WELLINGTON COUNTY – Many people from across Wellington County have died while serving in the Canadian military.
Each of them left lives and loved ones behind, and though information can sometimes be limited, each had a story to tell.
The following information about fallen soldiers from Wellington County was complied from information gathered from Veteran Affairs Canada’s Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM), unless otherwise stated.
John Aikens
Puslinch-born Private John Wilson Aikens was the son of Thomas H. and Adelaide E. Aikens, of 2nd Concession 2 in Puslinch.
He enlisted in London, Ontario and served in the Western Ontario Regiment of the Canadian Infantry, 18th Battalion, during the First World War.
Aikens was wounded on three different occasions while serving.
In 1916, Aikens was shot in his leg and left hand, and died as a result of the injuries on Sept. 15 at a British war hospital (49th Casualty Clearing Station).
Aikens is buried in the Contay British Cemetery in Somme, France.
Wes Harris
Pilot Officer Wasley “Wes” Pasmore Harris grew up and attended public school in Rockwood. For high school, Harris attended Guelph Collegiate.
He then went on to study mechanics at the University of Toronto (U of T), graduating in 1941.
According to a U of T yearbook, Harris was a member of the Toronto Flying Club’s mechanical club, played interfaculty water polo, and enjoyed tennis and swimming.
While studying at U of T, Harris worked at Hydro Electric, Massey Ferguson, and Proctor and Gamble.
Harris’ parents were Wasley and Annie M. Harris and his sister was Clara Louise Harris.
He married Katherine Louise McIntosh and they had twin children, Wasley Gordon and Katherine Louise Harris.
The U of T yearbook entry said Harris had hopes of joining the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and encountering the Luftewaffe – the aerial-warfare branch of Nazi Germany’s unified armed forces before and during the Second World War.
Harris travelled to Hamilton on May 18, 1942 to enlist. He served in the reserve prior to joining the RCAF.
He died less than a year later, on Feb. 9, 1943, at 23 years old.
According to a research document completed by Margaret Rose Gaunt and included in the CVWM, Harris was on a cross-country training flight with two students when icing led his plane, Anson II 11532, to hit some trees, burst into flames and crash while flying over Manitoba.
The students in the plane, leading aircraft men Duncan MacKenzie and Peter Nicholls also died in the crash, at 21 and 20 years old.
Harry Saunders
Cadet Harry Creighton Saunders lived in Erin for most of his life, and was the son of Archibald and Margaret Saunders.
According to the Erin Advocate, Saunders “was respected by a large circle of friends, both in Erin and Listowel.”
He served in the 91st Training Squadron of the Royal Air Force during the First World War.
Saunders “met a terrible death in the air near Leaside RAF Camp,” stated a clipping from the Toronto Star.
“While flying about one thousand feet aloft his machine caught fire and shot to the ground a roaring mass of flames,” the paper continued. “Saunders was burned to death.”
It was Sept. 17, 1918, and Saunders was 29 years old. He was well advanced in his training and flying alone, the Star states.
According to the Erin Advocate, Saunder’s funeral “was one of the largest seen here for years.
“He was buried with Masonic honours, but Chaplain Morris of the RAF camp at Leaside conducted the burial service. He was accompanied from the camp by six cadets, who acted as pallbearers.”
Laurence Harrison
Private Lawrence Tolmie Harrison lived in Fergus before enlisting with the 153rd Battalion in March, 1916, at just 16 years old.
He later served with the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), 18th Battalion.
His parents were Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Harrison, from Acton.
Harrison died on Aug. 8, 1918, at 18 years old.
According to the Toronto Star, he was “later honoured by being made a sergeant on the field.”
Jack Stafford
Private John “Jack” George Stafford lived in Elora before serving in the Midland Regimant, RCIC, during the Second World War.
He was married to Mary Georgina Stafford of Orton and his parents were John and Annie Stafford.
Stafford died on Feb. 9, 1943, at 23 years old.
He is buried in the Elora Cemetery (lot 44, section B, grave 1).
Aubrey Woodham
Master Corporal Aubrey Allen Woodham, from Moorefield, enlisted in the RCAF as a steward in 1964.
His parents were Aubrey and Hilda Woodham.
He had three children, Alan, Leeanne and Carol, with his wife Carolyn Constance Agnes (nee Safriuk) Woodham.
They married on May 18, 1968 at the Canadian Forces base Portage la Prairie, in Manitoba.
Woodham reassigned to traffic technician in 1973.
He was flying in a Canadian Forces Hercules plane on Oct. 15, 1980, as part of a search for a civilian helicopter “that had vanished in the wilderness about 300 miles north of Montreal,” according to the Toronto Star.
Eight crewmen died in the crash. There were two survivors. Woodham was 33 years old.
Harold Downey
Private Harold Bertram Downey was the son of David A. Downey and Ethel W. Downey of Drayton.
He was married to Evelyn Downey, also of Drayton.
He served in the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, RCIC.
Downey died on Dec. 6, 1943. He was 37 years old.
He is buried in the Drayton (Victoria) Cemetery (lot 26, range L, grave 1).
Vincent Hanson
Sapper Vincent James Hanson was the son of Annie Jamieson (formerly Hanson), of Kenilworth, and John Hanson.
Hanson served in the Canadian Engineers and died on Dec. 19, 1919, at 22 years old.
He is buried in the Arthur (St. John’s) Cemetery (lot 16).
Thomas Bracey
Leading Aircraftman Thomas Stafford Benedict Bracey was the son of Dr. John F. Bracey and Mary Bracey of Mount Forest.
He was born on Dec. 12, 1919 and was brother to John F. Bracey, who lived until 1986.
Bracey was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and suffered multiple gunshot wounds in Belgium on Sept. 9, 1944.
He was evacuated to the Royal Air Forces Hospital Northallerton, and then repatriated to the Christine St. Hospital in Toronto, where he died more than six months later, on March 20, 1945, as a direct result of his wounds.
Bracey was 25 years old.
He is buried in the Mount Forest (Holy Cross) Cemetery.
Hugh Wilford
Private Hugh Denzil Wilford “lived in Palmerston practically all of his life,” according to a clipping from the Toronto Star.
He was the son of councillor Neil Wilford and Isabella Matilda Wilford, and worked as a locomotive foreman at the Grand Trunk Railway.
“On the outbreak of the war, [Wilford] immediately decided to go to the front,” states a clipping from the London Free Press.
He married Anna Smith days before leaving for Valcartier training camp.
Wilford enlisted with the Grey’s Horse in Brantford and was transferred to the 48th Highlanders, and then later to the Divisional Cyclist Corps.
Wilford received a gunshot wound and was taken to Victoria Hospital in London, England, where he died of his injuries on Aug. 9, 1915.
He is buried in the Palmerston Cemetery (lot 32, Blk M).
