If you have a Canadian $10 bill, look at the back right side of the bill and you will see an old veteran standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial.His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died last month at the age of 90. That he managed to live to that age is rather remarkable, given what happened in the Second World War.
Born in England, he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique - the Blitzkrieg.
* He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. Enroute to hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire.
* Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships with them were sunk.
* Recovered, he was sent to allied campaigns in north Africa and Italy.
* Enroute his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck.
* In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against the Desert Fox, Rommel.
* Sent into the Italian campaign, he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital.
* They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre.
* After the war they settled in Chatham where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county.
At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa. One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for or why they chose him.
"He had no idea he would be on the bill," his daughter said.
courtesy of http://www.freddiep.ca/
Seneca College Televsion Broadcasting Class of 94.
A shot of a skinny me at my first job in TV. CFPL circa 94
And this is where the golf ball size lump was removed. It goes all the way around under his right front leg. There was also another small lump removed from his chest.
He is doing well and is almost back to his old self. Another day or two and I'm sure he will be driving everyone crazy. He doesn't like being cooped up in the house for very long, without exercise. This should be fun.
He still has it with the ladies.
Hello friend.
We had a surprise birthday party for my Aunty Verna this past weekend. I'm not sure if it was a surprise in the end, but I do know that a good time was had by all. Here are some pictures from the festivities. Enjoy...
The food is out, Time to eat!
Barry says a few words in honour of Aunty Verna's 60th birthday.
Aunty Verna cuts her cake.
Opening the presents.
the two sisters....
Enjoying the festivities, did someone say beer?
The clean up begins. Hey, where did all the men go?
