BENN, PTE HORACE

Horace Benn was born March 14, 1910 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, England. His mother died on November 11, 1912 .

On March 12, 1913, Horace was released from hospital to Barnardo’s Home Children Program at Sheffield, England.

On June 9, 1920 at age 10, Horace arrived in Quebec. On October 3, 1920 he was shown officially as being in Montreal Quebec (from home children immigration records).

In 1924, he was placed on the Johnston Farm, on Axe Lake at Sprucedale. On November 7, 1935 Horace married Maude Nellie Irene Horton in Sprucedale. They had three children born before WWII: Irene born June 3, 1935; Gordon born January 10, 1937; and Barbara, born October 6, 1940.

Horace served in WWII. Horace enlisted in 1940/41. He served in England, Italy, France and Germany in a role that involved providing the front lines with ammunition, food and supplies. He was discharged in 1945. He was with the R.C.A.S.C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps).

Horace’s platoon division was the first commonwealth unit to fight on Continental Europe. They were fighting in Italy when the D-Day invasion started and were affectionately known as the D-Day Dodgers.

After the war Horace and Maude hade had 6 more children: Eleanor born 1946; Horace Jr. born 1948; Julia Christine born 1950; Walter born 1952; Richard born 1954; and, Lydia born in 1958.

The family moved to Katrine in 1947..

Horace died December 1, 1981 in Burks Falls.