They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

John Henry Foster Babcock (age 109) — World War 1 — Feb. 18, 2010

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Normally, the header on this post would be the whole post and would be reserved for those Canadians who have died in service to Canada. A post like the above remains at the top of my blog for ten days after their death. I’m adding it to this post in honour of the passing of  John Henry Foster Babcock, the last known Canadian to have served in WW1.

Babcock didn’t make it into service in the trenches of Europe, he was only 15 when he signed up. He managed to get himself as far as England before being rounded up into the Young Soldiers Battalion to wait his coming of age. Had WW1 gone on as long as Canada’s current engagement in Afghanistan, he would have seen service. He called himself a ‘tin soldier’ because he didn’t see action but the point is he joined up with the intent of doing so and that matters.  Read the rest of this entry »

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Cpl Joshua Caleb Baker — Afghanistan February 12, 2010

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Sgt John Faught — Afghanistan January 16, 2010

Sgt Mark Gallagher — RCMP — Haiti January 12, 2010
Supt Douglas Coates — RCMP — Haiti January 12, 2010

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Sgt George Miok — Afghanistan December 30, 2009
Sgt Kirk Taylor — Afghanistan December 30, 2009
Cpl Zachary McCormack — Afghanistan December 30, 2009
Pvt Garrett William Chidley — Afghanistan December 30, 2009

Michelle Lang — embedded journalist — Afghanistan December 30, 2009

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

On Wednesday, just two days before the world celebrated Christmas, I expect the family of Lt. Andrew Nuttall was doing what most Canadians were doing, preparing for Christmas. I expect they were thinking about their loved one serving in Afghanistan. Thinking about how they would celebrate when his deployment was over and he returned home.

I can’t begin to imagine the gut wrenching body slam the Canadian Forces members served them as they arrived at the door to inform them of the death of Lt Nuttall. The news would have been delivered with compassion and as gently as possible but how do you tell anyone news like that gently? Especially just two days before Christmas.

My heart breaks for every Canadian soldier who dies in this war. Lt. Nuttall served with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), my late husband also served with the PPCLI in the Korea War. His birthday would have been on Wednesday, he would have been 79 years old. Frank, my late husband, came home safely although having suffered wounds. His best friend who he had grown up with and joined up with died the day after Frank was shipped out. Read the rest of this entry »

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadian:

Lt Andrew R. Nuttall — Afghanistan December 23, 2009

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Lt Justin Garrett Boyes — Afghanistan October 28, 2009
Spr Steven Marshall — Afghanistan October 30, 3009

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

In memory of our fallen Canadians:

Pte Jonathan Couturier — Afghanistan September 17, 2009

Always Caring — Always Canadian — Never Defeated

Support Our Troops — Wear Red on Fridays