Bert Chesworth -  Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Bert Chesworth was born in Montreal on September 19, 1923, but his family moved to Toronto, where he grew up. He had an interest in operating and repairing radios and gardening. After leaving high school at 15, he began an apprenticeship in printing at Ryerson Press. He tried to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1941, while underage, and was discovered when his mother was contacted - she refused to let him join up! However, once he was of legal age he joined the Royal Canadian Army and went to Base Borden for basic training. His radio background enabled him to join the Signal Corps as a radio operator. In March 1942, his training complete, he was sent to England where eventually he settled in with the Railway Operating Corps, helping the Signal Corps by repairing damaged telegraph wires. 

His unit landed in Normandy on June 8, 1944, (two days after D-Day) and they were put to work immediately to improve communications from the beaches to the troops inland. Gradually they moved farther into France, through Caen, and the Falaise Gap, then into Belgium, Holland, and Germany repairing the rail and telegraph lines as they advanced. They were in Diepholz, about 40 km from Bremen, when Germany surrendered May 8, 1945. He remained in Germany until November when he returned to Toronto, to be demobilized two months later.  

He started his civilian life working for the T. Eaton company as an apprentice sheet-metal worker. It was here he met his wife, Audrey, whom he married in 1948. Bert switched jobs in 1953 to work for the Scarborough Fire Department. Another change happened in 1957 when he became an insurance salesman with London Life Company. After four hard years working many evenings away from his young family he decided to start his own business as a manufacturers agent in the textile industry. This job suited him best, and he remained there until he retired in 1980. Travelling from home in Scarborough to their camp they always passed through Uxbridge. They decided it would make a better home and moved here in 1971. Bert had joined the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 13 in Scarborough, but transferred his membership to the Uxbridge branch once he moved here. He was an avid golfer and member of the pipe band. 

We Will Remember Them

NM