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Second World War vet receives France’s Legion of Honour medal

Mar 3, 2015 | 7:11 AM

A 96-year-old Second World War veteran from Big River, Sask. has been honoured with three medals for his service in the war, including France’s Legion of Honour medal.

Harold Magrath received the medal, which is France’s highest distinction.

“The medal was available for anybody that served in France from D-Day ‘til the end of August 1944,” said vice-president of the Big River Legion Branch 136, Rob Warriner. “And he had to take part in the battles.”

“Harold was a D-Day plus 30, so 30 days after D-Day they came ashore with the big guns and he fought through all the major battles, all the way to boot the Nazis out of France.”

Now living at an assisted-care facility, Magrath said he doesn’t like to relive that point of his life very often.

“Every once in a while somebody will want to know what went on over there,” said McGrath. “It’s hard to go back on things, my memory is not as good as it used to be, to me, being in the war, I’ve got lots of memories, and they come out when you get talking about them.” 

He said he never kept close contact with his regiment after coming back to Canada, and never attended any reunions.

“You got a job to do and you do it and then it’s all over,” said Magrath.

He was part of the 7th Medium Regiment, which was in charge of driving the large artillery weapons.

“They were in support of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions and all the British Divisions and the 1st Polish Division,” said Warriner. “Whoever needed the need of the big guns.”

Warriner added that Magrath lost a lot of members from his regiment during his time at war as well.

“They used the big guns and they lobbed them over onto the enemy, but what that does it tells the enemy where you are and they lob the big guns back,” said Warriner. “They had 130 plus casualties in their regiment.”

Magrath remembers a harrowing moment during his time driving the forward observation officer (FOO) through a minefield.

“I drove a half truck and an officer that drove with me, he had to lead me through this minefield,” said Magrath. “From where I sat driving, I couldn’t see the ground on that side, so he had to lead me through.”

But Magrath views it as part of the job he was there to do.

“It was a job, I never let it bother me,” said Magrath. “At that time you never knew when things were going to get close to you.”

Magrath has mostly taken care of himself, spending winters in a seniors’ care facility, until his lost his right foot in October.

“He still plans on getting a prosthetic on there and getting his other foot fixed up,” said Warriner. “He isn’t planning on staying around this nursing home.”

Magrath also received the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command 60 year service medal and his 90th Anniversary of Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command medal.

He wears five other medals including the 39-45 War Star, and the King George medal for the defence of Britain.

Looking forward to the future, Magrath said he has already offered to donate his medals to the Big River Legion to put on display after he passes away.

Magrath was not the only one to be honoured on Friday, members from the Big River Volunteer Fire Department received medals as well.

MLA Nadine Wilson and Saskatchewan Fire Commissioner Duane McKay were on hand to speak and hand out medals as well.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @journalistjim