Chas Charlie Dell

1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45

Royal Montreal Regiment

WW II

Chas (Charlie) Dell was born 28 July 1923 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan to Henry and Elizabeth (Deg) Dell. He was the third of 7 children, Elsie (Macmillan), Tillie (Tuford), Charlie, Violet, Fred, Mabel (Leech), Pearl, and Gerald. The family lived in Lloydminster until 1926, Charlie was 3, when they moved to Portage la Prairie where Charlie grew up and got his education.

Henry Dell, Charlie’s father, enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps 08 July 1940 and his brother Fred also enlisted while underage. Charlie joined the Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) in New Westminster, British Columbia and after training was sent to England. The RMR was initially a Machine Gun unit when sent to England and in January 1943 they were re-designated as a Reconnaissance Regiment and became part of the Canadian Armoured Corps. They were converted back to Infantry in April 1944 and designated as the First Army Headquarters Defence Company (RMR). They left for France 28 July 1944, Charlie’s 21st birthday. Charlie served in France and Holland. It was in Amsterdam that he met his future wife.

In 1945, after the war and while stationed in Amsterdam, Charlie met and married Helena (Lenie) Kassteen. Charlie was repatriated in late 1945 and Lenie came to Canada as a war bride, sometime in 1946. They settled in Portage la Prairie, where Charlie had grown up, and started to build a life together. Charlie and Lenie had 4 children Ralph, John, Terry and Grace while living in Portage la Prairie. They moved to Morden in 1954 and had another daughter, Lenie.

Charlie went to work for Manitoba Telephone System in 1947 and stayed with them until retirement in 1982. Throughout his time in Morden he was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion. The Legion was a big supporter of children’s sporting activities and Charlie spent much of his time coaching baseball in the summer and supporting his kid’s hockey endeavors in the winter.

Chas (Charlie) Dell died 24 July 1991 at 67 years, just 4 days short of his 68th birthday. He is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Morden, Manitoba.