Today I Remember My Dad

Today I remember my father, James Edward Thomson, who fought in Europe with the Royal Montreal Regiment and won an award for bravery from King George and was mentioned in dispatches. Near Antwerp, my Dad was off-duty and walking back to barracks when he noticed a crowd gathered around a field. He went over to investigate. Two children had been collecting chestnuts, not realizing the area was mined. A mine exploded, very badly injuring one boy. Everyone in the crowd was afraid to enter the area. My Dad crawled to the boy, checking for trip wires with the barrel of his pistol. He brought both children out, saving them. Lest we forget.


In 1973, my Dad suffered the first of three strokes.  Over the next two years, he would lose his speech and his mobility.  He passed away in 1975 and he is stilled missed every day.