4 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Local veteran fondly remembered by many By Mark Ribble KINGSVILLE — For Mary-Maureen and Jay Atkin, the week of Remembrance Day brings memories flooding back of Mary-Maureen’s father, Maurice Snook. Even 10 years after Maurice passed away, the memories of his countless
stories, infectious smile and larger-than-life presence, comfort them as they prepare for another Remembrance Day without him. Maurice Snook was born in Cowplain, England, on November 5, 1918. His family moved to Canada a year later,
KINGSVILLE GOODFELLOWS
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Registration is at Epworth United Church, 56 Division St. South, Memorial Hall. Parking and Entrance on Mill St. West
where they settled on a farm behind the Jack Miner property in Kingsville. Eventually moving to Windsor, Maurice joined the Windsor Essex Scottish Militia and then joined the Essex Scottish Regiment, lying about his age because he was still too young to serve. He met his young soonto-be bride, Mary Linsley — who had also immigrated from England as a child — and proposed to her prior to leaving for overseas. Sergeant Major Maurice Snook was part of the ill-fated raid on Dieppe, France on August 19, 1942, which was known as Operation Jubilee. He was one of the youngest officers and was in com-
mand of the C Company of the Essex Scottish, who landed on Red Beach that fateful morning. He was taken prisoner and held as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the war, when he was liberated in the spring of 1945. He returned home and married his waiting fiancé in July of that year. The pair lived in Leamington, Ruthven and Kingsville, where they raised their family. Maurice retired after 41 years at Heinz Canada, but continued to host the company Christmas party for 63 years. He often told his daughter about his experience at Dieppe and how the Essex Scottish was cut down upon their ascent
Tuesday, November 9 Thursday, November 11 Tuesday, November 16 Thursday, November 18 Tuesday, November 23 Thursday, November 25 Times: 10 am - 12 noon and 1:30 - 3:30 pm Note: Proof of residency required. 1 person per family to enter for registration. COVID protocol in effect.
Leamington-Mersea
GOODFELLOWS Sergeant Major Maurice Snook on a visit to Dieppe in 2006. Maurice asked Jay to wheel him down to the wall, into the exact spot that he and his troops were pinned down by sniper fire on that fateful day in August, 1942.
up the beach. Of the 553 Essex Scottish soldiers that landed on Red Beach, only 51 returned safely to England that day. The rest were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Maurice was one of the prisoners. On August 19, 2006, Maurice, along with Mary-Maureen and Jay, was able to visit the cemetery where those that perished that day are buried. There was a new monument dedicated to the Essex Scottish and Maurice was able to be there for the unveiling. The trio joined a contingent of Canadian officials, veterans and family members to commemorate the monument, which was erected on Red Beach. The trip to the monument and cemetery was an emotional one for Maurice, who spent a few solemn moments sitting at the exact spot where he and his comrades were pinned down by sniper fire exactly 64 years prior. “It was an emotional and special trip for all of us,” said Mary-Maureen last week. “You could see that dad was thinking about his friends the whole time.” Maurice recounted a story about when they were pinned down and he saw the sniper fire coming from the end of the pier just west of Red Beach. Sure they were goners, he told his men to play dead as the sniper was picking them off one-by-one. Fortunately,
the Calgary Tanks had arrived and took out the sniper’s nest, saving the regiment. “Dad credits the men in that tank for saving his life that day,” says Mary-Maureen. Maurice did survive, but spent the rest of the war as a prisoner as the Germans rounded up anyone left on the beach. The Dieppe raid was supposed to be a surprise attack, but a German U-boat in the English Channel saw the Canadians coming and warned the German troops about the attack. Instead, the raid turned into one of the deadliest in history for the Canadians. As they were marched off the beach, many of the soldiers were stripped down and taken to the casino at the top of the beach, where a makeshift hospital was put up. The prisoners were then transported by cattle car to Stalag 8B in Lamsdorf, Poland, where Maurice and dozens of other Canadian soldiers spent the rest of the war. “Dad and his fellow POWs were shackled for 11 straight months at one point,” said Mary-Maureen. “It was in retaliation for a temporary restraint of German soldiers that were taken at Dieppe.” Maurice brought those shackles home with him and also filled his suitcase with rocks from Red Beach. Those same rocks
VETERAN — Page 5
Christmas Hamper Applications NOTE: LEAMINGTON & MERSEA RESIDENTS ONLY - MUST APPLY IN PERSON AT THE
LEAMINGTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING 111 Erie St. N., Leamington Covid19 Protocols will be Strictly enforced. Masks MUST be worn at ALL times and Physical Distancing MUST be maintained.
Offer available to qualified retail customers in Ontario on select vehicles purchased and delivered from November 2, 2021 to November 30, 2021. 0.99% purchase financing (0.99% APR) offered on approved credit by TD Auto Finance Services, Scotiabank® or RBC Royal Bank for 72 months on an eligible 2021 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab RST 4x4; includes Cash Delivery Allowance of $1,000 (Tax Exclusive), $1,000 Finance Cash (Tax Exclusive). Participating lenders are subject to change. Rates from other lenders may vary. Down payment, trade and/or security deposit may be required. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. $0 down payment required. Example: $53,547 financed at 0.99% nominal rate (0.99% APR) equals $767 monthly for 72 months with $0 down payment. Cost of borrowing is $1,628, for a total obligation of $55,175. Financed amount includes Total Value of $2,000 based on $1,000 Cash Delivery Allowance (Tax Exclusive) and $1,000 Finance Cash (Tax Exclusive), Freight ($1,900) and air conditioning charge ($100, if applicable). License, insurance, registration, PPSA, applicable taxes and dealer fees not included (all of which may vary by dealer and region). Dealers are free to set individual prices. Factory order may be required. Factory order may be required. Limited time offer which may not be combined with certain other offers. General Motors of Canada Company (GM Canada) may modify, extend or terminate offers for any reason, in whole or in part, at any time, without notice. Conditions and limitations apply. See dealer for details. These offers may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Conditions and limitations apply. Void where prohibited. Chargeable paint costs may vary depending on the vehicle/colour. See Dealer for full program details. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. TD Auto Finance is a registered trademark of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
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