Local Veterans

Years of Service: 2018 - Present

Shane grew up in the Town of Essex. He joined the CAF in 2018. He is a Signal Operator. Shane is a Corporal with 1RCR in Petawawa. He has done one tour of duty in Latvia in 2023., is currently still serving. 

Years of Service: 1916-1917 

Earl Milton Pulleyblank enlisted for World War 1 on May 16, 1916. Regimental Number 528815 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Earl arrived at Vimy Ridge in March of 1917. He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

Years of Service: 1942-1945 

Albert was a Corporal in the Canadian Army. He was awarded the Volunteer Medal and the 1939-1945 Medal. He worked for the Essex Farmers and lived in Essex his whole life. 

Years of Service: 1942-1945

Austin Batley was a soldier, peace keeper, deployed to Japan and was taken prisoner the day they declared War. He later married and moved to Essex to raise a family. He was the Sargent of the guards at Brock st. Jail. A Legion member at #201. 

Years of Service: 1941 - 1945 

• WWII - Joined at age of 17 in Canadian Army.
• The First Special Service Force - "Devils Brigade".
• Joined The First Canadian Air Borne Division.
• Past Essex Legion President.

The Victory Cross Medal for Dick Woodendon is also pictured in the upper left corner of the photo above. Woodendon was injured in the war, leaving him paralyzed.

Years of Service: 1943 - 1944 

Donald was a Pilot Officer with the RCAF. He completed 14 missions with his unit between March & April 1944 and “Failed to Return” from their 15th mission to Montzen, Belgium on April 28, 1944. He is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery in Belgium. 

Years of Service: 1943-1945 

• George Kehl joined the Canadian Navy in March 1943 and trained as a Gunner with the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships. 
• Retired Public Works Superintendent, Town of Harrow.
• Member of Harrow Legion Branch 338, Kinsmen, Rotary and Harrow Town Council 1966-1975. 

Years of Service: 1939-1945

George Marchant served under the Essex Scottish in World Ward II from 1939 to 1945. He served as a Medical Sergeant, and was wounded in the Dieppe Raid. George lived in (or near) the Town of Essex for the last 40 years of his life.

Years of Service: 1943-1945 

Howard Pulleyblank joined the Royal Canadian Navy #V-53039 Aboard the corvette Rimousk, he took part in the invasion of Normandy. He received France & Germany Star with clasp-Atlantic, War Medal 1939-1945 and Cdn. Volunteer War Medal w/silver clasp.

Years of Service: 1942-1946 

• Corporal, Essex Kent Scottish Regiment 1942-1946
• Severely injured August 27, 1944 while leading a section at Point de Gravier near Seine River
• Past President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 201 (Essex)
• Former owner of Essex Auto Body and Paint 

Pastorius Brothers 

Years of Service: 1941-1945 

All five of Gore Pastorius’ sons served during WWII. All returned except Donald, who is buried in Belgium. 

• Gordon Pastorius - RCAF
• Ralph Pastorius - RCAF
• Elihu Pastorius - Heavy Artillery
• Francis Pastorius - Essex Scottish
• Donald Pastorius - RCAF

Paulton Brothers RCAF 

Years of Service: 1943-1945 

From Left to Right:

• Sgt. Alfred Paulton DFM- Navigator Bomb Aimer Lancaster - Halifax
• Lt. Harry T. Paulton - Pilot Sunderland Flyingboat Anti-Submarine Patrol / Air-Sea Rescue
• Sgt. Edwin Ted Paulton DFC - Pilot Mosquito - Wellington - Enemy Radar Xed      

Roy Grant 

Years of Service: 1942-1945 

Roy Grant served as a Gunner, Wireless Operator and Forward Observation Officer. In addition, Roy served the Community as:

• Deputy Chief of the Harrow Fire Department
• Councilor for the Town of Harrow
• Mayor of the Town of Harrow
• Harrow Legion Member Poppy Fund Committee
• Citizen of The Year 1979 

Wm. Shea 

Years of Service: 1940-1945

Enlisted and first served with the army in Europe. In 1943 he transferred to RCAF as Tail Gunner nicknamed "Tail Gun Charlie". Following WW II served as Windsor Police Officer. Currently eldest veteran at Branch 338 Harrow. 

Years of Service: 1981-2020 

Major Catherine Wollocombe CD (ret’d) , Officer Commanding Windsor Support Company of the 31 Service Battalion . She completed 3 tours in Afghanistan, and was the Deputy Task Force Commander for OP Soprano (South Sudan). 

Daniel Leblanc 

Years of Service: 2004-2019 

Daniel served with the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment from '04 to '19. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 with the roto 1-10 battle group as a LAV Gunner. He now lives in Essex with his wife and volunteers with veterans' organizations. 

Years of Service: 1998-2012 

Steve was a Combat Engineer in the Canadian Military. He achieved the rank of Corporal and was wounded during his service. He is now retired due to his injuries and serves the local community of Harrow Centre as he raises his son Chris. 

Years of Service: 1960-1963 

Wayne enlisted as a Radio Man in Quarter Master Stores and a driver. Following his military service Wayne had a career as a truck driver. 

Years of Service: 2008 - Present

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter enrolled in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve in 2008 as a Boatswain at Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) HUNTER based in Windsor Ontario. After completing Basic Training at the Naval Reserve Training Detachment in Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, he went on to pursue his military career by completing the Naval Environmental Training Program, CFB Esquimalt located in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Upon completion of Boatswain Qualification Level One course at CFB Halifax located in Halifax Nova Scotia in 2009, Petty Officer 2 nd class Mathew Carter was posted to Personnel Co-ordination Center (PCC) at CFB Halifax where he sailed on HMCS MONTREAL to conduct training exercises with other NATO countries of the coast of Florida, United States.

During the summer of 2009 Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter was a member of the Naval Reserve guard for the ceremony of the Commemoration and Consecration of the Queen’s Colour located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During the ceremony the Royal Canadian Navy received a new flag that was commissioned by then- Governor General, Michaëlle Jean. After the Ceremony, PO2 Carter was posted back to PCC Atlantic sailing on HMCS MONCTON where he sailed for 2 months on fishery patrols off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2010 Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter was attach posted to HMCS VILLE DU QUEBEC where he sailed for 4 months to conduct security and support for the commonwealth meetings in Trinidad and Tobago, and to represent Canada in Haiti during NATO peace keeping missions. Upon his return he was posted back to his home unit at HMCS HUNTER to further his career.

During the winter of 2011, he completed his Boatswain Qualification Two course at CFB Halifax. Immediately following the course he was again attach posted to HMCS MONCTON where he sailed on OPERATION CARIBE patrolling the Caribbean islands doing drug interdiction and anti-piracy patrols. This deployment was the first time a Naval Reserve ship was deployed since World War II.

In 2012 he returned to his Home unit at HMCS HUNTER where he took a break from full time service to advance his career as a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technician, employed at Fahrhall Mechanical located in Windsor Ontario. While still serving as a part time sailor he completed his Primary Leadership Qualification course and in 2014 was promoted to the rank of Master Seaman.

In 2015 Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter transferred to HMCS PREVOST located in London Ontario, where he took on the role of Senior Boatswain Mate (SBM). Continuing his career in HVAC, he was hired at Roy Inch and Sons Heating and Cooling where he became a Journeyman HVAC installer and obtained his license as a refrigeration technician. In 2016 he married his wife Petty Officer 2nd Class Emely Melendez, CD, and obtained his qualification as an ORCA senior boatswain mate. This gave PO2 Carter the ability to crew the ORCA class vessels as the SBM 1 of 3 key positions required to sign out this ship.

In 2017 he was promoted to his current rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class after receiving a commendation from Commodore M.B. Mulkins, OMM, CD for his planning and execution of Exercise ERIE VALOUR. Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter is currently the Training Chief of HMCS PREVOST where he ensures his junior shipmates complete their required coursing to further their careers in the naval reserves.

In his civilian career, he currently is employed at London Health Sciences Center where he is a Commercial Refrigeration Mechanic. He holds a diploma in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, graduating from St. Clair College, located in Windsor, Ontario.

In his free time, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Carter is an avid modeller building, and repairing model ships. He enjoys, gardening, kayaking with his wife, and sailing on his sail boat.