HISTORY
MILITARY ACTIVITY
MILITARY ACTIVITY
MILITARY SERVICE
OTHER THAN WWI & WWII
OTHER THAN WWI & WWII
This page will feature profiles of people from Bell Island who have served in branches of the Armed Forces, other than those who served in the World Wars I and II.
If you are from Bell Island and have served in any branch of the Armed Forces, whether for Canada or any other country, and would like your information included here, please send information and photo(s) to
[email protected]
Information should include:
Full name (and nickname if desired)
Parents' names
Year of birth
Years lived on Bell Island and area of residence
Youth cadet or CLB or militia activity (if any)
Branch of the Armed Forces and rank
Service record with dates of years served
Honours, medals, awards
Profiles will be listed in alphabetical order by surname.
If you are from Bell Island and have served in any branch of the Armed Forces, whether for Canada or any other country, and would like your information included here, please send information and photo(s) to
[email protected]
Information should include:
Full name (and nickname if desired)
Parents' names
Year of birth
Years lived on Bell Island and area of residence
Youth cadet or CLB or militia activity (if any)
Branch of the Armed Forces and rank
Service record with dates of years served
Honours, medals, awards
Profiles will be listed in alphabetical order by surname.
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The September 2016 photo on the right shows the front (west side) of the Bell Island War Memorial on Davidson Avenue. This side has 11 names of fallen soldiers of the First World War. In recent years, a plaque bearing the names of two Bell Islanders who died in the Korean War (1950-53) was added to the base of the monument on that side:
Pte. Warwick Ryan, RCR and Pte. Arthur Guy, PPCLI. If you have more information about these two men that can be added to this website, please get in touch at [email protected] |
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LCdr Rodney Bickford (Rod), 1968-
Son of Reuben and Elaine Bickford, Lance Cove; Lives Lance Cove, Bell Island; Topsail CLB Company, 1978-1986; 52nd Field Engineering Squadron (Sapper), 1986-87; Royal Canadian Navy (Naval Warfare Officer), 1987-2008; Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, 2008-2014; Operational Deployments: NATO, Persian Gulf, Haiti, Afghanistan (3); Persian Gulf Medal with Bar (Gulf War), General Campaign Star with Bars (Afghanistan), South West Asia Service Medal (Afghanistan), Special Service Medal with NATO Bar, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration with Bar. 
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Photo above is of Rod Bickford in 2014.
Photo below is from Haiti in 2004. Photo on the left is from Afghanistan in 2010. 
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CPO Paul Rendell Clarke (Knobby), 1971-
Son of Rendell and Rosalind (Peddle) Clarke; Lived Scotia #1, Bell Island, 1971-1990; Bell Island CLB, 1979-1984; Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Chief Petty Officer; Served from 14 Sept 1990 - 28 Jan 2018; Canadian Forces' Decoration First Clasp (CD1), Special Service Medal (SSM), Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM). 
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Photo above is of Paul Clarke on his retirement, Jan 2018.
Photo on the left is NATO Operations in Black Sea in 1992. |
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MCpl Harold Davis, 1959-
Son of Jean (Davis) Rockwell and Ken Laidlow; Lived 5th Street, Bell Island, 1959-1974; Youth member of JTC (Junior Training Corps of CLB); Air Weapons Systems Technician (AWST), Master Corporal; Served from 1978-2009, 31.9 years; Veteran of the Persian Gulf War, January-February 1991. 
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Photo above is of Harold Davis in 2019.
Photo of him on the left is from the Persian Gulf War, 1991. |
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Lt(N) Aaron Ezekiel (Zeke), 1983-
Son of Ed and Marilyn Ezekiel; Lived East End Road, 1983-2004; Navy, Lieutenant (N); Army Reserve (1RNFLDR): 2000-2004, Deployed to Bosnia in 2003 with 2PPCLI; Navy: Marine Engineer (Stoker): 2004-2010, Marine Systems Engineering Officer: 2010-present; Special Service Medal - NATO, Canadian Peacekeeper, Non-Article 5, Canadian Decoration. 
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Photo above is of Aaron Ezekiel on Remembrance Day, Beaver Bank, NS, 2019.
Photo on the left is from Operation Palladium, Bosnia, 2003. |
Captain Ronald Kevin Kavanaugh CD, Canadian Air Force, 436 Transport Squadron.
Born Bell Island, NL, c.1942.
Enlisted September 24, 1962.
Died on a Search and Rescue Mission October 15, 1980, age 38. More information below:
Born Bell Island, NL, c.1942.
Enlisted September 24, 1962.
Died on a Search and Rescue Mission October 15, 1980, age 38. More information below:
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Sgt. Baxter Warren, 1948-1970
Son of Barbara & Elias Warren; Lived Quigley's Line, Bell Island 1948-1966; Joined the Bell Island Militia as a teenager; Enlisted in United States Army, Buffalo, NY, Nov. 20, 1967; Following training, he was sent to Vietnam; Promoted to Sergeant December 1968; Served with the 1st Inf. Bde, 5th Inf. Div (Mech); During his 1st Tour of Duty, he was awarded: Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement, Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for Heroism, Bronze Star, 2 Purple Hearts for being wounded in action, Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for exceptionally valorous service in Vietnam, Sept. 11, 1968 while serving with Company B, 1st Batallion, 11th Infantry. During his 2nd Tour of Duty, he was awarded: Air Medal for over 25 aerial missions over hostile territory. Posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Heroism for exceptionally valorous action on March 27, 1970, and a Purple Heart. Killed in action March 27, 1970, age 22 years. Buried Mountview Cemetery, Cambridge, ON. Full story of his service below: |
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Baxter Warren was born on Bell Island, Newfoundland, April 2, 1948 to Barbara and Elias Warren, the 9th of 11 children. He joined the Bell Island militia as a young man and at the age of 18 moved to Ontario.
Over 10,000 Canadians joined the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Conflict. Baxter enlisted in the United States Army at Buffalo on November 20, 1967 and, after training, was sent to Vietnam. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1968. He served with the 1st Inf. Bde, 5th Inf. Div (Mech) and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement, an Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for Heroism, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for being wounded in action. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for exceptionally valorous service in Vietnam on September 11, 1968. He was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion 11th Infantry. A segment of the company came under intense mortar fire which inflicted several casualties. Specialist Warren, immediately realizing the situation, quickly moved through enemy fire to evacuate the casualties and equipment. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, he continued to evacuate the wounded until they were all in a secure area. He subsequently returned to retrieve their weapons even though the enemy fire was intense.
Baxter made the decision to do a second tour of duty in Vietnam and, when questioned as to why he would return to such a dangerous situation, he could only say that as a Sergeant he needed to take care of his men. During his second tour of duty he was awarded the Air Medal for participating in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory. Baxter was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Heroism for exceptionally valorous action on March 27, 1970 and a Purple Heart. Sgt. Baxter Warren was killed in action on March 27, 1970. His body was returned to his family in Galt, Ontario on April 2, 1970, his 22nd birthday.
His sacrifice has been recognized on the Vietnam Wall in Washington and the Canadian Vietnam memorial in Windsor as well as on the cenotaph in Cambridge, Ontario, and at the Legion on Bell Island. Baxter was always remembered by his family, Arthur and Helena Warren, Joan and Clayton Penney, Shirley and Paul Pillar, Kay and Mike Savard, Ruth and Ken Bown, Clarence and Grace Warren, Linda Louise Warren and Norman and Shirley Warren. Information and photo submitted by his brother, Norman Warren.
Over 10,000 Canadians joined the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Conflict. Baxter enlisted in the United States Army at Buffalo on November 20, 1967 and, after training, was sent to Vietnam. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1968. He served with the 1st Inf. Bde, 5th Inf. Div (Mech) and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement, an Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for Heroism, a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for being wounded in action. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device for exceptionally valorous service in Vietnam on September 11, 1968. He was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion 11th Infantry. A segment of the company came under intense mortar fire which inflicted several casualties. Specialist Warren, immediately realizing the situation, quickly moved through enemy fire to evacuate the casualties and equipment. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, he continued to evacuate the wounded until they were all in a secure area. He subsequently returned to retrieve their weapons even though the enemy fire was intense.
Baxter made the decision to do a second tour of duty in Vietnam and, when questioned as to why he would return to such a dangerous situation, he could only say that as a Sergeant he needed to take care of his men. During his second tour of duty he was awarded the Air Medal for participating in more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory. Baxter was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for Heroism for exceptionally valorous action on March 27, 1970 and a Purple Heart. Sgt. Baxter Warren was killed in action on March 27, 1970. His body was returned to his family in Galt, Ontario on April 2, 1970, his 22nd birthday.
His sacrifice has been recognized on the Vietnam Wall in Washington and the Canadian Vietnam memorial in Windsor as well as on the cenotaph in Cambridge, Ontario, and at the Legion on Bell Island. Baxter was always remembered by his family, Arthur and Helena Warren, Joan and Clayton Penney, Shirley and Paul Pillar, Kay and Mike Savard, Ruth and Ken Bown, Clarence and Grace Warren, Linda Louise Warren and Norman and Shirley Warren. Information and photo submitted by his brother, Norman Warren.