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Craig Cardiff house concert Sat., Nov. 17
P. 13
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Ladysmith men raise money for Movember
P. 5
Empty Chair ceremony honours airman from Saltair Lindsay Chung
Williams was born Dec. 30, 1917. His family moved to Calgary, and when he was in middle school, Lionel Harry Williams of Saltair was Williams joined the cadets. He was a city and district chama champion boxer who was known as a shy, hard-working person who pion boxer in 1934, and he won the provincial amateur boxing champikept to himself. Like his father, he served his coun- onship for his age and weight class. In the summer of 1935, Williams’s try overseas, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force and serving as a family moved to Valdon Road in wireless operator and air gunner dur- Saltair, right above Davis Lagoon. Williams enrolled in the commering the Second World War. But unlike cial program at Ladysmith High his father, he did not come home. Williams, a flight sergeant during School Sept. 3, 1935. “Those who knew you and your famthe war, was honoured during this year’s Empty Chair ceremony at ily said you worked hard but kept to the For King and Country Veteran’s yourself,” said Hutchins. “You, Lionel, Dinner Nov. 10 in Ladysmith. He died were remembered as the quiet one of the three brothers. Although popuOct. 2, 1942, at the age of 24. During the For King and Country lar in school because of your talent Veteran’s Dinner put on by the in sports, especially boxing and basLadysmith Rotary Club and the ketball, you tended to keep to yourLadysmith Legion, a chair is left self a lot, especially when you were empty at the head table to honour at home in Saltair.” After leaving school in 1936, a Ladysmith-area resident whose name can be found on the Cenotaph. Williams followed his father into “The Empty Chair bids us to banking, and on July 21, 1941, he remember with gratitude those who enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air never returned home, those men Force while he was in Salmon Arm. “It was recommended that you train and women who gave their lives so that others could enjoy freedom,” as a pilot; unfortunately, your mediexplained Ladysmith Mayor Rob cal review indicated that the muscuHutchins, who addressed the Empty lar control of your eyes had to be corChair and led the room in a toast to rected, so you enlisted as a wireless operator and an air gunner but with Williams. Williams’s parents, John and Ethel the understanding that when your Williams, came to Canada from eyes were corrected, you would be Wales and settled in Medicine Hat. re-trained as a pilot,” said Hutchins. On Dec. 3, 1941, Williams arrived Williams’s father served for three years in the First World War and was at Royal Canadian Air Force 405 wounded on the western front. See Stories Page 4 THE CHRONICLE
LINDSAY CHUNG/CHRONICLE
Loretta Schoonarts of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 Ladysmith Ladies Auxiliary lays a wreath during the Remembrance Day service in Ladysmith. For more photos from the service in Ladysmith and the service in Chemainus, please turn to page 10.
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