Hill, E.I.

They Remember Bombardier Hill

Enclosed is a photograph of my brother, Gunner Edward Le Blanc, together with a bit of information regarding your cover of Nov 15— showing the grave of Bombardier E.I. Hill.

In his letter telling us of the cross of Bombardier Hill, my brother said it was the first cross he had made, and that Bombardier Hill was the first man of his unit (20th Battery, RCA, 2nd. Antitank Regiment) to give his life for his country.

My brother enlisted in the Army in December, 1940, and was stationed at Petawawa, Ont., before going overseas. While in England he became a dispatch rider, crossing over to France shortly after D-Day. He saw action at Caen and is still with his unit somewhere in Holland.—Mrs. J.A. Le Blanc, Atholville, N.B.

Some time ago my wife received a letter from her brother, Sgt. W. Coutts, 20th Battery RCA. In it he said: Tonight I buried my bombardier, and he gave his name and place of birth. When your Nov. 15 cover arrived we thought it must be his grave, so we sent the cover to Sgt. Coutts.

Recently we got a letter. Here are Sgt. Coutts comments: "Got the letter today that you wrote with that cover of Maclean's Magazine. Yes, it is my bombardier, all right. In fact that other cross you see on that grave (the small rough board directly above the plaque) is one I stuck together myself that first night. Thanks an awful lot—I wanted a picture of his grave but I didn't think I would have one like this. That was quite a night, that one. I'll tell you about it sometime."

Sgt. Coutts was himself wounded three days later. He is now back with his unit in Holland.—Philip J. G. Rock, Drumheller, Alta.