Veteran Percy "Dwight" Wilson died this morning at the age of 106, leaving only one known surviving veteran of the First World War.
Jennifer Campbell, CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, May 09, 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 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., Dwight was sent to England. On the two-week 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," said Mr. Wilson's son Paul. 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 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," Paul 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.
Mr. Wilson, you certainly deserved it! Thank you.
Published: Wednesday, May 09, 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 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., Dwight was sent to England. On the two-week 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," said Mr. Wilson's son Paul. 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 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," Paul 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.
Mr. Wilson, you certainly deserved it! Thank you.
1 comment:
I forgot to ask the dh's Grandfather if he knew him.... (Grandfather brought my b-day card by last night)
Vienna is just down the road and his grandfather was Reeve for... YEARS before amalgamation.
S.
Post a Comment