Those who died
in Active Service
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.1911) of Bienfait died 1944/03/30 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.
Geo-memorial:
Ellis Lake north
of Wapawekka Lake (73P1) 55˚05’ 104˚29’.
Forseth, K.G.,
P/O RCAF
J42721 Pilot Officer (No. 575 Squadron RAF navigator)
Kenneth Gilbert Forseth (b.1922) of Steelman (Kingsford) died 1945/02/06
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. Kenneth was born at Macoun. 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, J., Pte Army
Heinz, T., Pte Army
L12025 Private Joseph Heinz was KIA 1942/08/19
at Dieppe and is buried at Adegem Canadian war cemetery, Belgium.
And 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.
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 despatches.
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 is writing a book on these Bienfait Casualties,
as well as all Saskatchewan Veterans,
and the following information is required
Desired information:
-
dob, place of birth
-
parents names, occupations
-
where the family came from and when
-
education
-
work experience
-
circumstances of death if known
-
photo, preferably head and shoulders shot in uniform
-
siblings who served
please
check out the following site
http://www.peopleplaces.ca/warmemorial/intro.html
WE HONOUR THEM ALL! 
