MOOSE JAW — Twenty-five new banners featuring Moose Jaw veterans now hang from light poles throughout the downtown as part of a project that city hall is continuing to honour those who served in war and peace.
Below are the biographies of Douglas Ross Greene, Lloyd Elmer Erickson, George M. McGregor and Eldon Lawrence Babcock, who appear on the banners. The information comes from the City of Moose Jaw website.
This is part 5 of 8 in a series.
Douglas Ross Greene
Douglas Ross Greene was born in Boharm, Sask., in 1921. He joined the King’s Own Rifles of Canada (KORC) in Moose Jaw upon turning 18. While serving with the KORC, in July 1942, the Canadian government approved the assignment of 697 officers and enlisted men for “Project Plough” under the guise that they were forming Canada’s first airborne unit, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.
As part of that unit, my father became part of the 1st Special Service Force, a Canadian/U.S. joint force that later became known as the Devil’s Brigade. Upon examining his Soldier’s Service Book, which outlined my father’s military career within that unit, I learned that the unit was activated on July 9, 1942, at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Mont.
My father deployed in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre, the Mediterranean Theatre, Italy and France. He was wounded on Dec. 6, 1943, when the unit took two heavily fortified German positions in Monte la Difensa, Italy. He was honourably discharged from the military on Jan. 23, 1945.
My father was a proud Canadian who never spoke of his time in the highly decorated elite commando unit. He worked for the CPR in Moose Jaw until his retirement. Our family is exceedingly proud of my father’s outstanding service to Canada, the extent of which we were unaware of until recently.
The medals he earned included the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, King George VI 1939-1945 Bronze Star, King George VI Italy Bronze Star, King George VI Defence Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, Distinguished Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism and the First Special Service Force Congressional Gold Medal (2015).
Lloyd Elmer Erickson
Lloyd was born to Clarence Arthur Erickson and Lillian May (Tyler) Erickson at St. Boswells, Sask. on April 23, 1921. He enlisted on June 24, 1942, joined Lord Strathcona’s Horse Royal Canadians, and was later discharged on March 23, 1946.
His service took him to the United Kingdom, continental Europe and the central Mediterranean. Lloyd served in a tank, which was blown up. He was the only survivor that day, which is one of many reasons he would not talk about the war.
Lloyd married May Patricia Dray on Jan. 9, 1947. They moved to Moose Jaw in 1952, where they had two sons and four daughters. He lived in Moose Jaw until his death on Aug. 9, 1990.
His wife and children are very proud of his service. Thank you, Dad!
The medals he earned were the 1935-1945 Star, the France, Germany and Italy Star, the Defence Medal and the 1939-1945 Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
George M. McGregor
Born in New Deer, Scotland, on July 8, 1923, George Milne McGregor, along with his family, moved to Canada and settled on a farm in Mortlach in 1928. George called this home until 1940, when he joined the Canadian army and was made a member of the Royal Tank Regiment, serving in multiple locations across Europe.
George was honourably discharged in 1945 and returned to the family farm in Mortlach. In 1948, George married Evelyn Kien, and they started their family home in Parkbeg. Upon his retirement in 1987, they moved to Moose Jaw to be closer to family and friends.
We all knew dad/grandpa was a man of few words, but we will always cherish and remember the sacrifices he made for his country and family. On Oct. 25, 2005, George Milne McGregor was laid to rest.
The medals he earned included the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-40
Eldon Lawrence Babcock
There is no information about Eldon on the city’s web page, aside from the medals he earned during the Second World War, including the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp.
