Seems like an appropriate post for the day.
I know of a few Canadians and have often wondered how many architects served in the wars.
Were there any significant architects lost?
Stanley Thompson
From Jim Barclay:
"He never had much to say about his career as a soldier. The Ontario Agricultural College Review of April 1915 lists him as a signaler in the 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.). His choice of the Canadian Field Artillery was not coincidental. As far back as 1878 the OAC had formed a bettery of field artillery to give students some knowledge of gun drill and gunnery.
Watson's Note records that Stanley joined the C.E.F. at the outset of hostilities, and eventually received the 1914-1915 Star (which is now in the Golf Hall of Fame at Glen Abbey). While serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery in France, he was mentioned in a written dispatch on April 9, 1917 for his gallant and distinguished services in the field. This is confirmend by a certificate from the Secretary of State for War that is dated March 1, 1919, to No. 83024, Gunner S. Thompson, 4th Brigade, and by the Military List of the Dominion of Canada.
Stanley Thompson, of the Canadian Field Artillery, was given the temporary rank of Lieutenant on January 20th, 1917, while serving with the C.E.F. He was confirmend as Lieutenant on May 25th, 1918. His promotion and mention in a dispatch was almost certainly earned at the battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9-12, 1917. The dates agree. Stanley was a signaller -- that is, a look-out for the gunners, one who squats in an advanced position near the enemy lines with a field telephone and a pair of binoculars and sends back to the gunners messages such as: "Fifty feet too far right, boys.""
Geoff Cornish related to me that Stan was very much any army man “He didn’t have to go but he went so the next generation didn’t have to go.” It only seemed natural to Geoff that all Stanley’s associates would volunteer with the outbreak of World War Two. Geoff Cornish remembers Stanley saying, “Well it’s now you turn boys.”
Robbie Robinson
Robbie served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Unfortunately I do not know any of the details of his service.
Howard Watson
Howard’s time was fascinating since he had some expertise with mining (worked for the mines during the depression) and was involved in the building of the additional tunnels at Gibraltar where the British withstood countless bombardments while they used the location to observe and control the flow of traffic through the straight. “During the Second World War, the Royal Engineers (originally the Artificer Company during the Great Siege) along with a Canadian contingent added some 30 miles (40Km) of tunnels.” Geoff Cornish was with the Canadian Army Overseas for all five years of the war. They all survived but Geoff was the only one to return to Stanley Thompson’s company for two more years before moving on himself.