The Icelandic connection - 01.06.2014, Page 29

Vol. 66 #4
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
17
recognized. They are working to erect
a memorial to the veterans of DufFerin
Street. They recently raised 16,000 from a
“mug, spud and steak” night. They are also
in talks with three levels of government for
financial support, and are being assisted by
the local legion.
The block on DufFerin
is between Main and
Jemima streets. A condo
development on Main
Street has agreed to leave
a 250-square-foot space
for a monument of some
kind.
It’s uncertain how
many of the 29 came
back. There may also have
been a woman enlistee,
making 30, but that hasn’t
been verified yet. McVety
and Canvin are still
researching the fate of the
29 DufFerin volunteers.
The McLean family on
the DufFerin block had
four sons serving at the
same time. The Scramstad
family had three sons
enlisted, and several
families had two sons join.
Canvin knows one
who didn’t return, his
cousin, Charlie Griffiths.
“He was a bomber pilot
and was shot down. The
whole thing exploded and
he was never found,” he
said. Canvin had another
cousin and an uncle in the
DufFerin Gang. McVety’s
father served but was not
from DufFerin.
Only one of the
original 29 is still alive
and is believed to be living
somewhere in Ontario.
John Sinclair passed away last year
at the age of 86. He fought with the
Canadian Essex Scottish Regiment out
of Windsor, Ont. He told his children he
carved his initials into the Eiffel Tower in
PHOTO COURTESY OF GORD HENRIKSON
Harold Henrikson