Regimental Number: M518618; SM # 65851
Rank: Private; Lance Corporal
Carman, who went by “Dusty”, was born on July 25, 1920 at Vista, Manitoba to Otto and Jane (Rusch) Miller. He had two brothers, Aldred, Carlyle and a sister Lorraine. In 1935, Carman had completed Grade 8 and worked on his father’s farm. The Miller family decided to move to the Peace District in 1941.
Carman enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army on July 18, 1941 at Grande Prairie and was subsequently sent to Edmonton and then on to Camrose for basic training. He was granted permission to marry Margaret Durfee on November 24, 1941. Also in November, he qualified in 3” mortar. From Camrose, Carman was sent to Calgary, Edmonton, back to Calgary, Hamilton and finally to Petawawa Camp in Ontario. Carman sailed for the United Kingdom on December 29, 1942, disembarked on December 30 and began more training. In July 1943, Carmen received the Good Conduct Badge following which he successfully completed the Blacksmith Group “B” course in 1944. Carmen disembarked at Northwest Europe in January 1945. He also successfully completed courses on Jr. NCO and Field Engineering. Private-Lance Corporal Carman Miller, served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe, was discharged under demobilization on December 7, 1945 and received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, 1939-1945 Star, Defense Medal and the France & Germany Star.
From 1945 to 1949, Carman worked for the Grande Prairie Creamery. For 8 months in 1940, he was also a Civil Service Fireman at the Grande Prairie Armories. For 3 years beginning in 1950, Carman worked in the lumbering industry in Northern Alberta. During 1953 and 1954, Carman also worked as a roughneck in the oilfields. Margaret and Carman had three sons; Dennis, Boyd, Randy and a daughter Lana.
In December 1954, Carman returned to the Military (Regimental # SM-65851); the Loyal Edmonton Regiment at Grande Prairie. He completed basic and corps training followed by new soldier training. Carman was stationed at various locations in BC before being transferred to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1960. In 1970, Carman retired from the Military and returned home to Winnipeg where he worked at the Toronto-Dominion Bank for 12 years.
Carman passed away on April 9, 1999 and was buried at Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Service File
Larry Fells