Enlistment # A-108608
Private
“Arden Leroy Payne was born on February 20th, 1925 in Strathroy, Ontario to Jethro Chestle Payne, and Ivah Tuttle Payne. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. He was the second youngest of six children. The family lived in an apartment on Frank Street.
Arden attended Colborne Street School, and later, Strathroy Collegiate Institute.
He worked briefly at the Somerville plant in Strathroy. He had a quiet and unassuming personality.
Arden will be remembered always for his kindness and thoughtfulness. Arden was not married. His brothers, Ray and Chestle, were the first to enlist with the Royal Canadian Engineers.
Arden joined the same regiment about 1943. He spent 14 months overseas where he served in Holland, Belgium, France and Germany before the war in Europe ended.
After V-E Day , Arden volunteered for service in the Pacific. He arrived in Strathroy at the end of June for a 30 day repatriation leave before heading off to fight again. He was posted to Camp Petawawa to await further instructions.
When he enlisted, Arden had a medical condition known as Bright’s disease, which he acquired as a child. In Petawawa his health declined and he discovered that his condition had deteriorated severely while overseas. He was immediately admitted to the camp hospital and his family was notified. By the time his father arrived, Arden had slipped into a coma. He never regained consciousness. Jethro remained with his son until his death.
Arden died, at the age of 20, on September 27, 1945, thus becoming a casualty of war. His funeral service was held on Sunday, September 30, 1945 at the Denning Brothers Funeral Home. He was buried with full military honours in the Strathroy Cemetery.”
Source: Strathroy Museum