CDCI West Students Who Died While Serving in WWII
During the War years in Cobourg, men that graduated from an older, more original CDCI West served their country with time- and twenty-five gave their lives. From a reliable source,(Mary Corbitt) many of their stories were told and three of their stories will be shared. The following men who never returned to Cobourg, but left their hopes and bravery in name were F.O Robert Edwards, Pte. Elwood Hie and Douglas Thompson Denton.
For Robert Edwards, a telegram was delivered home to Cobourg early, as he was the first to be killed in flight action. His flight plane was shot, and his survival chances minimal, Robert died on August 26th, 1940.
Elwood Hie was the neighbour of the reliable source, Mary Corbitt. Living on Spring Street during this time, a telegram was on it’s way next door to Mr and Mrs Hie, when Mary’s Mother stopped and asked for the news, thinking it was a letter for herself- a letter saying that her sons had gotten to Europe safe. When Mary’s Mother was told the news of the Elwood son, who died July 23rd, 1943 decided it was best to deliver the news herself.
Douglas Thompson Denton was 24 on April 11th, 1945 when he was killed by a machine gun bullet impact. A Group of Canadian soldiers were on a break, tanks surrounded a fire with food cooking when a German machine gun released bullets. Douglas was one of the men to get hit, a bullet entering his front and having the power to exit his body through his back. A fellow soldier managed to drag douglas to cover, and later to a medical tent. His wound swelled rapidly and soon after impact from the bullet, his belt and jacket had to be taken off. Within 24 hours of reaching the medical tent, Douglas Thompson Denton was pronounced dead.
For Robert Edwards, a telegram was delivered home to Cobourg early, as he was the first to be killed in flight action. His flight plane was shot, and his survival chances minimal, Robert died on August 26th, 1940.
Elwood Hie was the neighbour of the reliable source, Mary Corbitt. Living on Spring Street during this time, a telegram was on it’s way next door to Mr and Mrs Hie, when Mary’s Mother stopped and asked for the news, thinking it was a letter for herself- a letter saying that her sons had gotten to Europe safe. When Mary’s Mother was told the news of the Elwood son, who died July 23rd, 1943 decided it was best to deliver the news herself.
Douglas Thompson Denton was 24 on April 11th, 1945 when he was killed by a machine gun bullet impact. A Group of Canadian soldiers were on a break, tanks surrounded a fire with food cooking when a German machine gun released bullets. Douglas was one of the men to get hit, a bullet entering his front and having the power to exit his body through his back. A fellow soldier managed to drag douglas to cover, and later to a medical tent. His wound swelled rapidly and soon after impact from the bullet, his belt and jacket had to be taken off. Within 24 hours of reaching the medical tent, Douglas Thompson Denton was pronounced dead.