MOOSE JAW — The veterans’ banners throughout the downtown feature men who had interesting lives, including one who fought in three high-profile battles and one who helped end a conflict in Egypt.
Below are the biographies of four men who appear on the new flags. The information comes from the City of Moose Jaw website.
This is part 8 of 8 in a series.
Anthony (Tony) Olden Thomlinson
Anthony (Tony) Thomlinson was born in Rideau Ferry, Ont., and began his military service in the active militia — The Edmonton Fusiliers — from 1936-39, then enlisted with the South Saskatchewan Regiment (SSR) in 1939 and completed his training in army bases across Canada before he joined the Second World War in January 1940.
He was a veteran of the famed Raid on Dieppe in August 1942 and was shot in his right shoulder on that occasion, being reported missing for some time.
On July 8, 1944, his SSR unit landed in France and jumped into the Battle of Normandy, he was severely injured on Aug. 8, 1944, from a grenade to the chest and suffered severe chest and lung injuries.
He was involved with the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945, and all the veterans involved received a “Thank you Canada Medal” from the Dutch people, who are grateful to this day.
The war ended for Tony on June 26, 1945, when he was honourably discharged.
He was called up to serve in the Korean War and was made a sergeant of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), which fought in the Battle of Kapyong. The unit was awarded the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for its extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of combat duties, the first time a Canadian unit had been so honoured.
Dad bravely and selflessly served his country and was honourably released on March 4, 1952, and returned to Moose Jaw to raise his family.
The medals he earned were the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service, Canadian Medal with Overseas Service Bar & Dieppe Bar, War Medal 1939-1945, Canadian Korea Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, United Nations Service Medal (Korea), Netherlands Liberation Thank You Medal 1945, and the United States Presidential Unit Citation (Blue Flash) Korea 1951.
Donald Nathan Edward Stockton
Donald Nathan Edward Stockton was born on Nov. 25, 1923, in Radville, Sask.
Donald joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and was called into service on Nov. 11, 1943. He served in India with the 358 Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF) in the bomber and special duties squadron as a tail gunner. He was in Bombay, India when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, which signalled the end of the Second World War.
He was released from the military at the end of the war.
Donald re-enrolled in the RCAF in 1949 as an air frame technician and retired in November 1973. During his years in service, he was stationed at Calgary (1949-53), Claresholm (1953-55), Cold Lake (1955-62), Ottawa (CFB Uplands 1962-68) and Moose Jaw (1968-73).
Donald participated in a UN Tour in 1966-67 in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), which was a military and peacekeeping operation established to secure an end to the Suez Crisis of 1956. While on this assignment, he was stationed in El-Arish in the Gaza Strip.
He retired while stationed in Moose Jaw, where he resided until dying at age 100 on Aug. 8, 2024.
The medals he earned were the CF Decoration CD1, the UN Emergency Force (UNEF), the War Medal 1939-1945, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM).
Harold (Seebee) Seabrook
Harold (Seebee) Seabrook was born in 1919 in Aiktow, Sask., and in 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served on the HMCS Prince David. The ship saw active duty in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the medium and the northwestern European zones.
Harold was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 59 for 40 years, right up to his death in 2004. Harold still has much of his artwork displayed in the hall today.
The medals he earned were the 1939-1945 Star of Italy and the Star of France.
Douglas (Scottie) B. Dunlop
There was no information about Douglas (Scottie) B. Dunlop on the web page, aside from the fact he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.
