Leonard enlisted in Chatham, ON. at the age of eighteen. He trained at Stratford where he earned his Sergeant’s stripes. He spent time doing guard duty at Niagara Falls with the Queen’s Own Rifles against potential German sabatours. While in Toronto taking training courses he met his future wife Dixie at a dance hall called “A Bucket of Blood”. 

While doing further training in Debert NS. Sergt. Carnegie, wanting to go overseas, reverted to a private embarking for England in 1943. His convoy was chased by German submarines but made England safely. There was a need for NCO’s and Leonard was soon promoted back to Sergeant. He was however reverted back to a Private to go to France.

It was while in Germany, near the Calcar Road, during the Battle of the Rhine that he was wounded on 24 February, 1945. “I was in a trench, I saw the shell and it dropped right on our trench. There were two of us in there and the other fellow who was on my left, had an arm and shoulder brown right out. So they tied me to him because I was wounded on the side. The shell had dropped right between us. The surgeon told me, ’I had some shrapnel in you son, but I think if you are careful, you’ll be able to live with it’.” In 1992 Leonard had the shrapnel removed from his hip.

Leonard spent six months recuperating in hospitals in Holland, France and England healing from multiple fractures in his hip, having bits of shrapnel removed and a perforated ear drum. When finally discharged from hospital he was transferred to the Neimagen Transit Camp in Holland until he was returned to Canada. All during this time he continued a correspondence with Dixie. The following is a poem he wrote to his future wife:

Love of my life

That gives me the will to live,

Just one glance of whom freedom I would give;

Across the unfriendly ocean parting me from you,

Each saltly breeze brings memories of our love so straight and true;

I dream of all the things I love,

The way you do your hair,

Your lipstick and your shining eyes,

Each gown you used to wear;

I stand on England’s stormy shore

And in each steamer’s wake,

Through half-closed eyes I change the scene

And feel my heart will break,

Then foam becomes a pillow.

And shadowed in the snow,

Your vision I see stading,

By Lake Ontario;

I’ll be back some day my darling,

And we’ll stand hand in hand,

Ain my heart I’ll hold your heart

And you will understand that,

All the troubles, trials and heartaches that ever I’ve been through,

Are worth that wonderous moment,

When I stand there holding you.

Leonard and Dixie were married 24 June, 1946, they had one son and a daughter.

Jobs where hard to find for returning veterans and Leonard worked at many, the Orford Farmers co-op in Muirkirk on the chopper, Ontario Hydro as a leaner linesman and selling hot water heaters and lights and by then, “I knew I would be alright”. Leonard and Dixie raised three children while living in Duart and Highgate and in 2010 are residing in the Village in Ridgetown.

 

 

Carnegie, Olive Mae “Dixie”, Wife of Leonard ‘Len’ Carnegie.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	RIN (10-11-2010)
Supplemental Information	Born and raised in Durat, Orford Twsp., Kent Co., ON.

---

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.