Allan Yuill CMR Class of 1958
William was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1932. He spent four years in Army Cadets before joining the Regular Army in October 1950 as a Pte and a Cpl soldier. After a year of service as a Field Engineer Section Commander in Korea in 1952-53, he attended the College Military Royal in St. Jean, Quebec as an Officer Cadet, College Number 3982. On graduation from the Infantry School in the summer of 1956, he was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant into the Regiment of the Canadian Guards.
Over the next thirty-two years, he progressed in rank and responsibility, serving as a 2/ LT in Camp Petawawa, in a Bn in the Canadian Guards, West Germany, 1957-59; as a Lt Pl Comd and later as Asst Adjt; Petawawa as a Capt, 1959-63; at the Comd HQ in Edmonton, AB, 1963-65; with the UN in Cyprus for six months in 1966; Petawawa, 1966-67; as a Major attended the CF Staff College, 1972-75; Baden Soellingen, West Germany as the Commander of Base Support, 1975-77; NDHQ as Colonel Director Defence Intelligence, 1977-80; Petawawa as DComd, 1981-83; Vancouver, BC as the CO of the Reg Force Sp to the 14 Army Reserves Units in BC, 1983-1985; and finally as a Brigadier General in Damascus, Syria, where he was the Deputy Force Commander of the UN Force in the Golan Heights separating the Israelis and the Syrians, 1985-87.
On return to Canada in July 1987 BGen Yuill began retirement having reached the age for to retire for the CF.
After retirement in 1988 he began employment as a civilian as the EA to the Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt, BC, a position he held till until the summer of 1993.
In 1994 he was appointed to a six-year term as Colonel Commandant of the Military Police Branch of the CF from 1994-2000, giving him credit for more than forty-four years of uniformed service.
Douglas Yuill’s medals. From left to right, with date of award in parentheses: Officer of the Order of Military Merit (November 1985); Canadian Korea Medal (1953); Canadian Voluntary Service Medal for Korea; Special Service Medal with NATO Bar (2006); Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (2000); United Nations Service Medal (Korea) (1953); United Nations Force in Cyprus Medal (1966); UN Disengagement Observer Force Medal with “4” (indicating 4 tours in 6 months) (1985-87); Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977); Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Canadian Forces’ Decoration with 3 Bars (represents over 42 years of service, 12 years for the medal and ten additional years for each bar – 1962, 1982, 1999); Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Long Service Medal with Bar (represents over 17 years of service – 2000).
BGen Yuill also participated in the Sapper Stories – Historica Canada Memory Project Publication Date: 27 Dec 2016.The Memory Project was a nationwide bilingual project that connects Veterans and Canadian forces personnel with the opportunity to share their stories with Canadians in classrooms and community forums. In addition to our speakers’ bureau, The Memory Project has created a record of Canada’s participation in various global conflicts, including the Second World War and Korean War, through oral interviews, digitized artefacts, and memorabilia. The Memory Project is an initiative of Historica Canada and is made possible with generous funding from Canadian Heritage and Veterans Affairs Canada. Historica Canada is the country’s largest organization dedicated to enhancing awareness of Canada’s history and citizenship. For more information, visit Historica Canada and – see http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/2798:william-murray/
A Funeral Service will be held for William on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 2:00 pm from the Grandview Kinsmen Community Center in Grandview with Rev. Steve Wilson officiating.
Interment will follow in the Grandview Memorial Gardens & District Cemetery.
Guy Fortin CMR 1972
Au C H U – Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, le 14 juillet 2024, à l’âge de 74 ans et 10 mois, est décédé monsieur Guy Fortin, époux de madame Ghislaine-Sophie St-Jean, fils de feu madame Jacqueline Plante et de feu monsieur René Fortin. Il demeurait à Québec.
La famille recevra les condoléances, en présence des cendres, à la:
Coopérative funéraire des Deux Rives
Centre funéraire Saint-Charles
1420, boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel Québec (Québec) G1N 3Y6
le dimanche 18 août 2024, de 13 h à 15 h. Une cérémonie aura lieu au salon le même jour à 15 h 15. L’inhumation de ses cendres se fera ultérieurement au cimetière Saint-Charles.
Outre son épouse, il laisse dans le deuil sa fille Jennifer Fortin (Javier Barragan) et sa petite-fille Alessia Barragan. Il laisse également dans le deuil sa fille Jessica et ses autres petits-enfants; ses frères Denis Fortin (Lyne Lapointe) et Pierre Fortin (Danielle Dubé); ses beaux-frères et belles-sœurs : feu Fleurette St-Jean (feu Armand St-Onge), feu Lorraine St-Jean (Jean-Marc Ricard), Colette St-Jean (Réal Soucy), feu Jean-Yves St-Jean (Claudette Lizotte), Jean-Claude St-Jean (Danielle Dionne); ainsi que ses neveux et nièces bien-aimés, ses cousins et cousines, autres parents et ami(e)s, tout spécialement un grand ami de la famille, M. Pascal Nadeau.
La famille tient à remercier le personnel soignant de l’Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus et de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec pour les bons soins prodigués.
Vos témoignages de sympathie peuvent se traduire par un don à la
Fondation Québécoise du cancer
Tél. : 418 657-5334
www.fqc.qc.ca
Des formulaires seront disponibles sur place.
Wayne Hutchinson RRMC RMC Class of 1963
Prepared by 5877 Ted Davie, 5919 Dave Lett and Kerstin Hutchinson
Hutch joined the Navy from Windsor in 1958, selected to attend HMCS VENTURE, in Victoria, as an Naval Officer Cadet destined to be a Navy pilot. On the long train ride across the country to Victoria, he established a reputation for his story telling, singing and banjo talents for all his new classmate’s enjoyment. During his year in VENTURE, he demonstrated strong athletic skills in rugby, boxing and golf. He had super hand/eye co-ordination and proved to be a sturdy, determined and fleet-footed competitor.
Selected with eight other Venture classmates for university studies within the Regular Officer Training Program, Hutch was transferred across the harbour to join the incoming ROTP class at the Canadian Services College Royal Roads in the summer of 1959 where his athletic talents continued to shine. He joined the Band, sharing his drumming talents while providing keen marksmanship to the rifle team. Demonstrating he was a fine leader, Hutch rose to command one of the three Cadet Squadrons in his second year. Through the ensuing years Hutch lived life to the fullest; often sharing his Royal Roads stories about rugby, the hilarious compulsory dancing lessons and joining the Hand Bell Ringers at the Castle. Later in life, Hutch confessed that those two years at Royal Roads were among the happiest and most fulfilling of his life.
In the fall of 1961, Hutch and his Royal Roads classmates shifted to Kingston for two more years of study at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). Having excelled at rugby, Hutch reported early to join the RMC Redmen football team, where he soon became their star Center over the next two years. Hutch embraced both sports and the demanding academic pressures while drumming with the RMC Pipe Band. He also developed an effervescent social style at RMC, often becoming the life of the party. Finally, in May of 1963 Hutch graduated with a BSc degree and with his commissioning scroll in hand entered the RCN as a nascent Weapons Officer.
Over the fall, Hutch completed Pre-Fleet courses at Halifax, Cornwallis and Montreal, to eventually join his first ship in January 1964. He spent the next seven years bouncing from ship to ship with many weeks at sea, learning the myriad of Sub Lieutenant duties. Every ship he sailed in, and many Fleet Wardrooms, enjoyed Hutch and his banjo along with his great sense of humour. Life was good.
While serving in FRASER during a port visit to Gothenburg, Sweden in 1970, Hutch met ‘the love of his life’; namely, Elin Gunilla Blidberg. The ensuing long-distance romance culminated in their marriage at Windsor on 31 December, 1970 and the new couple settled in Ottawa where Hutch was enjoying his first posting ashore.
1972 brought several significant changes: daughter Kerstin was born in March, Hutch was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in April and in May, ‘Nilla’ was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given 3-6 months to live. Fortunately, ‘Nilla’ lived 6 more years, as Hutch’s career took them from job to job, coast to coast before she finally passed in 1978 at Victoria.
Nilla’s death presented a unique career challenge; a 6-year-old daughter with no family support available in a career determined by postings at sea. Hutch would normally be required to serve numerous postings at sea to garner greater responsibilities and promotion. However, Hutch readily accepted a family first focus and embraced staff postings ashore to shepherd Kerstin’s upbringing while playing the cards he had been dealt.
Perhaps his career highlights were 4 years at NATO HQ in Brussels and 5 years as the Regular Force Staff Officer at HMCS HUNTER, in his hometown, Windsor. During his HUNTER posting, using his enthusiastic and thorough approach and, with a little outside help, Hutch managed to re-open HMCS PREVOST in London. Retiring in 1993 after 35 years of dedicated service, Hutch moved back to Windsor. Kerstin was married in 1994 and settled nearby at Cambridge, such that Hutch was able to easily coordinate attention to family, fun and his golf game. He is also fondly remembered for his fun-loving social effervescence around Myrtle Beach, SC where he wintered playing golf over many seasons.
As time passed, Hutch’s health deteriorated and the challenges became more serious until the drive from Windsor to Cambridge to see his daughter and grand children became a burden. Shortly after re-locating to Cambridge, Hutch suffered a stroke and took-up residence in a Long-Term Care facility. Typically Hutch, he seemed to bounce right back and was soon enjoying life again. The Letts visited him following our ’23 Reunion and were pleasantly surprised with his condition. Regrettably, during the 2023 COVID epidemic Hutch was a COVID victim. After a short recovery in January, Hutch caught a severe cold which proved too much. He crossed the bar on 29 February 2024.
Hutch remained very close with daughter Kerstin and family throughout his life. Kerstin knew her Father well and set out to arrange an appropriate final resting place for him. She liaised with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to arrange for a burial at sea in accordance with Hutch’s wishes. Kerstin and her family booked a trip from New York to the Bahamas and as they passed off Myrtle Beach the ship stopped, closed a portion of a deck for them to conduct their ceremony, and Hutch’s ashes, in a biodegradable salt urn, were committed to the deep. Nothing could have been a more appropriate farewell for their patriarch or our mate LCdr Wayne Hutchinson CD2.
Hutch provided so many good, lasting memories, for so many, and not just during our early years of training. Certainly his RR/RMC classmates have enough good memories of Hutch to last their lifetimes. I’m sure his banjo helped, but regardless, Hutch always managed to be the life of every party he attended including our 50the Royal Roads Reunion in 2011 and our 55th at RMC in 2018. He was ‘One of a Kind’. Hutch had a very big heart and was kinder and more considerate than most of his friends realized, until he was gone. Dedicated to his family and the RCN, Hutch was a staunch figure, personifying ‘life – to the full’. He will be missed.
Cameron Diggon RMC Class of 1973
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Cameron Diggon on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at his home in Indio, California.
Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Cameron began his military career in 1968 as a gunner with the 57th Field Regiment RCA (reserves), before attending the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. After graduating in 1973, he served with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) in Petawawa. His duty tours included the Canadian Arctic in 1974, Cyprus in ’74-’75, West Germany for Reforger ’75, and Ottawa during the ’76 Olympics.
After leaving the Canadian Armed Forces, Cameron made his home in Alberta. He founded his own oil and gas production and development company and later pursued a successful fundraising career, most recently with Homes for Heroes as their Vice-President and Director of Fund Development. A fierce advocate for many causes, Cameron held senior leadership roles with multiple charities, including the Royal Military College of Canada Foundation, the 78th Fraser Highlanders Historical Society, and the Calgary Military Museum Society.
Cameron’s decorations included the United Nations Forces in Cyprus Medal, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was also honoured by the Calgary Highlanders for his service in support of the Canadian military family.
An adventurous spirit, Cameron logged over 130 parachute jumps and was a skilled marksman, motorcyclist, hang glider, and climber. He played polo for over 20 years. He tried his hand in dance and choreography – but he most loved dancing the two-step with his beloved wife, Sharon. A talented photographer, he also enjoyed playing the Great Highland Bagpipes and reciting poetry, especially with his mother-in-law, Mavis, to whom he was a sensitive and astute caregiver in her later years. Cameron and Sharon divided their time between Calgary and Indio, cherishing time with friends and family wherever they went.
Predeceased by his brothers Daniel and Bill Diggon, Cameron is mourned by his loving wife Sharon, daughter Elizabeth Diggon and her husband Kevan Hayes, granddaughter Edith Hayes, sister Rae Latanville and her family, and in-laws Sue and Rob MacKenzie. He will be deeply missed.
A celebration of Cameron’s life will be announced at a later date. Memorial tributes may be made to Homes for Heroes (https://homesforheroesfoundation.ca/calgary/).
Don Patric Mills RRMC RMC Class of 1963
We are sad to announce that Donn Patric Mills, (Pat), a resident of Courtenay, passed away at home on Monday June 10th. Pat was born on June 11, 1942 in Hartney, Manitoba to Jim and Jessie Mills. He graduated from the Officer Training Program at Royal Roads, Victoria and Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario in 1963.
After graduation, Pat was posted to Edmonton to join 2nd Battalion PPCLI where he met Carole, his wife of 60 years. In Edmonton, he retired from his career with the military and worked as a teacher and school principal with Edmonton Public Schools for the next 40 years. Throughout his life, he also worked as a part-time semi-trailer driver.
Pat was a loving husband of Carole and Dad to Penny (Dean), Julie (Robi), and Jodi (Benn). He was a beloved Grandpa to Emilie, Fiona, Sofie and Finnlay. He is survived by his sisters Jennipher and Esther and pre-deceased by brother Jim. Pat will be remembered as a man who loved his family deeply and was a wonderful friend.
He loved walks with his wife Carole, was an excellent cook and was passionate about engines, cars, motorcycles, and big trucks which filled a large part of his life.
He will be deeply missed
Pat always saw the best in others and has left the world a better place. He will be missed deeply. A celebration of Pat’s life will be held later in the summer where memories of Pat will be shared by friends and family.
Lars Eif RRMC RMC Class of 1971
It is with great sadness, the Eif family announce the loss of beloved father and grandfather Lars Eif, after a short but courageous battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia at the Cornwall Hospice on July 3, 2024, at the age of 76.
Lars remained sharp, pragmatic and of good humour to the end as his condition quickly deteriorated over the last three months as his weekly lifesaving blood transfusions gave him shorter and shorter respite from the disease.
Lars is survived by his loving companion Brenda, of Cornwall, Ontario ; his son 21460 Major (Ret) Eric Eif (Christine) of Orleans, his two sisters, Kirsten, Whitby; and Elizabeth (Art), Midland; and his three grandsons, Joshua, Matthew and Zachary. In addition to his parents Erik and Birte, he was predeceased by his loving wife of 44 years, Sandy (nee Easton) in 2016.
Born in Denmark in 1947, Lars came to the Toronto area with his family at the age of four. After graduating from high school in King City, he took the train across Canada to Royal Roads Military College and graduated from RMC Kingston with the Class of 1971 as a Mechanical Engineer. In Kingston, he met and married his KGH nursing sweetheart, Sandy Easton. Commissioned in the Land Ordnance Engineering (now RCEME) branch of the Army, his postings took him to Calgary, Egypt, Borden, Ottawa and Toronto. In 1978-79, he earned a MSc degree in Military Vehicle Technology at the RMC of Science in England. In 1988, growing tired of the relocations and their impact to Sandy, a nurse at CHEO, and Eric, he joined Transport Canada in Ottawa for the next 20 years. In the Airports Group, he was responsible for supplying our airports with runway maintenance vehicles and crash trucks which took him to all corners of Canada as well as the high north. When Transport Canada ceased operating airports, he spent the next 12 years as the Head of Defect Investigations and Recalls for motor vehicles, and enjoyed twisting the arms of automobile and tire companies to make their products safer.
Sport aviation was his constant passion, being an avid pilot, and a painstaking builder, so in 2008, he fully retired from Transport Canada to finish building his first homebuilt aircraft; a two seat Steen Skybolt aerobatic biplane. The biplane, which he likened to a Ferrari in responsiveness when finished– was sold in 2011, and he built a Van’s RV-9A, all-aluminum, two-seater with a fully “glass” cockpit and excellent cross-country capability, which Sandy helped rivet together. He was a longstanding member and past president of the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) Chapter 245 at Carp Airport, as well as a lifelong model aircraft builder and flyer with the Ottawa-based Stetson Flyers since the early 80s.
Lars was lucky to have found love twice in his life, and in his final years with Brenda, he enjoyed spending part of every week in Cornwall -fulfilling a lifelong goal to learn to play guitar and even performing at the Cornwall Senior Centre jams, spending time with friends and their cat Mr. Misty, and making the odd snowbird trip down to Florida. Back in Carp, he relished spending time on RV-9A projects, talking aviation with his EAA 245 friends, puttering around his dream house, RC flying, spending time with family and neighbors at the family cottage in Ompah, Ontario and keeping up on all the lives of his busy family and his beloved grandsons.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Cornwall Hospice who gave him such wonderful care and compassion in his final days, the Queensway Carleton Hematology team who managed his demanding transfusion schedule with such empathy, and Dr. Grace Wu, who went out of her way to help the family navigate the chaos of palliative care which does not always handle fast changing illnesses well.
At Lars’s request, there will be a Celebration of Life at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Dr, Orleans, ON K4A 0Z9, on Saturday 17 August, 2024 from 1400-1630 hrs on the second floor.
In lieu of any flowers or monetary donations, the family would ask you to consider joining their new efforts to make time to donate blood or plasma, if able, to the Canadian Blood Services who do so much for so many Canadians young and old on a daily basis. 33 anonymous Canadians made donations which directly kept Lars alive to spend his remaining quality time with loved ones until he ceased transfusions, and we are forever in their debt.
Harry Barrett RMC Class of 1960
Passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on June 28, 2024, joining his beautiful wife Juanita. Harry leaves behind his youngest brother Rolly (Karen) and his 4 adored daughters Suzanne Powell (Brian), Kerry Slaughter (Art), Michelle Vesey (David), and Tracy Walton (Jack). Harry was the cherished Grampa to grandchildren: Gavin (Melissa), Graham (Ashley), Arthur, Matthew (Maria), Eric (Patricia), Sean, Claire (Tyler), Ian (Tiana), Kerry, Shannon (Ethan), Ashley Allen, and great-grandpa to: Veronica, Callie, Dax, and a new one on the way.
Harry had an honourable career serving our country in the Canadian Armed Forces, then the Civil Service. Harry will be remembered for the kindness he showed everyone and for his youthful energy. He would often walk 10 km a day and actively participated in the many events hosted by his clubhouse and church. He would visit his daughters in Ottawa every other weekend, and often made trips to Manitoba and BC to visit his other daughters. Harry exhibited extreme delight with children and animals and often had treats with him for both. Treats could be found in unexpected places where only children or pets would find. He loved to take cruises; was fortunate to take a cruise last summer and was planning the next one. He was a genuinely sweet, generous, and happy man; people just liked to be around him. He had an infectious laugh that left an impression! Harry was fit and healthy until the last year of his life.
Harry’s funeral will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024 at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 4333 Bath Road Kingston. Visitation at 11 a.m., Funeral 12:00 p.m., followed by a reception in the Church Hall. Harry will then be laid to rest in Cataraqui Cemetery at 3 p.m. for those who wish to attend. The funeral will be livestreamed via St. Peter’s Anglican Church Facebook and YouTube pages.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Reverend Ryan Deyo, the many special care givers, specifically Dr. Goindi, Dr. Wilson, nurses Linda and Anna and PSW Brian.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
Robert Theakston CMR RMC Class of 1957
Robert (Bob) Roper George Theakston (1934 – 2024)
Bob passed away peacefully at age 90 on June 26, 2024 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario. Born at home, 111 Agricola St., Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 3, 1934 to James Robert and Gertie May [née Rose] Theakston.
Bob grew up in Halifax and was a graduate of Queen Elizabeth High School. After graduation he joined the Canadian Army and attended Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario and College Militaire Royal, Saint-Jean, Quebec. He was a proud member of the 8th Canadian Hussars and had many postings in Canada and overseas, including West Germany during the Cold War and as a United Nations peacekeeper in the Belgian Congo. After leaving the military he had several corporate jobs with computer companies before working as a senior civilian administrator for the Metropolitan Toronto Police. After retirement Bob and Goldie enjoyed their trailer in Muskoka, cheering the Blue Jays and Raptors, and traveling to visit family. Christian Faith was important to Bob and he was an active member and elder at the Greenwood Gospel Chapel.
He is survived and will be sadly missed and mourned by his beloved wife of 44 years, Goldie Marie [née Applin] Theakston; his very special granddaughter, Sara Larabee (Mike Malinowski); his children from a previous marriage, Karl (Janet), Gretchen and Glenn; his grandchildren, Ryan, Scott (Taralyn), Sean, Sarina, Samantha, and Silas; great-grandchildren, Kendra and Michael Malinowski, Ada and Claire Theakston; brother-in-law Clayton Applin (Sandra), sisters-in-law Olga Hoddinott and Maryann Waye; his very close niece Pam Matthews and nephews Brain (Marilyn) Moors, Donald Moors, and Ken (Kim) Moors; and many other nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Marjorie and her husband Donald C. F. Moors, brothers Roland and wife Dorcas Theakston and Gordon and wife Evelyn Theakston; nephew Alan Moors; his special brother-like nephew Bob and wife Freda Theakston.
The family is grateful for the care from all the staff at the Isabel and Arthur Meighen Manor over the last few years and the Sunnybrook Palliative Care Unit for their compassionate care.
A future date for a Celebration of Life service will be announced by the family.
Claude Boisvenue CMR RMC Class of 1975
Comme vous le savez probablement, notre camarade de classe Claude Boisvenue est décédé accidentellement le 29 mai dernier à l’âge de 70 ans, dans un accident d’alpinisme en Bolivie. Il est mort comme il a vécu; aventurier, bon vivant et en faisant quelque chose qu’il aimait. Son décès fut immédiat.
Au CMR en 1970, il était dans l’escadrille 1 Vaudreuil et formait avec Jake Jacobson une paire de gymnastes de haut niveau.
Comme plusieurs d’entre vous l’avez bien connu et que vous êtes dans la grande région de Montréal, j’ai pensé vous transmettre les détails pertinents concernant ses funérailles prévues le 27 juillet prochain. Je planifie y être présent personnellement.
As you probably know, our classmate Claude Boisvenue died accidentally on May 29 at the age of 70, in a mountaineering accident in Bolivia. He died as he lived; adventurous, bon vivant and doing something he loved. His death was immediate.
At CMR in 1970, he was in Squadron 1 Vaudreuil, forming with Jake Jacobson a pair of top gymnasts.
As many of you knew him well and are in the greater Montreal area, I thought I’d pass on the pertinent details of his funeral, scheduled for July 27. I plan to attend personally.