Fessler, Charles John “Bud”

Regimental Number: 106673
Rank: Lance Corporal
Branch: Seaforth Highlanders

Bud was from Ponoka, AB, and enlisted in Edmonton on February 5, 1943. He was sent to TC 132 in Grande Prairie effective February 26, 1943.

Bud was transferred to CITC Calgary (A16) on April 27, 1943. He shipped overseas through Halifax on July 17, 1943 aboard the SS Louis Pasteur, landing in Plymouth, England.

Bud served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in North Africa, Italy, and Europe, seeing action at Ortona, the Liri Valley, the battles for the Gothic Line and was among the troops who liberated Amsterdam in May 1945. He returned to Canada in September 1945 and received an honorable discharge, as Lance Corporal, on November 12, 1945 in Calgary.

Following the war, Bud received a land grant in Ponoka through the VLA and worked briefly for his former comrade-in-arms E ‘Davie’ Fulton (Mjr) who served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Diefenbaker government, before relocating to Crossfield AB, where he remained until his passing in 2004.

Bud was a proud and active member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Biographical information provided by Bud’s son-in-law, Gary Kiernan.

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