Bienfait- War Memorial

The Red Ensign
They Fought Under This Flag

The Red Poppy

For God and Country, These Gave Their Lives, Lest We Forget
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Bienfait Legion Membership Roll

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Those who Died in Active Service in WWI:

Mark Binks
b- Apr 1, 1880 in Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
d- May 6, 1917, age 35, Killed in Action, at or near Acheville
He immigrated to Canada in 1894
1911, occupation Steam Fireman, Coal Mine, Methodist
Svc #925443, Army- Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment, 28th Batt.
Commemorated on Page 201 of the WWI Book of Remembrance
Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Brother Harry Binks, Fenella ON
He lived in Frobisher SK when he enlisted Feb 29, 1916 in Estevan, shown single, as a labourer.

M. Branton
F. Brandon is possible name per Estevan Cenotaph

Francis Douglas Bulmer
b- Sept 25, 1896, in Toronto, ON
d- June 13, 1916, Died in Batt. Lines, Heart failure
Svc #426567, Private, Army- Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment, 46th Batt.
Commemorated on Page 61 of the WWI Book of Remembrance.
Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire, UK- grave I. H. 12., grave no 1202, cross erected.
Single, Teamster when he enlisted Apr 12, 1915 in Estevan
father John Francis Bulmer, Roche Percee SK
his father owned the Riverside Farmer's Mine in Roche Percee
Mother- Annie Bulmer
His will gave everthing to his mother, Annie, in Taylorton
His unit sailed Oct 23, 1915 overseas on the Lapland out of Halifax.

R. Flynn
(possibly Robert Flynn)
1911 census says b- Nov 1883 in Nova Scotia
age 27, Catholic, Coal Miner

Thomas William Mularky
b- June 1, 1898 Green Bay Wisconsin, USA
Svc #1069311
father, William Henry Mularky, living in Bienfait
when Thomas enlisted occupation shown as thresher, single

James Milne
b- Aug 3, 1881 in Dundee Scotland
Reported Missing Nov 10, 1916
Infantry- #427496
Occupation when he enlisted Coal Miner
enlisted in Estevan Aug 16, 1915
next of kin- his wife, living in Bienfait when he enlisted
served in Boer War, 2nd Batt. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), where he served 9 mo. active service
Immigrated in 1907 to Canada
1911 census shown married but wife not living with him.

Henry Ashton Siddall
b- June 9, 1897, Oldham, Manchester, England
d- Nov 10, 1917, age 20
killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge
Reg #925426, Private, Baptist
Army- Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment, 5th Batt
son of Edwin and Anne Elizabeth Siddall of Roche Percee,
Commemorated on Page 325 of the First World War Book of Remembrance
Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Panel 18 - 26 - 28 , Belgium

Thomas Theaker
b- Aug 12, 1887 in Methley, Yorkshire, UK
d- May 7, 1917
Vimy Memorial
Rank- Private- Reg #426144
Canadian Infantry, Alberta Regiment, 31st Batt.
enlisted Dec 23, 1914 in Weyburn SK
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Theaker,
of Denison Square, Mickletown, Methley, Leeds, England
occupation- Miner, Presbyterian religion

J. White

P. Ward

E. Snizler

Merle Peter Lein
b- Sept 4, 1896 in Foxholm, Minn, USA
d- May 23. 1917
living in Estevan SK when he enlisted Nov 29, 1915 in Estevan
Reg #925061, Rank LCP
Bienfait- Reported Died of wounds, May 23, 1917
his attestation form signed by James A. Smith, JP in Estevan
next of kin, Father- Amon? Lein, in Bienfait SK

Those That Fought in WWI:

Percy Taylor #925073
Joseph (Joe) Bembridge #446933
Percy Prescott #426554
Kenneth (Ken) Godfrey John #13970
Howard Duke Felgate #63338
Jim Cooper
Art Worrall
Wilbur C. Enmark
James Gordon Quinn #925959
Dan Moar
Bill Hopkin
Jack Kemp (see John Kemp below)
Tom Bowman
Pete Connell

I also found Eugene Joseph “Jimmy” LaCoste enlisted in Regina.
Eugene Joseph (James) (Jimmy) LaCoste
b- Feb 1, 1896 in Chénéville Quebec
d- Feb 23, 1929
buried in Estevan City Cemetery
Jimmy enlisted in Estevan July 13, 1918 in WWI- LC- 466124
Regiment Number:3355285

I was able to find only a couple in the Collections Canada Archive Site (link below)

John (Jock) Kemp
b- Apr 28, 1880 in Scotland
d- Mar 13, 1966 in Bienfait
age 85, veteran of the Boer War, buried in Bienfait Cemetery
Born in Scotland, came to Canada in 1903
farmed at North Portal
later employed at Prospect Mine,
prior to returning to live at Bienfait

Those who Died In Active Service in WWII:

Donald Daniel John Tyman

Adolph Oback (D. O'Back)

Herbert Clarence (Duff) Ellis

Joseph L. Holtiski

Theodore Heintz

Steve Martynuik

Joseph Heintz

Louis T. Swiderski

George Charles Redwood

Kenneth Gilbert Forseth

Richard Vaughan Jones

George Hill Brown

Douglas Bloom Fulton

John Kibzey

Nicholas Stusiak

Detailed info below from Bill Barry

Brown, G.H., Pte Army
L9646 Private (Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps)
George Hill Brown of Bienfait
died 1944/01/06 (age 38) and is buried at Drumheller cemetery, Alberta.
Geo-memorial: Brown Peninsula between Pita and Pikoo Lakes on the Churchill River (63M10) 55˚32’ 102˚47’.

Ellis, H.C.D., Cpl RCAF
R142087 Corporal (RCAF service police)
Herbert Clarence Duff Ellis
b- Aug 31, 1911, of Bienfait, died Mar 30, 1944 and is buried at Brookwood military cemetery near London, England.
Duff Ellis was a coal miner before the war, and served with the RCMP at Weyburn and Regina before enlisting.
He washed out of pilot training because of hearing problems and became an RCAF police officer.
Duff was wounded by a German bomb in London 19440223 and died over a month later on the operating table
while the doctors were trying to remove shrapnel from his body.
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Alton Ellis, widow Vivian M. Adair of Outram, and Estevan, who he married Dec 24, 1942
One brother, Borden Ellis, in the RCAF, one sister, Elsie Ellis, teacher of Bienfait Rural School, and at Alameda School.
Geo-memorial: Ellis Lake north of Wapawekka Lake (73P1) 55˚05’ 104˚29’.
Educated in Bienfait, Joined the RCMP, serving with the Regina and Weyburn detachments.

Forseth, K.G., P/O RCAF
J42721 Pilot Officer (No. 575 Squadron RAF navigator)
Kenneth Gilbert Forseth
b- 1922 at Macoun SK, living at Steelman (Kingsford), d- feb 6, 1945 and is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery near London, England.
Forseth’s Dakota was returning with 18 passengers from the continent in low cloud when it crashed at Folkington on the Sussex Downs.
He was the son of Harry Gilbert and Emma Jensina Forseth who farmed near Steelman. RA Brock died on the same flight.
Geo-memorial: Forseth Lakes northeast of Stanley Mission (73P9) 55˚44’ 104˚05’.

Fulton, D.B., Sgt RCAF
R163567 Sergeant (No. 218 Gold Coast Squadron RAF air gunner)
Douglas Bloom Fulton
b-1923, of Shaunavon, was KIA 1943/10/09 and is buried at Becklingen war cemetery near Soltau, Germany. Fulton’s Stirling went missing during a night raid on Bremen.
He was the only son of Daniel H. and Elma Fulton who came from Scotland to homestead SW25-6-19-W3 ten miles south of Shaunavon in 1909.
Douglas was working for the CPR at Bienfait when he enlisted. KG Smalley and SA Driscoll died on the same flight.
Geo-memorial: Fulton Island in Nunn Lake (73P8) 55˚16’ 104˚21’.

Heinz, Joseph., Pte Army,
Joseph Heinz, b- May 11, 1918 in Bienfait
L12025 Private Joseph Heinz was KIA 1942/08/19 at Dieppe and is buried at Adegem Canadian war cemetery, Belgium.
Joseph was married and had a daughter Lois Harlene lived in Regina
He enlisted in Sept 1939 and went overseas late 1940

Pte. Joseph Heinz

Heinz, T., Pte Army
L12688 Corporal Theodore Heinz who was KIA 19440720 at Verrières Ridge and is buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian war cemetery, Calvados, France.
The brothers from Bienfait both served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
Note that it has been suggested that the family name was actually Heintz.
Sons of Mr. and Mrs. M. Heinz
Geo-memorial: Heinz Lake southeast of Wollaston Lake (64L2) 58˚13’ 102˚36’.

Holitzke, J.L., SSgt USAAF
18118688 Staff Sergeant (844th Heavy Bomber Squadron, United States Army Air Force)
Joseph L. Holitzke of Bienfait was KIA 1944/07/13 and is buried at Cambridge American cemetery, Cambridge, England.
Holitzke was awarded the US Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
We would love to hear from the family of this man, to verify we have the correct information for him.
Bill found this record in the American War Memorial site.

Jones, R.V., Sgt Army
L17108 Sergeant (1st Canadian Parachute Battalion)
Richard Vaughan Jones of Bienfait was KIA 1945/04/17 and is buried at Holten Canadian war cemetery, Netherlands.
Richard was the son of Edward J. and Mal Jones of Montréal. Edward had been a stationary engineer at one of the coal mines at Bienfait.
Geo-memorial: Jones River which flows southwest to Stauffer Lake (73P9) 55˚42’ 104˚26’.

Kibzey, J., Pte Army
L107668 Private (South Saskatchewan Regiment)
John Kibzey of Bienfait was KIA 19450412 (age 21) at Oranjekanaal and is buried at Holten Canadian war cemetery, Netherlands.
He was the son of Peter and Nettie Kibzey. John was born at Myszko, Poland, and was working as a miner when he enlisted. His older brother R146299 Leading Aircraftman (RCAF aero engine mechanic) Michael Kibzey (1922-97) was mentioned in dispatches.
Geo-memorial: Kibzey Lake east of Jan Lake (63L16) 54˚56’ 102˚26’.

Martynuik, S., Pte Army
L12094 Private (South Saskatchewan Regiment)
Steve Martynuik (b.1921) of Bienfait was KIA 1944/07/20 at Verrières Ridge and is buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian war cemetery, Calvados, France.
Martynuik enlisted just three days after Canada declared war. He survived the Dieppe raid, but was riding in a Bren gun carrier in Normandy when it was hit by an enemy shell.
Steve was the son of Kostyn and Nellie Martynuik.
Geo-memorial: Martynuik Lake north of Stony Rapids (74O9) 59˚42’ 106˚02’.

Oback, A., Pte Army
L103552 Private (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders)
Adolph Oback of Bienfait was KIA 1944/09/08 and is buried at Adegem Canadian war cemetery, Belgium.
Geo-memorial: Oback Lake east of Wollaston Lake (64L7) 58˚20’ 102˚35’.

Redwood, G.C., LCpl Army
L12689 Lance Corporal (South Saskatchewan Regiment)
George Charles Redwood of Bienfait died 19420828 (age 27) and is buried at St. Sever cemetery extension, Rouen, France. Redwood was wounded at Dieppe and died in a POW camp.
George was the son of William and Leah Redwood and left a wife Lily at Carlyle.
Geo-memorial: Redwood Lake northeast of Besnard Lake (73P12) 55˚32’ 105˚42’.

Stusiak, N., F/O RCAF
J35994 Flying Officer (No. 440 Beaver Squadron RCAF pilot)
Nicholas Stusiak (b.1920) of Bienfait died 1944/05/27 and is buried at Bournemouth North cemetery, Hampshire, England. Stusiak’s Typhoon crashed at Bramsgrove near Christchurch during a training flight.
Nicholas, who was the son of Alexander and Veronica Stusiak, enlisted at Vancouver where the family had moved just before the war.
Geo-memorial: Stusiak Lake northeast of Black Bear Island Lake (73P11) 55˚41’ 105˚20’.

Swiderski, L.T., Pte Army
L1222 Private (South Saskatchewan Regiment)
Louis T. Swiderski (b.1916) of Bienfait ws KIA 1944/07/20 at Verrières Ridge and is buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian war cemetery, Calvados, France.
Louis was the son of Mike and Mary Swiderski who homesteaded SW12-33-8-W2 north of Rama.
Geo-memorial: Swiderski Lake just west of Green Lake (73J5) 54˚18’ 107˚51’.

This man appears on the Bienfait honour roll, but I am unaware of any connection with the community:

Tyman, D.D.J., Pte Army
L23028 Private (South Saskatchewan Regiment)
Donald Daniel John Tyman (b.1918) of Regina was KIA 19420819 at Dieppe and is buried at the Canadian war cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer, France.
He was the son of Margaret M. Tyman. Donald, who was born at North Battleford but moved to Regina as a baby, graduated from Central collegiate and left a wife Cecile (Ruel) and daughter Donna.
Geo-memorial: Tyman Lake south of Keg Lake (73P1,8) 55˚15’ 104˚02’.

Information above courtesy of Bill Barry
Author of “People Places”
Bill Barry's 5th book!
please check out the following site
http://www.peopleplaces.ca/warmemorial/intro.html

Those Who Served Canada in Two World Wars

List from 1955 History Book, with my additions

*note 1- Possible error in initials here-
Only Gent that served in the area, was my Uncle William James (Jim) Gent

*2- Hilda was a great friend to my Mom while my Mom was alive and living in Hillview manor in Estevan.
She told Mom some real good stories of her life overseas in the war. She was instrumental in forming the Library in Bienfait.
A true war hero for sure.
Hilda Carlson, nee Prescott
b- May 6, 1922, d- April 21, 2010 in Estevan, age 87
Hilda's son was handed her 65 year pin and her Lifetime Membership card at her funeral.
It is sad she wasn't able to receive this honour herself.
We miss you Hilda!

Decoration Day Services were held at the Veterans Section In the Bienfait Cemetery up to 1955.
Recent history I don't know

During World War I, Victory Bonds were sold.
The purpose of selling these was so the government could borrow the people's money in order to keep the war front
and soldiers supplied with the necessary supplies. After the war these bonds were cashed in by the people
who received a set rate of interest on their money.

During World War II, meat, sugar, coffee, butter, and gas were rationed.
Everyone was given a certain number of ration coupons according to the size of the family.

Veteran Links above from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site or you can use the Canadian Virtual war memorial site

Jon “John” Kotlarski managed to survive thru his war service,
only to return to Canada and die underground at the M&S mine
buried by a cave in of coal, on Thursday Nov 7, 1940, age 31.
born in Poland, he served in WWII for 11 months.
He was working as a helper on a coal cutting machine at the time of the accident.
He came to Canada in 1928.
First worked at the Eastern Mine, then M&S.
His parents, seven sisters, and one brother were still in Poland.
a cousin, Walter Banas, lived in Bienfait at the time of his death.
buried in Bienfait Cemetery
note in obit his name is spelled Katlarski
but in Sept 12, 1928 ship record of his arrival to Canada
his name is Jan Kotlarski,
he arrived on the SS Montroyal, at Quebec, age 19.

MacDonald Brothers
6 Children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter MacDonald, a Bienfait Coal Miner family, all went to war during WWII.
4 served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment (SSR)
John A. MacDonald lost a leg at Dieppe, came to Regina and was fitted with an artificial leg on Aug 26, 1943
and 6 weeks later won a dancing contest!
He enlisted as a Private in 1939.
I believe he was b- 1912, d- Jan 1, 1985, buried in SVMG in Estevan
Alex MacDonald enlisted in 1940 as a Private in SSR.
James A. (Jim) MacDonald became a Sergeant in SSR in 1939.
Donald MacDonald became a Private in SSR in 1940.
Lawrence MacDonald a Signaller in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1939.
Patrick MacDonald, the youngest, a trooper in the Tank Corps in 1942.
Alex and Patrick were still overseas in Nov. 1945.
Jim, John and Donald all served at Dieppe.
Donald transferred to the Saskatoon Light Infantry Overseas, and was in Italy
Lawrence and Patrick were in the European Theatre

Father- Peter MacDonald
b- 1880
d- May 18, 1948
buried in Bienfait Cemetery

Mother- Mary MacDonald
b- 1886
d- May 20, 1951
buried in Bienfait Cemetery

they also had a couple daughters I know of:
Mary MacDonald, married Bernie Batt
Effie MacDonald, married Roger Toillon

Mar 27, 2019 received a nice email from the grand-daughter of James MacDonald.
She sent me the following photo, and tells me that Patrick MacDonald joined after the photo, so he is not included.

The MacDonald brothers( left to right) James, Lawrence, John, Donald and Alex.
“Three of my Canadian grand-parents volunteered for service during WW11 including my grand-mother Marguerite (nee Woodman)
Who met and married Jim during the war in England. My grand-father on my father's side was also in the Air Force. All were from Saskatchewan.”
The Honourable Shelly Glover P.C.

Roy George Smyth
b- 1924
d- Feb 5, 1947
Died under a loaded coal car underground at the M&S Mine south of Bienfait, shown age 21 in article, but was a couple years older than that
He had only worked as a motorman on an electric trolley for 2 weeks.
Served in the Canadian Army
son of A. T. Smyth, who was the Agent of the Pool Elevator in Bienfait
siblings:
Lloyd Smyth
twin- Ray Smyth
and a younger sister

WE HONOUR THEM ALL!
BECAUSE OF THESE MEN- AND OTHERS LIKE THEM WE CAN FLY OUR NEW CANADA FLAG AND BE PROUD AND FREE CANADIANS

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