Image: Dedication of the Cenotaph in the new village park at Eaglesham, Alberta on September 11, 1978. Members of Eaglesham Sauve #235 left to right: John Pazuik, Ed Trudel, Morris Burroughs, George Meunier, Norman Barnhardt. Photograph taken by Gary Lachance, Eaglesham, Alberta. (SPRA 328.02)
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this new blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.
Mary Edith Larkin Burroughs
Regiment: Royal Canadian Air Force – Women’s Division
Regimental Number: W 304957
Rank: Corporal
Force: Air Force
Edith was born on April 10, 1923 in St. Peter’s Bay, Prince Edward Island. On June 18, 1942 at the age of 18 she enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Montreal, Quebec. Her postings included Rockcliffe, Ontario; Mt. Joli, St. Hubert, and Montreal in Quebec; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Edith was discharged on October 2, 1945. After the war, she trained to be a registered nurse. On July 12, 1951 Edith married Morris Lee Burroughs in Grande Prairie. The couple settled in Eaglesham and farmed land that Morris received from the veteran’s lease. They raised 5 children: Elizabeth, Margaret, Shaun, Chris, and Kathleen. From 1970 to 1972 Edith resumed her nursing career in the Spirit River hospital. Unfortunately their house burned down in 1975, but was rebuilt with the help of neighbors and friends. Edith and Morris sold their farm in 1988 and retired in Grande Prairie.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 156-158 (photo p. 157)
Morris Lee Burroughs
Regiment: Canadian Parachute Corps
Regimental Number: M 8970
Rank: Private
Force: Army
Morris Burroughs was the son of Lee and Margaret Burroughs, born on December 19, 1923, in Hafford, Saskatchewan. He settled in the Peace Country with his family in 1937, and they farmed in Codesa. Morris joined the Canadian Parachute Corps at the age of 19. His postings included Camrose, Alberta and northwestern Europe. He was discharged in February of 1946. Morris obtained a veteran’s lease on the western half of 10-26-W5 in Eaglesham area. In the winters, he worked out at logging camps and later at oil rigs. On July 12, 1951 he married Edith Larkin in Grande Prairie, and they settled on his homestead. After being hailed out in July of 1969, Morris hauled water for rigs in Red Earth. In 1975, their house burned down, and it was rebuilt by the help of friends and neighbors. In 1988, the Burroughs retired in Grande Prairie. Morris died at age 86 in September 2010 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 156-158 (photo p. 157)