Dennis
Barry was born in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan on November 1, 1934. He moved to
Saskatoon, SK in 1941 and then to Chilliwack, BC in 1949. He joined the Navy at
HMCS Discovery on July 21, 1952, did his New Entry Training on HMCS
Cornwallis, a Cook’s Training Course on HMCS Naden, was posted to HMCS
Beaver in 1953 then returned to Naden. From 1954 to 1955, Barry served on HMCS
Sioux 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 Forces
Station Inuvik, N.W.T. for two years. He retired on July 22, 1974 and moved to
Smithers, 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 was
awarded the Long Service Medal and Bar, the Service Medal, and the Peacekeeping
Medal. He has been a Legion member for thirty-six years, first in Smithers with
Branch #63 and then in Salmon Arm with Branch #62.
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