Ceathbert (Bert) was the oldest child of Emerson and Evelyn Wice. Born in Brooking, Saskatchewan, Sept. 20, 1916. In 1924, His parents, younger sister (Ora) and brother (Iven), moved to Dryden, Ontario, homesteading in the area of what is now known as School Road, North of Dryden.
Bert enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba on June 18th, 1942 at the age of 25. He was assigned to the Royal Canadian Army Engineering Corps Unit as a Signalman, #10 District Depot.
In this unit, he served as an Instrument tech and Electrician. Specializing in communications, Bert and his unit of Engineers were involved in battles from the D-Day invasion in France through several countries all the way to Germany. They were tasked with setting up critical communication lines and equipment from the front line to the command posts. These gentlemen were prime targets for German snipers as the German brass wanted to disrupt anything that would aid the Allies in their advance on German lines. Conditions in Holland were particularly bad as the Germans had blown up dikes/dams on their retreat, leaving the Allies waist deep in mud and water while having to fight their way forward. Liberating many towns and villages on the way made the hardships worthwhile.
Ceathbert was wounded near the end of the war and returned wounded but alive.
After some time in a hospital in England, he returned to Canada, to his wife Rose and young son Victor and spent the rest of his life in Dryden. They went on to have two more children, Myrna and George. He became an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion – Oxdrift Branch.
Bert passed away in Dryden on May 31, 1967
Visit our Remember the Vets album at: https://www.ckdr.net/remember-our-veterans/
