Vice-Regal Saint: A Soldier of the Great War
Dwight Percy Wilson, a soldier of the Great War, died in Toronto on Wednesday. He was 106. The death of Mr. Wilson this week, leaves only John Babcock as the lone Canadian survivor of the Great War.
Percy Wilson was only 15 when he enlisted in 1915 and did so 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.
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, though try he did. May he and his wonderful generation rest in peace.
For King and Empire now down to 6 British, 1 Canadian and 1 Australian.
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4 comments:
IIRC, the last "Canadian" WWI veteran is not a Canadian anymore. He is a naturalised US citizen who served in the US Army in WWII. I saw an interview where he said that he does not want a state funeral when he dies because he is not a Canadian anymore, and considers himself American.
So with that in mind, I would say that Mr. Wilson was our last WWI veteran.
If that's the case, then it's only fair that we consider the still living Gladys Power as our last Great War veteran, who was British during the War and is now a Canadian citizen living in Canada.
I saw the same interview and I totally understand the point of a man who became an American way back in 1924. However, no matter who he is today, he fought with the Canadian Corps during the Great War and so must be considered - by God-given right - to be our last Great War vet. No state funeral, but some other state ceremony should take its place when he dies.
Currently reading Martin Gilbert's 'Somme' which a Korean student has given me. Although English might be her third language, the book is marked with notes and passages marked in highlighter; not only a new generation learning about past heroism and horror, but new regions...
Interesting...I was unaware of Mr. Power. Thank you, Lord Beaverbrook.
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