CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Eric Chester Cantfell, CD (Ret'd)  of Lantz NS, on 26 April 2025 in Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro NS, at age 76.

Eric was born in Dutch Settlement NS and served in the Royal Canadian Air Force with the Canadian Military Engineers for 36 years. Enlisting in 1968, after completing his basic training as a Structures Technician, his posting to Canadian Forces Station Holberg BC was the first of many in support across the Army, Navy and Air Force bases. The succession was CFS Holberg (1969-72), CFB Winnipeg (1972-74), CFS Alert (1974-75), CFB Winnipeg (1975-76), CFB Toronto 1976-79), CFB Edmonton 1979-83), CFB Esquimalt (1983-88), and CFB Gagetown (1988-96). 

Eric's last posting was CFB Halifax, from which he retired in 2004 as a Construction Engineering Superintendent at the rank of Master Warrant Officer. His career contributions were recognized by his receiving the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002). Eric enjoyed his career and travels and was particularly fond of his participation on many sports teams within the Canadian Forces and his fishing trips while exploring remote areas of the country.

Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, in St. George's Anglican Cemetery, Dutch Settlement NS { 1089 Highway 277}. Donations can be made to Easter Seals NS in Eric's memory. Online tributes, words of comfort and memories of Eric can be sent to the funeral home. 

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Alan Bennett, CD (Ret'd) on 28 March, 2025 at the South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver BC, at age 67.

Al was born into into a military family in Montreal QC. His father was the late Sapper CWO “Cliff” Bennett: who passed in 2005 . The family settled in Chilliwack BC and Alan followed his father’s footsteps, joining the cadets in high school and then going on to having a successful career as a Combat Engineer  with the Canadian Military Engineers. During his career, Alan served frequently at 3 field Squadron/1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Chilliwack BC and Ecmonton AB. He was with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment when they deployed to Kuwait on the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) in 1991 and was Squadron Sergeant Major of 12 Field Squadron (1CER) deployed on Op PALLADIUM 1996-97).. 

Alan retired as a Master Warrant Officer in 1998 and pursued a second career.in Ottawa with Med Eng, that specialized in designing and manufacturing personal protective equipment and tools for military use. He retired in 2023 as the International Sales representative for Asia Pacific.

A memorial service will be held in Chilliwack in May. Details will be pushed as available.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Richard Peter “Rick” Miller, CD (Ret’d), peacefully at the Pembroke Regional Hospital on 26 March 2025 in his 77^th year.

Rick was an Airborne Sapper who spent the majority of his military career in airborne roles. He served in 1 Airborne Field Squadron with the Canadian Airborn Regiment (1973-78) when it was in Edmonton AB and was a Section Commander with 2 Airborne Troop  in 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa ON. Rick became the Squadron Sergeant Major of 25 Support and Para Squadron and SSM 28 Administration Squadron in 2 Combat Engineer Regiment  before retiring from the Canadian Forces in 1992.

Cremation has taken place. As an expression of sympathy, donations to Canadian Cancer Society or Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation would be appreciated. Online Condolences may be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Stanley Wayne "Willie" Williston, CD (Ret’d)  at the Pembroke Regional Hospital on 25 March 2025 in his 76th year.

Willie served a 30-year career with the Canadian Military Engineers (1967 – 1997) as Combat Engineer, Heavy Equipment Operator, Airborne and Combat Diver.  May will remember him from his several tours in 1 Field Squadron ( 2 Combat Engineer Regiment) in Petawawa ON and with 4 Field Squadron (4 Combat Engineer Regiment) in Lahr Germany.

ACelebration of Life will be held at the Malcolm, Deavitt & Binhammer Funeral Home {141 Renfrew St., Pembroke} on Saturday, 5 April 2025 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Members of the Royal Canadian Legion are invited to gather for a Legion Service at 2:00 p.m. Interment in All Saint’s Anglican Cemetery, Petawawa at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the Ottawa Heart Institute or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Robert Branning, CD (Ret’d), of Castlegar BC on 22 March 2025.

Robert was an Electrical Generating Systems Technician who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Among his career postings, he served in Canada at Canadian Forces Bases Cold Lake AB and Winnipeg MB as well as Canadian Forces Stations Mont Apica QC, Yorkton SK, and Alert NU. Robert also served in Europe with RCAF 1 Air Division in Metz, France and CFB Lahr in Germany.

Robert retired from the Canadian Forces in 1971. After going back to school in Winnipeg, he  pursued a second career as an Operator/Area Dispatcher with  British Columbia Hydro until 2001.

Funeral arrangements were private.

We regret to advise of the death of Major Roger Victor J. Lemay, CD (Ret’d) of Greely ON at age 91 on 10 March 2025.

Born in Sudbury ON, Roger started his military career as an Aircraftsman with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was Commissioned from the Ranks as a Canadian Military Engineer Officer in the late 1960s and completed his officer training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC. One of his first postings was as Station Construction Engineering Officer of Canadian Forces Station Falconbridge ON. Promoted to Major, Roger was posted to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa where he was a Career Manager for several years before moving on to the Directorate of Construction Engineering Management and Policy in the Chief of Construction and Properties group. Roger was next appointed the Base Construction Engineering Officer at Cold Lake AB (1980-84). He returned to Ottawa after this posting and served in NDHQ with the Directorate of Base Maintenance for his last posting.

After Roger retired from the Canadian Forces, he became the Facilities Manager at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital and worked there for three years before fully retiring and settling in Greely ON.

Funeral arrangements were private.

We regret to advise of the death of  Master Corporal Thomas O'Gorman, CD (Ret'd) of Penhold AB, on 3 March 2025 at the age of 80 years.

Tom joined the Canadian Forces in 1962. He started his military career as a Field Engineer with the Royal Canadian Engineers and ended as a Firefighter with the Canadian Military Engineers. As a Field Engineer, Tom served with 22 Field Squadron in Gagetown NB, 4 Field Squadron in Werl, Germany and 1 Field Squadron in Petawawa ON. During his Petawawa posting, Tom served a tour at Canadian Forces Station Alert NU and undertook heavy equipment training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Tom remustered to the FireFighter trade in 1978. After becoming qualified as a Firefighter, he served from 1978 to 1982 at Canadian Forces Base Toronto as a Crew Member and Fire Inspector. This was followed by a three-year tour as an instructor at the Canadian Forces Fire Academy in CFB Borden ON. 

Tom retired from Canadian Forces in 1985 and then worked for the Alberta Fire Commissioner's Office for 25 years as a Fire Prevention Officer. He took his final retirement in 2010, first living in Lacombe AB, then moving to small acreage in Bentley AB until 2022. When health issues started, he moved to Penhold.

Cremation has taken place. Funeral arrangements were private.

We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer Second Class John William "Jack" Byrne, CD, (Ret'd) on 25 February 2025 in London ON, just short of his 100^th birthday.

Born in Sydney NS, Jack enlisted for the Second World War with the Cape Breton Highlanders in June 1940 at the age of 15 and shipped out to England with them in 1941. While in England, he became an instructor and rose to the rank of Acting Sergeant. In the Spring of 1944, he gave up his rank and instructing duties and transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and landed at Juno Beach on D-Day. They made their way inland and were tasked with taking the Carpiquet airfield near Caen. Jack was wounded while on patrol but made it through the Battle of Normandy. He was severely wounded during the battle to take Boulogne and was eventually hospitalized and spent the next two years in hospitals. Jack was invested as a Knight of the French Legion of Honour in 2015 in recognition of his actions on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy.

After the war, and recovering from his wounds, Jack returned to his hometown of Sydney. He continued to serve and became a Field Engineer in the Militia with 45^th Field Engineer Squadron in Sydney. There, he rose to the rank of Warrant Officer Second Class and became the unit's Sergeant Major (1962-64). 

Jack was involved with several Royal Canadian Legions. He held the position of Legion Service Officer for many years, working with the  Legion and Veterans Affairs to ensure his fellow veterans received the support and benefits they had earned. When Jack moved his family to Ontario, he continued to be involved with the Legion. In his later years, Jack was the last surviving World War II Veteran in the Grand Bend Legion.

Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service and luncheon will be held at a later date. Donations in Jack's memory to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent here.
 

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Hugh Stewart “Stew” Gibson, CD (Ret’d), on 25 February 2025, peacefully at age 70 at the Miller Centre in St. John’s  NL, after a short battle with cancer.

Born in Dundee, Scotland, Stew joined the Canadian Forces in 1976 and was stationed with 2 Service Battalion in Petawawa ON, as a Supply Technician when he remustered to Topographic Surveyor in 1979 and joined the Mapping and Charting Establishment in Ottawa, ON. He served with MCE for 17 years before retiring from the Canadian Forces in 1996 and following a second career in Newfoundland with Nautical Data International (NDI)

At Stewart’s request, there will be no commemoration service. His ashes will be scattered by his loved ones in Keels, Newfoundland this summer. Stewart asked that we make donations to the Canadian Cancer Society in memoriam, wanting to leave behind something positive after his courageous battle.

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer David Gerald Gingras, CD (Ret’d) of Kelowna BC, on 16 February 2025 at age 80 years
David served with 8 Field Engineer Regiment (now 41 Combat Engineer Regiment ) in Edmonton AB. While with the unit, he participated in the usual training and exercises at Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack  BC and at Camp Wainwright  AB. David rose through the ranks in the regiment to become the Regimental Sergeant Major. (1974-75).

Funeral arrangements were private. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.