CME Family Last Post

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer James Andrew Dunn, CD (Ret’d) at Extendicare in Lindsay ON at age 88 on 30 July 2024. James served a full career as a Field Engineer.

In accordance with Jimmie's wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service. 

Donations in memory of Jimmie may be made to Support Our Troops. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal David Anthony Hornsby, CD (Ret’d) of Chilliwack BC on 29 July 2024 at age 79 years.

Dave Joined the Royal Canadian Engineers with the 10^th Intake Sapper Apprentices in 1961 and served for 12 years as a Field Engineer. His first posting was to 3 Field Squadron in Chilliwack, followed by a tour with 4 Field Squadron in Germany. Dave then returned to 3 Field Squadron from where he retired.

Dave then worked for Dairyland in Chilliwack for 28 years. He retired from there and went on to be a bus driver for special needs children for Chilliwack School District #33. Dave also gave his time to the local Cadet Corps.

There will be a military color party service to honour him and say goodbye at the Vedder Legion on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers- donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Locals can donate to the Legion in person (3-11:00 PM). Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Brigadier-General William Allan Douglas Yuill OMM, CD (Ret’d) on 19 July 2024 at the age of 92 years. Brigadier-General Yuill was a Korean War veteran who started his 44-year military career as a Sapper and retired as Colonel Commandant of the Military Police Branch.

William was born in Winnipeg MB. He spent four years in Army Cadets before joining the Regular Army with the Royal Canadian Engineers in October 1950. He was soon promoted and served in Korea as a Section Commander with 23 Field Squadron (1952-53). Upon return to Canada, William was selected for officer training and attended the College Military Royal in St. Jean QC. On graduation from the Infantry School in 1956, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Regiment of the Canadian Guards.

William graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston in 1958 and then served with the Canadian Guards in Camp Petawawa ON. He was next posted to West Germany (1957-59) as a Platoon Commander and later as Assistant Adjutant before returning to Petawawa. He then moved to  Western Command Headquarters in Edmonton AB (1963-65), and then returned to Petawawa (1966-67).

William deployed with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus for six months in 1966. After completing his CF Staff College Course in 1975, William returned to West Germany as the Commander of Base Support for CFB Baden Soellingen (1975-77).

William returned to Canada as Director of Defence Intelligence in National Defence Headquarters (1977-80),. He then returned to CFB Petawawa as the Deputy Base Commander (1981-83). William was then posted to Vancouver BC as the Chief of Staff, Pacific Militia Area (1983-85). His last assignment was as a Brigadier-General in Damascus, Syria, where he was the Deputy Force Commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) separating the Israelis and the Syrians across the Golan Heights Area of Separation (1985-87). 

On return to Canada, BGen Yuill retired from the Canadian Forces and became the Executive Assistant to the Base Commander, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt BC 1988-93). William was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Military Police Branch in 1994 and held that appointment for six years.

Among his honours and awards, William became an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 1985 and received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires Long Service Medal with Bar in 2000, representing over 17 years of service.

A Funeral Service will be held for William on 1 August 2024 at 2:00 pm from the Grandview Kinsmen Community Center in Grandview MB. Interment will follow in the Grandview Memorial Gardens & District Cemetery. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Corporal David Robinson, CD in Edmonton on 16 July 2024 at the age of 47 years. David served his country for 27 years, first as an Infanteer and then as a  Construction Technician.

David enrolled in 1997 in Fredericton, NB. Upon completion of  his basic training, he was posted to the 2^nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment.  While with 2 RCR, David completed the basic parachutist, mountain operations, and advanced reconnaissance patroller courses. During his infantry careeer, he deployed on Op PALLADIUM, the NATO mission to the Former Yugoslavia; Op ECLIPSE, the UN mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea and Op ATTENTION in Afghanistan. He also deployed to support the search efforts of Swiss Air Flight 111 off the coast of Nova Scotia.

David joined the Canadian Military Engineers in 2013 when he remustered to the Construction Technician trade. In this new career, he was first posted to Real Properties Operations Unit (Gagetown) for five years. David was then posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton AB, and deployed on Op REASURANCE  in Latvia in 2019.

Funeral will be at 1000 hrs on 14 August 2024 at St Luke’s Chapel, CFB Gagetown. Service will be provided by Padre Shawn Daley. Funeral OPI: MWO Trevor McCoul / WO Sebastian Levesque

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Ken Poulton, CD (Ret’d) of Richards Landing ON, on 14 July at the age of 61 years.

Ken was born in Sault Ste. Marie ON and enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1983. After graduating from recruit training in Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis NS, he was posted to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment at CFB Petawawa ON to await his basic sapper course at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Chilliwack BC. He joined Course Serial 8401 in January of the following year and graduated as the Top Student.

Sapper Poulton returned to 2 CER with the Airborne Troop and started his summer of airborne training at CFB Petawawa and at the Jump School in CFB Edmonton. After completing these courses, he became a full-fledged member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Ken attended Jungle, Desert and Arctic Warfare courses and many types of Commando training, including Unarmed Combat and Long Range Patrolling. He also took part in RV 85 in Wainwright AB.

Ken was posted to 4 CER in 1986 for a 4-year posting. During this tour, he took part in the Nijmegen Marches in 1987. He returned to Canada to Training Support Troop at CFB Chilliwack. Here, he attained both the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Basic qualification and the EOD-Improvised Explosive Device course. He was a member of the EOD team until his posting to 1 CER in Chilliwack in 1993.

During his first three years with 1 CER, Ken was in a Field Troop and with Resources Troop. He then took the Field Engineer Equipment Operator course and was assigned to the Heavy Equipment Troop. Ken deployed on Op KINETIC Roto 0 in 1999, the first NATO Mission to Kosovo. After his tour in Kosovo, Cpl Poulton qualified on the Grader.

Ken was posted to CFB Suffield in 2003 after his 7-year tour with 1 CER. He was employed in the G3 Range Control’s Range Maintenance Troop primarily as a Heavy Equipment Operator.

Ken retired from the Canadian Forces in 2009 after almost 26 years of service. He returned to the Poulton homestead on St Joseph’s Island ON.  He served as the Veterans’ Services Officer at Legion Branch 374 St. Joseph Island after he retired.

Funeral details will be published as soon as they are available.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal John Thomas “Tom” Wall, CD (Ret'd), peacefully on 14 July  2024 in the Veterans Unit of Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg NS at th age of 98 years. Tom was a veteran of the Second World War, serving with the Carleton & York Regiment. After the war, he served in the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Tom was born in Sheffield NB and enlisted in the Carleton & York Regiment at age seventeen. His battalion landed in Sicily in July 1943 as part of Operation HUSKY and then took part in the invasion of mainland Italy in September. After the successful conclusion of the Italian Campaign, the battalion moved to North-West Europe along with the rest of the I Canadian Corps, where the battalion fought until the end of the war.

Tom returned to Sheffield after the war and worked as a farm hand and truck driver. He re-enlisted in 1956 with the Royal Canadian Engineers and his service included 2 Field Squadron in Gagetown as a Heavy Equipment Operator. Tom retired from the Canadian Forces in 1970 at age 45 and then worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator with the Public Service on Base Gagetown for 15 years.

The funeral will be held at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Oromocto NB at 2:00 PM on 9 August 2024. Interment will take place in the Parish cemetery, and a reception will follow. Online condolences may be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Leonard Payne, CD, peacefully at the Health Sciences Centre in St John's NL on 13 July 2024 at the age of 57 years.

Doug served a 40-year career as a Combat Engineer with  56^th Field Engineer Squadron (later 37 Combat Engineer Regiment) in St John's NL. His career with the Reserves started in 1984 at the age of 17, and Doug rose to be appointed  Regimental Sergeant Major of 37 Combat Engineer Regiment. During his career, Doug participated in many projects, including the Lomond River Suspension Bridge project in Gros Morne National Park, the Rennies River Bridge in St John's and construction of the Upper Indian Pond Rifle Range in central Newfoundland. 

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Major Arthur Joseph Hiscock, CD (Ret’d), peacefully on 4 July 2024 at Andrews of Summerside PE at age 96 years.

Born in Grand Falls NL, Art graduated with a Civil Engineering degree and served in the Korean War as a Captain with the 57^th Independent Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.

Art retired from the Canadian Army as a Major and then earned his Masters Degree in Pollution Control and Environmental Management. He worked as a partner in an engineering consulting firm before joining the government of Prince Edward Island. He retired as PEI Director, Environment Canada.

Art was a long-standing member of the PEI Engineers Association; he was a founding member of the PEI Korean Veterans Association, and held various executive positions in both the Royal Canadian Legion and PEI Provincial Command.

Resting at East Prince Funeral Home, Summerside {245 Pope Road} until Thursday 11 July 2024.  Visiting hours are on Thursday from 1:00 p.m. until time of service that will be held in the chapel at 2:30 p.m. Interment to take place in St. Paul’s Cemetery Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 5, Summerside will hold a service of remembrance on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Memorial donations in Art’s memory can be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Seaman James Wayne Corbett, CD (Ret'd), unexpectedly at his home in Spryfield NS at age 81 years on 17 June 2024.

Jim was born in Westville NS and spent his formative years there. After completing Grade 8, he began the first of his many life adventures by joining the Bill Lynch shows and touring Atlantic Canada.

Jim's next adventure was his enlisting in the Canadian Armed Forces and starting a 17-year military career. He trained as a Field Engineer and served two tours with 4 Field Squadron in Germany, as well as with 1 Field Squadron in Chilliwack BC  and with 22 Field Squadron in Gagetown NB. 

Jim was one of our first Combat Divers in the Royal Canadian Engineers. He qualified as a Royal Engineer Advanced Diver at the Royal Engineer Diving Establishment in Keil, Germany and then qualified on Combat Diver Land Force Course 6602. Jim participated in the  1966-68 Army Diver Trial and was a Combat Diver in 3 and 4 Field Squadrons.

In 1973, Jim became the first Combat Diver to remuster to the Clearance Diver trade and join the Royal Canadian Navy. He then served as a Clearance Diver in Fleet Diving Units (Atlantic) and (Pacific) until he retired from the Canadian Forces in 1980.

After he retired from active Military service, Jim trained as a machinist and spent the next 17 years working in Her Majesty's Canadian Dockyard in Halifax. Jim excelled in his field and was recognized for his innovative ideas and creative solutions. During this time, he also began selling Christmas trees. For 20 years, he was well known for his beautiful trees and for going above and beyond for his many repeat customers.

Jim loved the water. He was a decades-long Armdale Yacht Club member, volunteering his time serving on committees and assisting others with their boating needs. Jim owned several powerboats that he meticulously refurbished to their original glory. Once permanently retired, his many boating adventures led him and his wife spending much enjoyed time in Florida and the Carolinas.

Cremation has taken place. A private family burial will take place at a later date. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Armdale Yacht Club on 16 July  2024, starting at 2:00 PM. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Charles W. “Scotty” Alger, CD (Ret’d), suddenly on 15 June 2024 at home in Kemptville ON at the age of 82 years.

Scotty was born in Halifax NS during WW II where his Canadian mother had met his father who was serving in the Royal Navy. The family was reunited after the war and moved to the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Scotty lived in Scotland for 12 years before returning to Canada. He was living in the Ottawa area in 1958 when he enlisted in the Canadian Forces.

Scotty joined the Royal Canadian Engineers at age 16 with the 7^th Intake of the Sapper Apprentice Program. After completing this training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC, the first posting of his 35-year military career was with 3 Field Squadron in Chilliwack BC. Initially a Field Engineer, he soon remustered to the Topographic Surveyor trade and joined the Army Survey Establishment in Ottawa in 1961. Scotty served a full career with MCE on Booth Street and in the Arctic. One of his final projects was as Party Chief during Operation CONSERVATION, the cleanup of some 12,000 old fuel barrels left up north by old MCE survey party operations.

Friends may visit the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry {805 Prescott Street, Kemptville} on Saturday 22 June 2024 from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, immediately followed by a Celebration of Scotty’s Life in the Chapel at 3:30 pm. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.