Robert Bruce Harley

Following in his father and his three older brother’s footsteps, Bruce was the FIFTH veteran to be born and raised at 37 John St. (now Mill St.)

Bruce was the son of Dean Stanley Harley (Spanish American War) and Bertha Follett, born June 18, 1920. Tragically, Dean’s first wife had died in 1917, one day after giving birth to her fifth child, a baby which died. As was fairly common for a man left with four young children, (Ray WW2, Gord WW2, Brock WW2 and John Douglas) Dean remarried in 1919 to Bertha Follet and the couple had four children…Bruce (WW2) Jean, Bessie and Terrence.

Local newspapers tell us that Bruce left for active service training quite early in the war (July 10, 1940), that he was on active service that same month with the 48th Highlanders, Toronto and was taking a course in signalling. Bruce left for overseas in September 1941 and he served in Italy up to Ravena and was sent to France, Belgium and Holland. In February 1944, he fought during the Battle of Sicily.

According to Bruce’s nephew, Bruce won a silver medal in 1942 and a gold medal in 1943 in the Canadian Corps finals. He also ran the marathon in the 1944 Olympics, coming in 7th place.

Bruce was promoted to Lance Corporal at Mediterranean Headquarters in Italy in November 1945. Corporal Harley was welcomed safely home to Canada by his grateful family in August 1945.

Returning to work at Smith & Stone, Bruce and other employees were honoured for their service by the company. In May 1946, Bruce was building a new home at 21 Ewing St. Georgetown. Bruce had married Margaret May Ransom and the couple had three children.

Bruce died March 3, 1998 and his cremains buried at Greenwood Cemetery Georgetown. His obituary indicates that he served with the Lorne Scots overseas, and was a 52-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 120.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on. *Information provided by Mike Harley and taken from Ancestry.ca and Findagrave.com

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