Photographer:  Pam Harrison
 
 
Josh arrived just in time to take over the chair from Dianne and pay tribute to his great-grandfather a veteran of both World Wars who was shot in the arm at the Battle of Vimy Ridge then, having joined the merchant marine in WWII, was torpedoed and spent 14 hours in the water before being rescued.  Josh’s grandfather was too young to serve in WWII and at age 14 was the oldest male in Dorchester, all the men having enlisted.
 
 
TRHS Principal Susan Lafford was on hand to accept a Gold Mine cheque for $588.50 on behalf of the school.  In thanking the club for their continuing support she reported that the last donation had helped pay for the new landscaping at the school.
 
 
50-50 Draw:   Mary’s number was drawn but she failed to pick the Nine of Clubs.  The pot now stands at $169.
 
Happy Dollars: Dianne reported that Frank has made his last trip to Rogersville; he had supper with the pharmacy staff before handing over the keys to the new owner.  On a sad note this will be the first Remembrance Day since the passing of Dianne’s father. He was a veteran; six buddies from Hartland N.B. went to the war and he was the only one who came back.  Susan F was anxious as her son is currently in Washington, D.C.
 
Next Week:   Chair: Joyce;   Greeter and Thanker: Bill;   Introducer:  Susan F.
 
 
Rotary Foundation:  David thanked all those who contributed to last week’s in-house auction in aid of the Rotary Foundation.  Now it can be told:  the amount raised was $1,718 !   Tim was the one whose guess was closest to the amount and who therefore won the bottle of wine.
 
Club Admin:  John (on behalf of Wayne) announced that the club is looking for a new secretary for next Rotary year (2017-18).  Wayne wants to step down from some of his many duties so a new bulletin editor will be required as well as a Visiting Speakers organizer.
 
Speaker:  Sandy introduced TRHS teacher John Fougere back by popular demand for a Remembrance Day talk.  This year he shared the results of his researches into the life of Sackville native Homer Wellington PalmerHomer was born on 12 October 1897 on a farm off Ogden Mill Road, one of 13 children.  His father was a Superintendent of Schools for the area.  He moved to Calgary and it was there that he enlisted in 1915 at age 18 in the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment).  His enlistment form (below) completed in his own handwriting is available on the internet.
 
 
After basic training he sailed to Europe and experienced his baptism of fire at the Battle of the Somme which saw massive casualties in a deadly struggle for a few hundred yards of territory.  He also survived the Battle of Vimy Ridge (commemorated by a striking war memorial).  However on 3 June 1917 he was reported missing in action at a place called Liévin in northern France, and his body was recovered the following day.  In accordance with the usual practice he was initially buried close by, but later moved to an official Canadian War Graves Commission cemetery at La Chaudiere, Pas de Calais, France.  Like all next of kin of fallen soldiers his parents received a bronze medallion about five inches in diameter known as a “death penny.” Several of these medallions can be seen attached to graves of family members in the Sackville cemetery.
 
 
Unfortunately no photo of Homer is available and the surviving members of his family are scattered across North America.  However, John has been in touch with a grand-niece who lives in Orlando, Florida.  He hopes to pursue further research with a view to writing an article.
 
 
Pam thanked the speaker for his most interesting talk, and the meeting closed with the Four Way Test.
 
 
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