b'Lake Scugog Historical Society ~ A TRIBUTE TO A LOCAL WAR HERO ~YOU Canadian Womens Army CorpsN omatterwhere CPL. ORLEY ROBERT MCCLUREANKETH members disembarking from a W ship in Gourock, ScotlandThey went to hell and back on 31 March, 1943.heison Remembrance Day, Robert McClure pauses at the 11th hourofthe11thdayofthe11th month, to remember his late father, a WWII hero who saved a platoon in Belgium.Robs father, Orley Robert McClure, was born on March 4, 1919, to Gordon andElsieMayofNewmarket,soif he had lived, he would be 100 years old today. He passed away on October 26, 2000, at the age of 81.Remembering Cpl.OrleyMcClurewasaTank Womens Military Roles Gunnerinthearmy.Hedescribed this job as, coaching what went on in the tank. He didnt talk about the Lake Scugog Historical Secretary Bill Minors, with authorTed Barris, shown here in September at a book signing at war too much, said his son, but un-Your protection is our policy INSURANCE Books Galore, Port Perry. der the right conditions, he shared 169 North Street, Port Perry snippetsofinformationhereand 905-985-8416www.taylorforder.com Author Ted Barristhere.Theywenttohellandback, RUSH TO DANGERRob stated. One story his father re-Ted Barris, military historian, author and broadcastermembered was the sound of hearing will be visiting Port Perry on Thursday November 7.Hegrownmencryingovertheradio, will be discussing his latest book, Rush to Danger, at thebecausetheyknewthattheywere Lake Scugog Historical Society (LSHS) meeting.doomed.Despitehisownserious Teds father Alex was a medic in World War II, in factinjury,Orleyhelpedtoassistother he was a front line medic at the infamous Battle of theinjuredmentosafety,andheput Bulge. This factor is used as a framework in Teds book ashimself in danger to protect others. he explores the history of the role of the medic beginningAdetailedaccountoftheevents with the US Civil War. ofOctober3,1944,entitledCROIX HisbookfeaturesaccountsoftheheroiceffortsofDEGUERRE,intheaccompanyingOrley Robert McClure, 1945.stretcher bearers, medics, nurses and ambulance driverssidebar, explains Orleys acts of ex-at the front lines of battles in which US and Canadianemplarybraverywhichledhimtoto like to be alone, Rob said. niece, in recognition of her grandfa-forces have participated.being awarded the Belgium Cross, aAfterallthedestructionthatther, and the uncles on her mothers Please join us . From the US Civil War, the Canadian Riel Rebellion,rare honour. happened,commentedhisgrand- side of the family, who served in the Ypres, The Somme, Vimy, Dieppe, all the way to Iraq andAs a soldier, he was definitely adaughter Melissa McClure, He wasBritish Navy.Lake ScugogAfghanistan, members of the medical corps have riskedguy on top of his game, Rob com- not a relatable man. He was compli- Rob remembers his father getting Historical Societytheir lives, and sometimes lost them, in their efforts tomented. But he was a different mancatedandmisunderstood,butfactsdressed up in uniform to participate Meetingsave the lives of those wounded on those battlefields.before he went to war than he wasare,everyonehadbecomebrokenin Remembrance Day events. Orley Thursday Nov. 7 Ted Barris has researched the lives of medical corps per- whenhecameback.Whatsoldierswhen the fight was over. He touchedwasamemberoftheFortGarry sonnel and carried out numerous interviews to producesawinthewarwouldevenmakethelivesofeveryonehemet,andHorseReserveUnitandLegionin 7:30 pm a dynamic, and often emotional account of their experi- (horror writer) Stephen King cringe. IhaventcomeacrossapersonyetNewmarket,whereheenlisted.As ences in Rush to Danger.Orleywasshotintheshoulderthat couldnt tell me something thata Scugog resident, he was a familiar Author Ted Barris Ted will discuss his work and answer questions on hisduring battle. Rob recalls seeing thewasnt inspiring. I never got to knowface at the Port Perry Legion. RUSH TO DANGERfindings as he will be the guest speaker at the Novembershirt with the bloodstained hole. him as a person or a granddad, but heIt was interesting to meet people MEDICS IN THE LINE OF FIRE meeting of the Lake Scugog Historical Society.This willMilitarysurvivorslikelyallsuf- had an incredible life.who his father knew back in the day, take place on Thursday November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the St.feredfromPostTraumaticStressOrleys family all deeply appreci- whocameouttohisfuneral,Rob St. Johns Presbyterian Church,Johns Presbyterian Church, 319 Queen Street, Port Perry.Syndrome (PTSD) said Rob, althoughateshisgreatpersonalsacrifices.said. One example was a man who 319 Queen Street, Port Perry The meeting is open to the public and refreshments willit wasnt called that back then. Post- Melissa recalls proudly marching in be served. war, Orley sought peace and tendedthe ArmisticeDayparadewithherPlease turn to page 46~ A TRIBUTE TO A LOCAL WAR HERO ~44 FO FOFOCUCSUS S NEOPVTEEMMBBEERR2200116945CPL. ORLEY ROBERT MCCLUREFOCCUUSS NSOEVPETMEMBEBRER 2 0210916 N omatterThey went to hell and back whereheison Remembrance Day, Robert McClure pauses at the 11th hourofthe11thdayofthe11th month, to remember his late father, a WW11 hero who saved a platoon in Belgium.Robs father, Orley Robert McClure, was born on March 4, 1919, to Gordon andElsieMayofNewmarket,soif he had lived, he would be 100 years old today. He passed away on October 26, 2000, at the age of 81.Cpl.OrleyMcClurewasaTank Gunnerinthearmy.Hedescribed this job as, coaching what went on in the tank. He didnt talk about the war too much, said his son, but un-der the right conditions, he shared snippetsofinformationhereand there.Theywenttohellandback, Rob stated. One story his father re-membered was the sound of hearing grownmencryingovertheradio, becausetheyknewthattheywere doomed.Despitehisownserious injury,Orleyhelpedtoassistother injuredmentosafety,andheput himself in danger to protect others. Adetailedaccountoftheevents ofOctober3,1944,entitledCROIX DEGUERRE,intheaccompanyingOrley Robert McClure, 1945.sidebar, explains Orleys acts of ex-emplary bravery which led to him toto like to be alone, Rob said. niece, in recognition of her grandfa-being awarded the Belgium Cross, aAfterallthedestructionthatther, and the uncles on her mothers rare honour. happened,commentedhisgrand- side of the family, who served in the As a soldier, he was definitely adaughter Melissa McClure, He wasBritish Navy.guy on top of his game, Rob com- not a relatable man. He was compli- Rob remembers his father getting mented. But he was a different mancatedandmisunderstood,butfactsdressed up in uniform to participate before he went to war then he wasare,everyonehadbecomebrokenin Remembrance Day events. Orley whenhecameback.Whatsoldierswhen the fight was over. He touchedwasamemberoftheFortGarry sawinthewarwouldevenmakethelivesofeveryonehemet,andHorseReserveUnitandLegionin (horror writer) Stephen King cringe. IhaventcomeacrossapersonyetNewmarket, where he enlisted. As a Orleywasshotintheshoulderthat couldnt tell me something thatScugog resident, he liked to hang out during battle. Rob recalls seeing thewasnt inspiring. I never got to knowat the Port Perry Legion, chatting to shirt with the bloodstained hole. him as a person or a granddad, but heBarb Doupe, (now Legion President) Militarysurvivorslikelyallsuf- had an incredible life.and other friends. feredfromPostTraumaticStressOrleys family all deeply appreci- It was interesting to meet people Syndrome (PTSD) said Rob, althoughateshisgreatpersonalsacrifices.who his father knew back in the day, it wasnt called that back then. Post- Melissa recalls proudly marching in war, Orley sought peace and tendedthe ArmisticeDayparadewithherPlease turn to page ??'