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Topic: For whom the bell tolls..... (Read 253 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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And then there was one.... Rest in peace, Percy...
One of two surviving WW1 vets dies at age 106
Updated Wed. May. 9 2007 3:34 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Veteran Percy "Dwight" Wilson died this morning at the age of 106, leaving only one known surviving veteran of the First World War.
Wilson passed "peacefully" at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada's largest veterans care facility, where flags were lowered to half-mast in honour of the veteran.
His death leaves John Babcock, who lives in Spokane, Wash., as the only surviving Canadian First World War veteran.
In a statement, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Wilson's death.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Wilson's family and friends. As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing," said Harper.
In 1915, as a young Cadet, Wilson trained as a mounted bugler in the militia. And in July of the following year, at age 15 -- three years shy of the legal minimum -- he enlisted and joined the 69th Artillery Battery in Toronto.
After completing basic training in Camp Niagara and Camp Petawawa, Ont., Dwight ventured overseas as part of the Artillery Battery.
"On the two week voyage crossing the North Atlantic to England, he entertained the other troops on the R.M.S. Grampian liner with his wonderful singing voice," the centre said in a press release.
"He was 1 of over 600,000 Canadians who fulfilled their sense of duty and volunteered to serve in the Great War."
But upon arrival in England, his superiors realized Wilson was too young, and held him back from the front lines.
Wilson was eventually sent back to Canada and discharged as a minor. But war broke out again in 1939, and Wilson, who was working with Bell Telephone, became a Captain in Stratford's 7th Perth Regiment Reserves.
He tried to serve once again only this time he was too old for active duty.
Wilson worked for Bell Canada from 1919 until his retirement in 1966. He held numerous positions in several Ontario communities, and was promoted to manager of the phone company's Stratford operation.
He also sang in the Bell vocal group, and enjoyed a career in music which included studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where he met his wife -- singer and pianist Eleanor Dean.
He and Eleanor were married in 1927 and stayed together until she died at the age of 94. They had two sons, Dean and Paul.
There will be a funeral service with military honour for family members and invited guests only.
Says the Sunnybrook centre's press release: "In memory of Wilson and all those who served in the Great War, the family has requested that donations be directed to the Veterans' Comfort Fund at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Room KGE39.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
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Thanks a lot!!! Rest in peace, Percy!
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Online
Gender:
Posts: 3476
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Bugle boy only 15 when he enlisted
Percy Dwight Wilson; 'We honour his Service And Mourn his passing':PM
Jennifer Campbell
CanWest News Service
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Ninety-one years after Percy Dwight Wilson enlisted as a bugle boy, the nation marks his passing -- Canada's second-last First World War veteran.
The death of Mr. Wilson, 106, this week, leaves only John Babcock as the lone Canadian survivor of the Great War.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute to the Oshawa, Ont., resident yesterday. "Today I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dwight Wilson, one of Canada's last surviving veterans of the First World War.
"As a nation, we honour his service and mourn his passing."
Mr. Wilson was one of nine children raised in Vienna, a hamlet outside of London, Ont.
He enlisted in 1915 because he felt it was his duty.
He trained as a mounted bugler before joining Toronto's 69th Artillery Battery -- three years shy of the legal minimum.
After basic training in Niagara and Petawawa, Ont., Mr. Wilson was sent to England. On the twoweek North Atlantic crossing, he entertained the troops with his wonderful singing voice.
Mr. Wilson later recalled crossing the Atlantic.
"The ship was zigzagging to avoid torpedo boats," he told the London Free Press.
Once in England, his superiors realized he was too young, and held him back from the front lines. He stayed in the reserves a short time, digging trenches in Dover before being sent back to Canada. There, he was discharged as a minor, but a still-determined
Mr. Wilson re-enlisted in the 69th Battery. He was discharged again in 1918.
Mr. Wilson's patriotism didn't wane after that. Two decades later, when the Second World War broke out, Mr. Wilson became a captain in Stratford's 1st Regiment Reserves.
"By then, he was too old for active duty, but he tried," Mr. Wilson's son Paul said.
Mr. Wilson wasn't even known to Veterans Affairs until he was 102. The department discovered him when his retirement home inquired about getting him the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal.
Mr. Wilson also received the McCrae medallion, which was awarded to First World War veterans on the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
Before and after the wars, Mr. Wilson led a long, full life. A concert baritone, he studied at the Royal Conservatory and performed at Toronto's Massey Hall. He met his wife Eleanor Dean, also a singer, while studying music.
The Wilsons had two sons, Paul and Dean, who died in December, 1956. "He was only 28, so that was a big loss to the family," Paul said.
With only a Grade 10 education, Dwight Wilson enjoyed a successful, 47-year career with Bell Canada. Paul Wilson chuckled as he recalled that his father retired in 1966 and collected pension for four decades.
"It kind of throws the actuaries' calculations off if you collect for that long," he said.
Paul said his father was pleased to have received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, even if he'd gone unnoticed for all those decades.
"He's always kind of thrived on recognition," he said.
NATIONALPOST.COM
Read the Post's coverage of the 90th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge At Nationalpost.com.
© National Post 2007
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Logged
?? They dont even know who has done them and the country and the world GREAT SERVICE...AND SHOULD ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED...FROM THE DAY THEY ARE A SOLDIER...TO INFINITY.....how can Vet Aff be doing their job when they dont even REMEMBER who they OWE it all too... or is that the KEY here... the IDEA of actually , and truthfully ... OWING these people?