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His family lived just south of the Willoughby School site on 208th Street. He was a student at Willoughby School (year and grade unknown).
Term Source: Willoughby School Photos.

Kathleen Straw was born on Feb. 25,1914 to parents Elizabeth and William Henry Straw in Maxim, Saskatchewan. Kathleen grew up at 20819 85th Avenue in Willoughby, roughly where the overpass now is. She had two brothers, Richard (Dick) Straw and Wilfred Straw. Kathleen attended West Langley Elementary School, Langley High School, and received her Elementary School Teaching Certificate from Vancouver Normal School. She married John Ellens on June 26, 1937 and they lived 521 Alexander Road or what is now know as 7851 208th Street, just south of the present Willoughby Elementary School playing fields (2013). Kathleen and John had two sons, Harris Ellens and William (Bill) Ellens. Kathleen was a teacher at West Langley Elementary School from 1935 until her marriage in 1937, a librarian at the Langley Public Library, and a Returning Officer in local, provincial and federal elections. She was an active member of Willoughby United Church, where she taught Sunday school. She served as Chairman of the Church Board of Trustees and was a CGIT leader. Kathleen died Nov. 20, 1976 in Murrayville.

Billy Ellens was the younger brother of Harry Ellens, and a son of John and Kathleen Ellens (nee Straw). He was a student at Willoughby School in Division III in 1949.

William Henry and Elizabeth Straw (nee Payne) settled in the Willoughby area. They had three children : Kathleen (b. 1913), Richard (Dick), and Wilfred. The family lived at 20819 85th Avenue in Willoughby, where the overpass now is (2004). Kathleen married John Ellens. William Henry Straw died January 9, 1960, at the age of 78, in Murrayville. Elizabeth also died in Murrayville September 17, 1972, at the age of 89. Kathleen died in Murrayville on November 20, 1976, at the age of 61. As of 2005, Richard is still living in Langley, and Wilfred lives in the Valley as well.

Richard (Dick) Straw was born in Saskatchewan in 1915 to parents Elizabeth and William Straw. The family moved to Willoughby in 1918 and established a chicken farm. The later address for the property was 20819 85th Avenue (roughly where the south-east side of the overpass is today). Dick's siblings were Kathleen (b. 1913) and Wilfred.

Dick received a letter of conscription in the mail in 1942. He trained in Vernon, Vedder Crossing (Chilliwack), and Calgary before sailing to England in December 1942. Dick was trained with the Lee-Enfield rifle, bayonet, and Bren light machine gun once he arrived, and was ordered to join the Canadian Scottish Regiment where he received grenade, tank, and gas chamber training. Dick was a “batman,” or “runner,” who would maintain officer’s equipment, relay orders and messages, and fulfill other various tasks.

Dick Straw served in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944. He was wounded on the third day of the invasion by two mortar explosions. Shrapnel from the first mortar hit him in the leg, and the second mortar exploded in the air and caused shrapnel to hit him behind the shoulder blade. This piece of shrapnel broke one of Dick’s ribs and lodged in his breastbone. He survived by mustering up enough strength to wander to a nearby medic. He was transferred back to England for operation.

Dick was taken back to Halifax on a hospital ship called the HMCS Lady Nelson in January 1945. From there he took the train to Vancouver and returned home to work on the family farm. Dick worked for the Seal-Kap Farm (where Trinity Western University is now located) for 13 years, but due to his injuries he had to eventually find other work.

Richard Straw joined the local Legion and lived in Walnut Grove before moving to Langley Gardens. He passed away in Langley in 2010 at the age of 94.