Joseph Leslie Engler

Captain Joseph Leslie Engler was born in 1915 in Ottawa Ontario, he had a good upbringing with his family: father Carl Engler, mother Lily M. Engler and his siblings Lt. Bert Engler and Henrietta A. Engler. The family had a home at 145 Powell Avenue close to his future school. He received a good education at Glebe Collegiate Institute, Glebe was one of two collegiates in Ottawa and considered one of the two best secondary schools in Ottawa at the time. Later Joseph went on to study history for 4 years at Queen's University but ultimately found a job as an accountant as a young man. Joseph was 6'2" and 156 pounds, he had blue eyes and brown hair.

On August 4th 1942 Joseph enrolled in the military in Peterborough, Ontario leaving his well paying job in hopes to help his country in battle. He was part of regiment C 78072 and left for war on March 22, 1944. During his time served he travelled to Toronto, Windsor, the UK, Belgium and France. 

Captain Engler died on October 1, 1944. He was killed in action when allied troops crossed the Belgian border by the German armies enforcing the Belgian occupation. He helped to bring about the liberation of Belgium. He was interred at a cemetery in Loosdrecht, Netherlands which is something he may have chosen due to his Dutch heritage. He was buried with the honours of a Captain at the cemetary. His death was confirmed by the forces of H.Q. 332-14-170.

'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'

- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.