While I was growing up, my great uncle Bill loved to play crib, and was always around for family gatherings but remained a mystery to me.
He was a rather blunt, sometimes cranky old man, usually impatient but truly had a kind heart.
As a child I knew something had happened to him, that’s why he looked so different. My Grandma would always tell me how handsome he used to be, which I found to be rather confusing.
His face was wrinkly and scarred, and he had little hair on his head. He was missing a few fingers, and had what my younger cousins would refer to as ‘crazy eyes’.
As I got a little older I learnt that his name wasn’t Bill, but Lance Fields. Also, that he was a solider and proud of it. He loved the army and the brotherhood that came with it.
As a child the concept of war is hard to understand, especially for the fortunate generation like mine that has never had to live through a world war.
At the age of 23 Lance Fields enlisted himself in the army, the year was 1940.
Fields trained in Canada and England before engaging in combat in France, Belgium and Holland.
On April 18, 1945, Fields was injured in combat. He was caught in an enemy flamethrower, causing extensive wounds and third degree burns.
Lucky to be alive, Fields was sent home to Souris Man, and was discharged in 1946.
He lived in Souris for many years, spending his time with our family and the local Army Navy branch. He passed away in 2009 at the rip old age of 91.
He would occasionally share memories of his training and time at war, but they were always positive memories reminisce of times he had with fellow soldiers.
Once I was at the age to comprehend my uncle’s story, I was grateful to have had time to spend with him and admired him for his courage and wisdom.
The thing that he influenced upon me most was his unwavering love and dedication to his country.
His memory stands out to me most on Remembrance Day because he was what made the memories of war real to me.
Whether or not you have known someone or lost someone in a war, past or present, take the time to remember them and their family tomorrow.
Thank them for their sacrifices, and like my uncle, their un-measureable love of our country.