We regret to advise of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel. H. Deryck Berry CD, P. Eng, CCM. (Ret'd) who passed away peacefully on 29 October, 2002 at his retirement home near Guadalajara, Mexico.
Lieutenant-Colonel Berry grew up on a farm near Millet, AB and later moved to Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1940. Later that year he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers and trained at Camp Petawawa and the Army Staff College in Kingston. Sent to England, he participated in invasion planning at Canadian Military Headquarters in London. Major Berry participated in the Italian Campaign—first where he was Commander, Royal Canadian Engineers in 5th Canadian Armoured Division and then as commanding officer of 9th Field Park Company. In 1945 he brought his company to Northwest Europe to participate in the final stages of the war in Holland.
After the war, Lt-Col Berry rejoined the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1947 and was Second-in-Command of 11 Works Company RCE at Jericho Beach, Vancouver for a short time before being posted to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, USA as Canadian Liaison Officer to the U.S. Corps of Engineers. In 1953, after a posting to Ottawa, he was appointed as the first commanding officer of 1st Field Engineer Regiment at Camp Chilliwack. In 1956 he was appointed Command Engineer at Prairie Command Headquarters in Winnipeg for four years.
Lieutenant Colonel Berry retired in 1962 from the position of Deputy Director of Works (Engineering) at Army Headquarters in Ottawa. Upon retirement he become Secretary Manager of the Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver and in 1970 moved to Mexico to live in the house that he designed and built. [zsp]
