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Veterans of World War I from the Souris area who were decorated included: J.F. Stems M.C., Louis Fougere M.M., Alex MacDonald M.M., and Harry Leslie M.M.M

World War I may have ended over seventy years ago, but for Harry Leslie, age 92, of Colville Manor in Souris, the memory ofit remains as clear as ifit were yesterday. He can still take you to the French town of Armentieres where he and the gun crew have their sights on the enemy.

We kept ahide and so did they. If they saw you, you can see you wouldn’t last long. We were wise to that. My job was to aim the big gun—Doyle’s to fire it.This day a shell dropped handy us. The Commanding Officer said, “The gun you’re firing at is the one firing at us.” Well we took it as long as we could. A direct shell, close. I thought, our gun is loaded; theirs is not. So I said a prayer as I aimed, stepped aside and Doyle fired quick. No more stuff from that German gun. I never forgot that prayer. Used it often afterwards. But they were not always as lucky, as he goes on to relate:

This day a shell, no warning at all, a German shell burst right handy, about that far from me. We all dropped. When the smoke cleared, all I could see was Doyle and I knew he was hit. Others laying down or dead. I started to help Doyle but he said, “There’s others worse; I think I can make it.” Then I picked up this big fellow. I was as strong as a bear in those days. As I carried him back to the cellar, he said, “They got me Leslie." When I laid him down, I knew he was dead. I was the only one not hurt, so I went back three times to help the others. Was decorated for bravery on the field.“H

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Armistice Day, Mons, France 1918

Marcus Mooney on extreme right with other Canadian soldiers. Marcus became a loyal and valued member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Soun's. He chaired the Blood Donors' Clinic for many years until his death in December 1974 at age 79.