BIRD
BIRINGER
BIRKS
BIRMINGHAM
BIRNEY
BIRD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-05-13 published
BIRD,
Sheilah
Hope (née
MARSHALL)
died in Sydney, Australia on May 2nd 2003 after a short illness,
leaving to mourn: loving husband, Howard; brothers, Spencer (Cayman)
Bob (Toronto); sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews and a host of
Friends.
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BIRD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-07-18 published
D-Day vet one of the 'Two Jacks'
Story of two soldiers'daring escape from a German PoW camp inspired
a book of 'amazing adventures'
By Allison
LAWLOR
Friday,
July 18, 2003 - Page R13
Jack VENESS, a D-Day veteran whose dramatic account of capture
and escape during the Second World War was chronicled in the
book The Two Jacks, has died at his home in Fredericton. He was
Maritime writer Will R.
BIRD recounted Mr.
VENESS's wartime heroism
in his 1954 book The Two Jacks: The Amazing Adventures of Major
Jack M. VENESS and Major Jack L.
FAIRWEATHER.
When Canadians landed on the Normandy coast of France on D-Day,
Mr. VENESS and Dr.
FAIRWEATHER were there with the North Nova
Scotia Highlanders. By June 7, the North Novas (as they were
known) battled their way inland -- about 13 kilometres -- and
had occupied the villages of Buron and Authie when they were
met by German tanks and gunfire, led by the 12th SS Panzer Division.
A raging battle ensued that left dozens of North Novas dead and
injured and led to the capture of both Mr.
VENESS and Dr.
FAIRWEATHER.
They were among close to 100 who were taken prisoner by the Germans
at the time.
"We thought it was bad luck that we were captured but on the
other hand there were a lot of people who didn't survive," said
Dr. FAIRWEATHER, a retired doctor living in Lewisburg, Pa.
After being forced to walk for close to a week with little food
or rest, the two officers, along with the other prisoners, reached
the gates of "Front Stalag." The German prison was a collection
of worn-out army huts surrounded by three barbed wire fences.
Included in the book The Two Jacks is a card Mr.
VENESS wrote
dated June 16, 1944. "Dear Mother, I am in a German PoW camp.
I am in good health and will write more later. Love, Jack."
The two Jacks would then spend the next six weeks in the prison
camp before being loaded onto a railway boxcar. After spending
at least five days jammed into the crowded car, with bombs dropping
all around them, the two men decided if they were going to escape,
now was the time.
"It was made pretty clear in training... an officer's first duty
when captured is to escape," Dr.
FAIRWEATHER said. "We had that
in the back of our minds."
In the dark of the night, just outside the French city of Tours,
the two terrified men escaped their imprisonment by jumping from
a moving train through a hole in the boxcar.
"Jack said, 'This is our chance, we have to take it,' Dr.
FAIRWEATHER
recalled. "He said, 'Come on, we can do this.' " The two officers
were hidden by a French priest in the belfry of a church (which
Mr. VENESS would later visit in the 1970s with his son and first
wife), and were soon after linked up with the French underground.
"I'm sure we wouldn't have survived without the underground,"
Dr. FAIRWEATHER said. "They hid us and protected us."
The two officers served with the French underground in the German-occupied
Loire district of France for less than two months before they
were able to make a safe return to their regiment in England.
After declining an offer to be re-posted to Canada, both Jacks
rejoined their North Nova units in Europe. This next period would
mark some of the most intense fighting Mr.
VENESS took part in
during the war.
"He was a very courageous and a very brave man," said his friend
and fellow veteran, retired judge David
DICKSON/DIXON of the New Brunswick
Court of Queen's Bench. "He never lacked valour."
John
(Jack)
Mersereau
VENESS was born on November 11, 1922, in
Ottawa to John and Annie
VENESS.
After moving with his family
to Fredericton in 1933, he attended Fredericton High School.
He went on to complete one year at the University of New Brunswick
before joining the Canadian Infantry Corps (North Nova Scotia
Highlanders) in May, 1942, at the age of 19. A year later, he
went overseas and not long after met Dr.
FAIRWEATHER while in
England with the North Novas.
Dr. FAIRWEATHER said he immediately liked his fellow Maritimer's
directness. "He called a spade a spade."
Over the course of his storied military career, Mr.
VENESS would
go on to serve in England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany
and France. After returning to his unit after his capture and
escape, Mr.
VENESS was engaged in fighting in the flooded Scheldt
Estuary in Holland and Belgium, during which time he captured
a German major-general at gunpoint.
In March, 1945, while leading his company in Germany, Mr.
VENESS
was seriously wounded by shrapnel from an exploding shell. After
more than a month in hospital he recovered.
Mr. VENESS retired from the army in 1946 as a major with many
medals, including the War Medal, being mentioned in dispatches,
Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm, Chevalier of the Order of Leopold
II with Palm (Belgium), The Defence Medal and the 1939-45 Star.
"He had a high respect for the veterans all his life," Mr. Dickson
said. "I really [think] he felt he owed a debt to his fellow
soldiers."
After returning home to New Brunswick after the war, Mr.
VENESS
returned to the University of New Brunswick and graduated in
1950 with a degree in civil engineering. He spent four years
working in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Banff, Alberta., then
returned to New Brunswick to work for the Department of Highways.
He retired in 1983 as director of traffic engineering.
In 1948, Mr.
VENESS married Jere
WOOD from Saint Martin's, New
Brunswick They had one son. In 1976, after almost 30 years of
marriage, Mr.
VENESS lost both his wife and mother in a tragic
car accident, while the two women were driving home to Fredericton
from St. Andrews, New Brunswick Two years later, Mr.
VENESS married
Freda LOCKHARD.
The couple enjoyed travelling and visited Europe
to pay homage to fallen soldiers at military cemeteries and to
attend commemorative services.
In addition to travelling, Mr.
VENESS was also an active member
of the community. He volunteered with a number of organizations,
including the Young Men's Christian Association, where he served
on the board of directors; the Masons; the Canadian Legion; and
the Fredericton Garrison Club, where he was president.
Mr. VENESS's strict, early military training stuck with him throughout
his life. Mr.
DICKSON/DIXON remembers that a telephone call to his
friend meant a brisk talk to convey a message and no idle chitchat.
"He was a little gruff at times," Mr.
DICKSON/DIXON said.
Mr. VENESS died of a heart attack on June 30 while playing snooker
at his home in Fredericton.
He leaves his wife Freda, son Randy, daughter-in-law Angela and
two grandchildren.
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BIRD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-10-02 published
WEAVER,
Clare
Thorne
Died on Monday, September 29th, 2003, at the South Muskoka Memorial
Hospital, Bracebridge, at the age of 64. Beloved daughter of
the late Harriet and Bill
WEAVER.
Much loved sister of Brink
(Margaret) and Stewart (Carol) of Toronto and Muskoka and Vicky
WEAVER (and the late Richard
BIRD) of Lake of Bays. Miss
WEAVER,
formerly of CosCob, Connecticut, enjoyed a happy year with David
and Jackie
GOODFELLOW of Gravenhurst where she received special
care. Fondly remembered by her five nieces and nephews and in
particular Harriet. Friends will be received at the Reynolds
Funeral Home ''Turner Chapel'' 1 Mary Street, Bracebridge (877)
806-2257 on Friday, October 3rd, 2003 from 1: 00 p.m. until time
of service in the Chapel at 2: 00 p.m. Burial in Mount Pleasant
Cemetery, Toronto, on Monday, October 6th, 2003 at 11: 00 a.m.
Memorial gifts to the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation, 75 Ann
Street, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 2E4 would be appreciated by the
family.
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BIRD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-12-13 published
Died
This
Day -- James
BIRD, 1892
Trader, interpreter and native leader known as "Jemmy Jock"
born in Rupert's Land in 1798;
son of a Hudson's Bay Company
chief factor and a Cree woman; made Hudson's Bay Company apprentice
by about the age of 11 and clerk by 18; in 1820s, sent to gain
trade with Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan; became accepted and respected
by tribes; credited as "a very intelligent interpreter" of the
Blackfoot language in the signing of Treaty No. 7 (1877); died
in Montana.
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BIRINGER o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-03-03 published
ENNIS,
Lillian
On Saturday, March 1, 2003, at Kensington Gardens, in her 85th
year, after a long and full life. Beloved wife of the late Dr.
Julius ENNIS.
Loving mother and mother-in-law of Paul and Laura,
Jon and Janice, Nancy and Monica, and Barry and Karen. Dear sister
and sister-in-law of the late Sonia and David
GARFIELD, Al and
the late Doris
JANIS, the late Pearl and Dave
DAVIS,
Ruth and
Josh SEGAL,
Bunny and Edith
ENNIS, and Rita and Marvin
WEINTRUAB.
Devoted grandmother of Simon, Joshua, Miriam, Naomi, Isabelle,
Sam, and Julie. She will be missed by her devoted nieces and
nephews and her many Friends. The family is grateful for the
attentive care given by Dr. Anne
BIRINGER.
Special thanks to
everyone at Kensington Gardens. At Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel,
2401 Steeles Avenue West (one light west of Dufferin), for service
on Monday, March 3, 2003, at 12: 30 p.m. Interment Chevra Mishnayis
Section of Mt. Sinai Memorial Park. Shiva 8 Conrad Avenue, through
to Wednesday evening. If desired, donations may be made to the
Lillian Ennis Memorial Fund c/o the Benjamin Foundation, 3429
Bathurst Street, Toronto, M6A 2C3, 416-780-0324.
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BIRKS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-08-18 published
BIRKS,
Helen
Thompson
Died peacefully on August 16, 2003, in Montreal, in her 92nd
year. Predeceased by her husband John E.
BIRKS. Dear mother of
Sally BONGARD (Strachan), Barbara
WYBAR and Peter
BIRKS. Cherished
grandmother of Sarah, Ashley and John
HENNESSY,
Caroline,
Jonathan
and James WYBAR, Nicola Wybar
THOMPSON/THOMSON/TOMPSON/TOMSON, and Michael
BIRKS. Survived
by her brother Alan G.
THOMPSON/THOMSON/TOMPSON/TOMSON and sister June
PASHKEVITCH.
Predeceased by brothers Richard
THOMPSON/THOMSON/TOMPSON/TOMSON, John Munroe
THOMPSON/THOMSON/TOMPSON/TOMSON
and sister Margaret
LAY.
Funeral service will be held on Tuesday,
August 19, 2003 at St. Andrew's and St. Paul's Church (3415 Redpath
Street, Montreal), at 2 p.m. Memorial service will be held in
Metis Beach, Little Metis Presbyterian Church, on Friday, August
22nd, 2003. Donations in memory of Helen
BIRKS may be made to
McGill University, Attention Libraries (3605 de la Montagne,
Montreal, Quebec H3G 2M1) or to the Little Metis Presbyterian
Church Outreach, c/o 21 Beach Road, Metis Beach, Quebec G0J 1S0.
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BIRMINGHAM o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-11-15 published
KOSKI,
Dr.
John
T.
Dr.
John
T.
KOSKI died on Friday, November 14, 2003 in Belmont
House, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He is
survived by his wife Evelyn, his daughters Jane and Anne, his
son-in-law Paul and his sisters Rosemary and Marianne.
Following cremation, the family will receive Friends and family
at the Newbigging Funeral Home, 733 Mount Pleasant Road in Toronto
on Sunday, November 23, 2003 from 1: 00-5:00 p.m. A Service of
Celebration is to be announced later, to be held in Toronto.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of two newly
established Memorial Scholarships in Dr. John T.
KOSKI's name.
For Cambrian College students, donations may be sent to Brian
VENDRAMIN, Executive Director, Cambrian Foundation, Suite 103,
62 Frood Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3C 4Z3. Or, for Northern College
students (Kirkland Lake campus) donations may be sent to Jennifer
PEARSON, Coordinator, College Foundation, Northern College, P.O.Box
3211, Timmins, Ontario P4N 8R6.
The family wishes to thank Belmont House nursing staff for their
loving care of John, his private duty nurses Yo and Margaret,
Dr. BIRMINGHAM and Dr.
REINGOLD of Belmont House Staff, and Dr.
Nathan HERMMANN of Sunnybrook Medical Centre.
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BIRNEY o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-02-22 published
CAIN,
Thomas
Henry
At St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas, 18 February 2003, of cancer. Professor
of English literature at McMaster University for 31 years, Tom
had a keen interest in teaching undergraduates to write lucid
prose, and was author of Common Sense About Writing (1967). The
methods in this manual were conceived and developed while an
instructor at Yale University, and arise from the rigors of the
old Ontario school curriculum of which he was a beneficiary.
Author of Praise in The Fairie Queene (1978), and numerous related
articles, he began his scholarly interest in Edmund Spenser while
an undergraduate at Victoria College, University of Toronto
his graduate degrees were from the Universities of Toronto and
Wisconsin. He was a regular church organist from his boyhood,
until in 1967 he joined the choir of St. James' Anglican Church
in Dundas under the direction of Richard
BIRNEY-
SMITH, in whose
Te Deum Singers he also sang from 1972 until his health began
to fail in 1997. In 1976 he joined Saint John's Anglican Church
in Ancaster, where he sang in the choir for 22 years, and enjoyed
a central role in designing its organ in 1988. His hymn text,
'Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church, ' written for the
Episcopal Church's Hymnal (1982), is included in Roman Catholic
and Lutheran hymnals, and the 1998 hymnal in present use in the
Anglican Church of Canada. A gardener of great knowledge and
experience, he shared this interest information and particularly
plants generously. Throughout his life, he enjoyed deep Friendships
with animals. He found a great store of patience and humour to
confront the illness which ended his life. He is survived by
his widow, Emily
CAIN, of Jerseyville; his son, Patrick
CAIN,
of Toronto, and his sister, Catherine
MacFARLANE, of Maple, who
wish to thank McMaster University Medical Centre and St. Joseph's
Villa staff for their care and compassion. Requiem Eucharist
at Saint John's Anglican Church, 272 Wilson St. (at Halson St.),
in Ancaster, on Saturday, March 1 at 10: 30 a.m. (casual clothes)
reception to follow in Saint John's parish hall (on Halson St.).
Spring bulb flowers will be gratefully accepted at the church
or parish hall. Please send donations in lieu of flowers to St.
John's Church (music programme), 272 Wilson Street, Ancaster, Ontario
L9G 2B9.
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