Gordon Wallace Woollard was born in Dominion City, Manitoba on August 26, 1923. Gordon began working at the age of fourteen. Because of his connection with Port Arthur and Winnipeg Sea Cadets, he found his vocation on the water. After working on tugboats and freighters until World War II, he tried to enlist in the Navy, but he was denied this opportunity because of his eyesight. He was subsequently accepted by the Canadian Army and began his service there. He met his future wife, Margaret Van Drunen at 103rd Basic Training Centre at Fort Garry, Manitoba where she was a member of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.
Following the completion of his basic training, he remained at Fort Garry as an instructor and after a short period of time was posted to the Armoured Corps School at Camp Borden, Ontario where he was trained as a Gunner Operator in the old Ram tanks.
Following this training he was posted overseas where he achieved the rank of Sergeant as an instructor. He was posted to the Ontario Regiment (Tank) in Holland near the end of the war. He was repatriated to Canada in November 1945 and spent two years trying his hand at several jobs including being part of a Tag Crew, towing a dipper dredge and two scows for Port Arthur to Dingwall, Nova Scotia.
He rejoined the Canadian Army in 1947 and served with the Royal Canadian Dragons in Canada and Europe.
Among his many postings he served as Range Control Officer at Meaford Tank Gun Range, two tours as a duty officer at the Canadian Forces Warning and Reporting System in the underground NORAD Establishments at CFB North Bay, Ontario. His final posting was the Canadian Forces Liaison Officer at the Defense Research Establishment at Suffield, Alberta.
He retired to Emo in 1978 where he and his wife Margaret lived happily in retirement between their home in Emo and their cottage at Clearwater Lake.
Gordon is a member of the Emo Legion Branch 99 and was a member of Masons and the Shriners and served as Provincial Grand Prior of the Knights Templar of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario for one term.
He now lives at Golden Age Manor where he will celebrate his 101-year birthday in August.
Following the completion of his basic training, he remained at Fort Garry as an instructor and after a short period of time was posted to the Armoured Corps School at Camp Borden, Ontario where he was trained as a Gunner Operator in the old Ram tanks.
Following this training he was posted overseas where he achieved the rank of Sergeant as an instructor. He was posted to the Ontario Regiment (Tank) in Holland near the end of the war. He was repatriated to Canada in November 1945 and spent two years trying his hand at several jobs including being part of a Tag Crew, towing a dipper dredge and two scows for Port Arthur to Dingwall, Nova Scotia.
He rejoined the Canadian Army in 1947 and served with the Royal Canadian Dragons in Canada and Europe.
Among his many postings he served as Range Control Officer at Meaford Tank Gun Range, two tours as a duty officer at the Canadian Forces Warning and Reporting System in the underground NORAD Establishments at CFB North Bay, Ontario. His final posting was the Canadian Forces Liaison Officer at the Defense Research Establishment at Suffield, Alberta.
He retired to Emo in 1978 where he and his wife Margaret lived happily in retirement between their home in Emo and their cottage at Clearwater Lake.
Gordon is a member of the Emo Legion Branch 99 and was a member of Masons and the Shriners and served as Provincial Grand Prior of the Knights Templar of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario for one term.
He now lives at Golden Age Manor where he will celebrate his 101-year birthday in August.
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