 Extract
from "They served for freedom" 
A remark often heard when war veterans get together is: We're not getting any younger. In
fact, records indicate that in 1985 over 50% of second world war veterans have attained
the age of 65 and over and by 1990, this figure increased to 90%. This aging factor may
have played a part in the decision of the War Veterans Club to publish a book in honor of
those who served in the wars of this century.
Work on the book began on January 1, 1984 when a research committee was struck, including
the following war veterans of the area served by the Wellington Royal Canadian Legion:
| Alyre A. Arsenault |
Tilmon J. Arsenault |
| Fidèle C. Gallant |
Léo J. T. Arsenault |
| Albert Arsenault |
Clarence Haché |
| Edouard T. Arsenault |
Ray Brown |
| Ulric Poirier |
Amand Gallant |
| Joseph Gaudet |
Raymond Gallant |
| François Arsenault |
Harry Fitzgerald |
| Adélard Gallant |
|
Information forms were printed and distributed by the committee to all
eligible war veterans, their next of kin, their relatives, and/or their friends.
The information sheet read as follows: Veteran's name, Unit served with,
Date of Enlistment, Date of Discharge, Resume of Active Service, Name of Parents, Photo of
Veteran.
Many hundreds of these forms were sent locally and to many parts of
Canada, the United States and as far as England.
The research committee, which included the book committee met weekly to
compile the information retrieved and volunteered to make endless enquiries to locate any
reliable source of information.
The final tally shows 178 veterans from World War I, 352 veterans from
World War II and 12 veterans from the Korean Conflict for a grand total of 542.
As the launching of the book: "They Served for Freedom" was a
Diamond Jubilee project for the Royal Canadian Legion, coupled with the 40th
Anniversary of the Wellington Branch, histories of the local branch, Ladies Auxiliary and
the War Veterans Club are included in the book.
The site is intended as a memorial to those who served and if any eligible
veterans were omitted or any information is incomplete or incorrect, we beg the reader's
indulgence.
I wish to thank the War Veterans Club and the book committee for their
valued assistance in the preparation of this book. Without their assistance, the task
would have been impossible.
J. Albert Gallant, editor-in-chief |
