Image: Archie Delaney, Ray Boyer, and Clarence Boyer. Italy. 1944 (SPRA 445.01.06, cropped)
Regiment: Royal Canadian Signal Corps
Force: Army
Archie Delaney was born on February 24, 1914 in Thessalon, ON, being one of 6 children. At age 5, he moved with his mother (who was a widow) and siblings to the Kleskun Hills area. His mother remarried to Isaac Boyer, and 4 more half siblings were added to the family. Archie attended East Kleskun school, and after he quit school he worked for various farmers in the area. In 1940 he joined the army and was posted in Holland, Sicily, and Italy. He married his wife, Alice “Aagtje” Renkema, in Holland in 1945, and he was discharged from the army in 1946. Their daughter June was born in Holland before Alice left to join Archie in Canada. They rented some farm land along the Teepee Creek Road, living in an old bunkhouse. Twin daughters were born, Eveline and Irene, and later a son, Ray. The Delaneys acquired a quarter section through the VLA: SW 13-72-4 W6. Archie farmed in the summer. Due to poor crops, he also drove truck hauling logs in the winters. He bought another quarter section after a few years: NW 13-72-4 W6. Tragically, Archie had a tractor accident in August 1954 and died after 6 days in the Grande Prairie Municipal Hospital. Many neighbors helped out the family that fall taking off crops. In late fall of 1955 Alice and the children moved to a new house in Grande Prairie which was built by members of the Legion, neighbors, and relatives. Alice remarried to Mr. Balmer, and she died at age 81 in 2000 in Grande Prairie.
Source: Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 125 – 128 (photos)
Herald Tribune (Newspaper) Aug. 19, 1954 p. 1 c. 3 (fatal accident)
AGS Obituary Index (Alice)
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this 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.