Jiskje Randles of Port Alberni is proud of her father and stepfather for their service during WWII. Sitting at a craft fair one day in the Alberni Athletic Hall, Randles wanted to share the story of these two men, so she showed a card with photos of them and other tributes.

Jiskje Randles is the current generation, or the “now” in this story of yesterday and today.

The “then” belongs to his father, Peter E. Winchuk, and his stepfather, William Randles Sr.

Winchuk was a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers, and during World War II he was a sapper stationed in Italy. He then served in Holland and spent part of his career as a cook. It was while in Nigtevecht, the Netherlands, that he married Jiskje’s mother, Jiskje Veenendaal.

William Randles was with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment from the Niagara region of Ontario. He served in Holland and Germany during World War II, fighting for the liberation of the Netherlands. He was a rifleman in the infantry and was wounded twice; the first time, after his recovery, he rejoined his regiment and then fought inside Germany and was more seriously injured. He was shot in the knee and was airlifted to England in April 1945.

Randles married Rosemary Parkins, originally from Detroit, Michigan – a jump jump and jump from Warden, Ontario, where William was in tank formation.

Alberni Valley Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Alberni Port Remembrance Day