Reinold Mikolasek

1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

WW II

Born 1920 – 11 May 1957

Reinold Mikolasek was born 1920 in Milose, Poland to Vaclav Mikolasek, (b 1880 Milose, Poland) and Mary Tomicek (b 28 February 1887 Poland) who were married in 1904. Although the Mikolaseks lived in Poland they were of Czech nationality. Poland in the 1920’s was a country beset with hardships following WW l and rumblings of more political unrest caused many families to pack up their few belongings and make the decision to find a better life in Canada. In 1929 Valclav and Mary Mikolasek gathered their family and began the long Journey from Milose, Poland to Thornhill, Manitoba. With them were their eldest son Anthony, his wife Bessie and daughter Annie (2) along with their other children Vernon, Nettie, John, Reinold (9) and Walter (5). They sailed on the ship “La Bourdonnais” of the Baltic American Line and arrived at Halifax 30 May 1929, cleared customs and began the long and tiring train journey to Thornhill. The Mikolaseks settled in the 1-5 and 1-6 area where others from Poland had already settled. They would not be entirely alone in this strange new land. They stayed there until 1935 when Valclav along with his sons Vernon and Reinold set up farming on the NE ¼ 18-1-7. Vernon married in 1935 and set up his own home, Reinold and his father continued to farm together.

Reinold left his father on the farm and joined the Canadian Military and trained with The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) in Canada and England. On 10 July 1943 the Patricia’s landed in Leonforte, Sicily and gained their first Battle Honour of WW II. Following the capture of Sicily by the allies the PPCLI were sent to Italy on 04 September 1943. Reinold’s war experience was short lived as he was wounded and lost his right arm during the Sicily campaign and he was sent back to Canada.

When Reinold returned from Europe he bought W ½ 17-1-7 and farmed there with his father. On 03 July 1947 a tornado ripped through the Windygates area, it destroyed the farm and killed his father. After this tragedy Reinold lived with his brother Vernon’s family until he purchased SW ¼ 15-1-7 at Windygates. Reinold farmed this land until his passing 11 May 1957.

Reinold Mikalasek is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Morden Manitoba.