A veteran of the Great War. Was reported as clerical staff at Military District No. 1 HQ., in late August 1941. Pte. Shirley, from Wallaceburg was reported on a week-end leave. CDN 25/08/41. A former councilor for the town of Wallaceburg and Deputy Reeve, he was the only Kent County councilor to have enlisted in WWII. He was reported to have been awarded the British Empire Medal in the CDN 3/01/46.

The Wallaceburg News in 1944 reported that Sgt. Shirley was living at 434 Wellington St. in London, ON.

After five months at sea he was called to ‘shore duty’, eventually stationed at Sydney, NS He was discharged from the Navy 18/18/1945.

On Canada Day of 2008 Len and son Gary attended a special ceremony at Cadzow Park in the town of St. Mary’s for the presentation of the ships bell from HMCS Stone Town to the town for which it was named. “I never expected to be the only guy here; I was expecting to see more, but they are spread all over, from Westminster to Verdon”. Son Gary remarked “ He didn’t talk a whole lot about the war when we were growing up, but he was always proud of what he did.”

Unable to attend the ceremony in St. Mary’s due to poor health John Campbell of Toronto, who served as Lieut. Commander of HMCS Stone Town sent a letter read by his son Spencer which read in part.

“Through perilous times with all of us wondering if we would come home each time we sailed from port (some did not), it was a privilege to work with the young boys asked to be men who made Stone Town and royal Navy crews… life has moved each of us along but I have never forgotten the comaraderier, the fun, the terror, and the adventure of those dark but illuminating days of World War II. I hope the lessons learned will be understood for generations to come.”

Leonard married Verlyn and they had Gary, Christine, Diane, Karen and Brad. Leonard did many thing providing for his family driving a horse drawn wagon of the Jackson Bakery around the streets of Chatham. He also worked at International Harvester (Navistar) for thirty-two years when he retired. Not being one to sit about he served as Court Clerk at the Chatham courthouse and did custodial duties at St. Andrews United Church where he was a devouted member. He worked with youth in the Boy Scouts and was an active member of the Royal Canadian Naval Association.

Leonard passed away 6/09/2013 at Chatham and was interned at Union Cemetery, Pardoville, ON. 

Leonard’s “HMCS Stone Town memories set sail on Canada Day www.southwesternontario.ca

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

W-RH, IODE(P), CCHR-V, CDN (2/02/45)

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