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| Roger Cyr | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Roger aided his Hong Kong Comrades in many ways in his years of service. He held many offices, from President of the Quebec Maritime Branch, to Secretary of the National Council and finally as President of the National Council of the Hong Kong Veterans Association. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| His leadership, his dedication to his comrades will be remembered as long as there is a Hong Kong Veteran alive. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roger's part in achievinng settlement of the claim for slave labour is only one of his efforts for which we should be grateful. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| One had to admire his ease of expressing himself in French and in English, and his mastery of both languages served him well, in his chosen vocation as well as in his untiring efforts on behalf of his fellow Hong Kong Veterans. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I am proud to say that I knew Roger from the time we were children in the small town where we grew up. For both of us, joining the Royal Rifles was our first venture into the big world. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He died in 2001 after a courageous fight against cancer for many years, undergoing surgery and treatment after treatment for the dread disease. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Harry Atkinson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry was one of the most dedicated of the National Presidents. Although we owe huge debts of gratitude to Sam Kravenchuk, Everett Denison, Charlie Bradie, Ken Gaudin , Don Nelson, Wally Gray, and many others, Harry did more than his share in his service to his comrades. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Page 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I have many happy memories of Harry. Two trips to Hong Kong and Japan (not counting the one in 1941 !) several meetings with Veterans Affairs officials in Charlottetown, a winter in Victoria, and many social outings, cooking steaks and lobsters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry was twice National President, a position he held when he died in Winnipeg in March, 2002. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As service officer for the HKVA, he travelled the length and breadth of Canada to help and comfort those of his comrades who needed advice in dealing with pension and health problems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page 46 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He was obsessed with the determination to get one hundred percent pension for all Hong Kong Veterans. It was touching to see him sitting in the back row of an assembly in Winnipeg when a VAC official announced the good news. Although it was largely through his efforts that success was achieved, he didn't want to take the credit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Page 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harry died of lung cancer. A week before he died, he spoke to me from his hospital bed. As first vice-president, it was my duty to step into his shoes. I said,"Harry, I'll do my best." He said, "Do your best, and if you need help, let me know." I'll never forget it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photo Gallery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click Here To Go To Part One Home |
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| Lieut. Angus MacMillan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In my view, Angus MacMillan was one of the best officers in the Royal Rifles. He came to the Regiment when "A" and "D" Companies were in Botwood, Newfoundland. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He was placed in charge of 18R Platoon, and although he was new to the ruffians in "D" Company he soon earned our respect. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click Here To Go To Part Two Home |
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| I had the opportunity of observing him in action, and his fearlless leadership left no doubt in my mind that he was well qualified for the role in which he served. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I associated briefly on a professional basis with Angus after the war, when he was a teacher at the Quebec High School, a position he held until his retirement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After his wife died, Angus moved to Surrey, BC. He suffered a tragic death, being struck by a car while crossing the street in his wheel chair. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Links | Lieut. Elmer Denison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elmer Denison had been my Grade VIII teacher, and it was huge surprise to me to meet him as my platoon officer in July, 1940. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lieut. Denison was well liked by the tough guys in 17 Platoon. He was good to us, giving us many a break, sometimes undeserved. He earned the nickname, "Mother Denison", although he was never called that to his face. If he should read this it will probably be the first time that he has ever heard of the unique place he held in the hearts of his men. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elmer is still with us. I have heard of him just today, March 4, 2004, when he sent us a donation to the museum we are building in New Richmond. Memory of him is one of the treasures of this Hong Kong Veteran. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elmer's brother Capt. Everett died a few years ago. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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