Fred was born on December 19th, 1913, in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  He had 11 brothers and sisters. His parents were Ukrainian and Russian immigrants.  Somehow Fred found his way to Woodstock Ontario.  In 1943 he joined the Essex Regiment of Canada, which was stationed in Windsor, Ontario. 

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Fred was never deployed to Europe, he stayed back home and helped train recruits to work with motorcycles, Field Artillery Tractors, armoured vehicles and trucks. He trained out of Woodstock’s No.11 Training Centre Advanced Driving and Maintenance School.  There he met his future wife, Mary. 

 

After the war Fred continued to work as a mechanic. They moved to Detroit, Michigan and worked in the motor industry there.  Fred passed away on January 3rd, 2003 and is buried in Innerkip Cemetery. 

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Written by Declan Adam, great grandson of Fred Palnau, BCI student