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Recognizing Residents’ contributions at the Southampton Care Centre |
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 Lt to Rt: Major Kevin Grieve of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Grant Grieve, WW2 Veteran and Southampton Care Centre resident and Brian Grieve (who donated several artifacts for the War time display at the Care Centre from his trips to Europe in 2007 and 2008) |
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The residents at Southampton Care Centre, a Jarlette Health Services
Facility, have throughout their lives contributed to the communities
they live in, as members of the business and trade industries, as
teachers, nurses, farmers, builders and most notably, as war time
participants.
On Remembrance Day, there is a quiet reverence among the residents of the Southampton Care Centre, reflecting and remembering. They are a generation that lived in a time of war. Their stories shape the part of history that most Canadian citizens have only learned about second hand. Here are a few of their stories. Grant Grieve Grant Grieve was born in Saugeen township on a mixed farm, with two siblings. He joined the army at 24 in early 1945 as a Private in the Royal Canadian Regiment. He couldn’t go earlier because he had to manage the farm while his brother was in England.
Grant was stationed at the CNE grounds in the Horse Palace and was then sent to Nova Scotia then to Vernon BC. He distinctly recalls during his mortar training, performing a risky maneuver, removing an unexploded shell, catching it sideways by hand, a technique that later claimed the life of a Port Elgin man. Grant was part of a brigade that was to be sent to Japan but the war ended. He had signed up to the paratroopers but was returned home. Grant received both a crossed rifles badge as a sharp shooter and a General Service Badge. He enjoys also a 60 year Legion membership. Grant Married Elda (nee Gowanlock) in 1958, had four boys, all of whom he raised to have a respect and appreciation for military history and service.
Bernie Leeder Proud of his wartime soldier uncles, Bernie Leeder, a mild mannered gentleman from Pettawawa, enlisted in 1952 at Strathcona Horse in Calgary. He served for 20 years in the Armoured Corps and ventured throughout Europe and North Africa on various peace keeping missions.
His most memorable service was to the people in Africa, convoying food and supplies to outposts and helping access drinking water, “... the kind of work that makes a real difference” he says. After his 20 years of service Bernie worked as a butcher, in construction and building mobile homes, finding satisfaction but nothing like the Peace Corps. Bernie had earned five medals altogether which he keeps in his night side table at the Care Centre, like his peacekeeping efforts, close to his heart.
Richard Mark Richard Mark born in Saskatchewan, moved to Toronto in 1939. He met and married Angela in 1942 and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force working as a Ground Crewman. Stationed initially in Toronto, he was later transferred to Brantford, Ontario #5 SFTS flying and training school. Richard was posted to Moncton New Brunswick in 1944, never being deployed, he made his contribution on Canadian soil. Richard and Angela stayed on the East coast for a few years then returned to Toronto to start a family.
Barbara Rankin (nee Gunn) Barbara Rankin (nee Gunn), a short stay resident of the Southampton Care Centre, was born in Toronto and had one brother and four sisters. She was raised in Thessalon and after high school she joined the army working as a secretary for two years. She married Harold in 1952 and they raised two boys. Barbara returned to work after the boys were older. She took on various secretarial positions in Toronto and then here after she and Harold moved to the area in the 70s.
Canadian women were not allowed to fight during the Second World War but they did just about everything else. Tens of thousands joined the women's divisions of the Armed Forces. Hundreds of thousands stepped into jobs in wartime industry. At home and abroad women like Barbara were welders and pilots, nurses and clerks, the homemakers that kept families together, protecting the home front and the Canadian way of life.
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Gordon 'Bud' Blain Gordon “Bud” Blain, a hardworking man, was the oldest son among his two sisters and younger brother. He was born in Toronto, attended school until grade eight but then had to help the family and cut wood for an income as his father was away working on the rails.
Bud joined the army and served on the home front during WW2 as a Tank Mechanic at the Meaford Tank range. He lived on the range with his wife Edna (nee Shering). The young couple had three children, two boys and one girl. After the war, Bud continued to tinker, was a mechanic, long distance truck driver, built the family home in Stroud and was a supervisor for GE. Although he had little formal education Bud was a wealth of how-to knowledge, a self-taught Jack of All Trades who he could fix anything. Long term care homes across Canada are fortunate to have among their population citizens like Bernie, Richard, Grant, Barbara and Bud, who’s stories form a part of our war time history, stories that have shaped our country, our freedom and our lives as we know it today. Southampton Care Centre Salutes their resident Veterans! Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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