Orval Ezra Kinsman

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM),1939-45 War Medal Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA)

WW II

Orval was born in Windygates, Manitoba to James and Annie (Kroetsch) Kinsman on 25 September 1925. He was the fourth in line of six children and he spent the majority of his life in Windygates, Darlingford, and Morden.

In 1942 at the age of 17 years he joined the Royal Canadian Horse artillery in Winnipeg and began his training. He never left Canada but served until the end of hostilities in 1945.

In 1950 Orval married Nora Snyder (a veteran of the Canadian Women’s Army Corp). Nora contracted polio during the polio epidemic of the early 1950’s and Orval was widowed in 1953. In later years he married Audrey Renton of Morden who predeceased him in 1999.

Upon his return home from service Orval farmed in Windygates for a few years until he took up employment as a mechanic. He worked as a mechanic in various places.

In retirement he moved to a house in Morden and finally to Legion House.

Orval was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 11 in Morden.

He was very proud of his and his family’s Military history, as two of his brothers, Elmer (RCHA) and Harvey (QOCH) also served. Harvey was killed in action in Normandy.

Orval passed away 15 October 2001 at the age of 76. In 2012 his family donated some of his military records and service medals to the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France. On 11 September 2017 son Harvey, along with cousins Judi and Jacqui (daughters of Elmer) went to France and visited the Centre to view the temporary exhibition “From Vimy to Juno”. Included in the exhibition were family artifacts of Edward and Frank Kroetsch, Veterans of WW I and uncles to Orval, Elmer and Harvey. Also included in the temporary exhibition were previous donations of records and medals of Harvey Kinsman, Elmer Kinsman, Orval Kinsman and his wife Nora (Snyder) Kinsman. All served in WW 2.