BREAR, SGT. LEN
Len grew was born November 16, 1919 in Ahmic Harbour, son of George and Ellen (Harris) Brear. Len lived above Maple Island next to the frame school at the junction of the Great North Road and LaBrash/Ladd Road until he was about 7 years old. The family then moved to the Union area of southwestern Ontario but the family maintained close ties to Maple Island. Len was a training instructor in Canada and England.
Len was stationed at Aldershot, England, with Unit # 3 of the Canadian Infantry Training Regiment in 1945. At the age 25 he was Acting Sergeant. He was one of half a dozen trainers who were invited to send 6 hand-picked ‘volunteers’ from each Unit to the British Transport Driving Division (4 miles from Aldershot) to celebrate the 19th Birthday of Princess Elizabeth.
Len recounts that after the Princess was introduced everyone just stood there. He decided to take the initiative and walked across the room and invited the young Princess to join him for the first dance! He further recounts with pride that the Princess asked him about himself and where he was from in Canada. He noted with regret that it wasn’t long for others to tap him on the shoulder so they could ‘cut in’.
