The RM of Armstrong paid tribute last month to two former residents who sacrificed their lives for Canada during the Second World War.
Harry Louis Chartrand and Peter Trakalo both served in the Canadian infantry and died in action.
Victor, Brian and Roy Chartand
Over 1 million Canadians served during Second World War (1939-1945), sparked by Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939. The war was one of the deadliest conflicts of the 20th century, with an estimated death toll (civilian and military) of between 50 and 75 million people. D-Day on June 6, 1944, marked the beginning of a campaign to liberate western Europe.
RM of Armstrong councillors Sonny Rohne and David Tyndale presented commemorative plaques in honour of the former Armstrong residents, with their family and friends in attendance for both events.
Rohne presented a plaque on May 15 to Chartrand’s family members. It has as a photo of Chartrand, details about his life and his overseas service.
“It is an honour to pay tribute to Mr. Chartrand and to acknowledge the sacrifice he made for us,” said Rohne in an Armstrong press release. “The opportunity to meet his family and place this plaque in the community that he grew up in allows us to pay our respects to a former local resident who is a hero to us all.”
Harry Louis Chartrand was born on March 12, 1918, in St. Laurent, the eldest son of Gaspard Louis and Josephine Chartrand. He had five siblings Ernest, Yvonne, Agnes, Emile and Mary.
He was raised on the family farm near Inwood. He played piano, accordion and guitar and enjoyed boxing. After school he worked as a driver at Phillips Dairy and Inwood Creamery.
He enlisted in 1940 and was sent overseas in August 1941. He served with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps as a corporal attached to the 1st Battalion, Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
He died at the age of 26 on Aug. 19, 1944, after he sustained a gunshot wound to his head. He had been fighting against the German Fifth Panzer Army in France.
Chartrand is commemorated at the Bayeux War Cemetery in France, on the Inward Memorial, in the Second World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa (page 271), and on the National Metis Veterans Monument in Saskatoon. The Chartrand Rapids in the Wolverine River (northern Manitoba) are named in his honoured.
Chartrand’s plaque was placed in the Inwood Memorial Hall.
Councillor Tyndale presented a commemorative plaque on May 30 to honour Peter Trakalo, who was born in Meleb and who served with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.
Before about 30 of Trakalo’s relatives, including his 98-year-old sister-in-law, Jean Trakalo and his nephew Ron Trakalo, councillor Tynedale oversaw the hanging of the plaque in the Fraserwood Hall.
“Council welcomed the opportunity to honour Mr. Trakalo wholeheartedly. The Fraserwood Hall Board of Directors provided us with an excellent location for the plaque,” said Tyndale. “We appreciate the support of community members in bringing this project to fruition.”
Trakalo was born in Kreuzberg (now Fraserwood) in 1917 to John and Tillie Trakalo. He had five siblings – Paul, Joseph, Michael, May and Olga.
He served as lance corporal with the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, after enlisting in 1942, according to his online profile with Veterans Affairs Canada. He was killed in France at the age of 26 on Aug. 16, 1944, after he was hit by a sniper while delivering rations to his platoon.
Trakalo is commemorated at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados France, in the Second World War Book of Remembrance (page 464), on the Scotland National War Memorial, on the Meleb Ukrainian Catholic Church Roll of Honour, on the Inwood Memorial and the Meleb War Memorial.
Trakalo Lake, west of North Knife Lake (in northern Manitoba), was named in his honour.
