My father eagerly enlisted as a teenager in 1942, completing initial training with the Royal Canadian Engineers, then receiving his army training, shipping out as a member of the Perth Regiment, with whom he served until 1946.
While he talked little about his active time at the front, the stories he told were meant to instill pride in me for our nation’s role in defending our country and her allies. He believed it the duty of every Canadian citizen to stand up to aggression and support those countries and peoples in need, no matter the cost. After the war, he continued to honour the memory of those who did not return home each Remembrance Day until he was in his 90s.
It is with great pride that I honour my father this year, along with my great uncle, Flying Officer Roy Tranter, who gave his life in the service of his country.