We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Edward “Ted” Douglas Lawson (Ret’d) on 24 February 2018 in Ottawa, ON in his 100th year. Ted was a WW II veteran of the Royal Canadian Engineers who served overseas with the 1st (Air) Field Survey Company.
Ted enlisted in 1941 with the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE) and, after completing his basic Sapper training, he was posted to the Geographic Section of the General Staff at Station Rockcliffe, ON to receive technical training in the making of war maps. After some eight months of training he embarked for England where he joined 1st (Air) Field Survey Company, RCE.
Prior to the D-Day invasion at Normandy his unit was heavily engaged in the preparation of the maps of the coast of France that were vital to supporting the invasion at Juno Beach. When the survey companies landed in Normandy several weeks after D-Day one of their tasks was to quickly update and revise the battle maps so that the troops were aware of the enemy’s disposition. Ted arrived during the battle being waged by the Allies to trap the German armies at the Falaise Gap and was immediately engaged in the critical map production maps. The company's mapping support would continue throughout the battle for North West Europe and Ted relates that they produced 428 battle maps throughout his unit’s time in Europe.
After the war Ted worked with the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys (now the Department of Natural Resources) for 36 years. He was a founding member of the wartime survey veterans "The Yacht Club Boys," was a Ontario Provincial Director of the Good Sam RV Club and former President Bytown Chapter Good Sam Club.
Friends may join the family in a Celebration of Life on Saturday, 10 March 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Pinecrest Remembrance Chapel, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation. Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home.{khMar2018}
