Lawrence Walter Sager

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

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

WW II

Lawrence Walter Sager was born in Stefko, Alberta 16 February 1924, the oldest of 6 children, born to Ralph and Martha (Jaeger) Sager. He had 2 sisters, Gladys (Bonar) and Evelyn (Odwazny) as well as 3 brothers, Donald, Gordon and Howard. Shortly after his birth his parents moved to the Thornhill Morden District where Lawrence was raised and educated.

On 11 November 1942, at the age of 18, Lawrence enlisted in the wartime Canadian Forces and became a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). After completion of basic training Lawrence was sent for advanced training and qualified as a driver. After his training he was sent to Italy and remained there with the PPCLI until 16 March 1945 when the regiment was transferred to France, arriving 18 March 1945. After the war he said to one of his brothers that he had walked the whole length of Italy, being in the infantry and considering the length of the campaign, it is entirely possible. According to his Soldiers Service Book, Lawrence was repatriated in June 1945.

Following the war he spent a short time at the home farm before heading to the mines and worked as a Diamond Driller in Northern Canada and Ireland. He lived in Sudbury, Ontario for approximately 20 years during which he married Millie Lafreniere, a girl from Esponola Bay, Ontario and they eventually settled in Espanola, Ontario. They had two children, Richard who lives in Sudbury, Ontario and Carole (Rawnyk) in Chelmsford, Ontario.

Lawrence Walter Sager died 09 May 1982 at the Espanola General Hospital. A memorial service was held on Friday, 21 May 1982 at Wiebe’s Funeral Chapel followed by Ash Internment beside his mother and father at Hillside Cemetery in Morden, Manitoba.