101-year-old Prince Albert WWII Veteran passes away

One of the last Prince Albert area veterans of the Second World War has passed away, just a few months shy of his 102nd birthday.

Edwin Laird was born May 5, 1923 in Verwood, Sask. He enlisted in the military in 1941, joining the Army at Prince Albert. When he was sent overseas to England, he completed Commando training in the 2nd Field Regiment, and learned Morse Code as a Signalman.

Edwin Laird (second left) with some of his First Division army mates. (Submitted by Geri Sauer)

In an interview with paNOW in 2019, Laird spoke of his time in the war. He said the Nazi’s were some of the smartest soldiers he saw, which challenged the Allies as they worked to overtake them.
“They were the world’s best soldiers, there is no question about that [and] Germany was taking them as kids and making soldiers out of them. They were known as being the best in the world and they just about took over the world,” he said.

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Laird was part of the first allied invasion of the war when they landed in Sicily.

“They were terrible because we got bombed as we were invading,” Laird recalled. “Once we got in there it was terrible because it was such a rough rugged country. There was no such thing as a road; it was all just trails. We couldn’t use anything other than donkeys to carry our equipment.

“It’s not as bad as you think because after it’s over is when you get scared. But at the time, you’re so preoccupied and so busy, you got so much going on you’re not thinking about getting scared,” Laird said.

He participated in many battles during the war and often spoke of his opportunity to be the solider that was ordered to say ‘ceasefire’ for the 7 Field Guns of the 2nd Field Regiment on May 5, 1945.

Ed Laird on Remembrance Day 2018. (Submitted by Geri Sauer)

Ramsay Bellisle, a Captain with the North Saskatchewan Regiment, worked with Laird several times over the years for Remembrance Day ceremonies or school presentations. He appreciated the conversations he had with Laird ‘soldier to solider.’

“If he was in the mood to be talking or he suddenly opened up about something, I was all ears to listen to him,” Bellisle said. “We shared experiences – not that any of my experiences would ever live up to what he did. It’s like talking to a veteran of the Ukrainian war right now… you see things on social media or the Internet, but then you actually talk to somebody that was there about what it’s like and some of those feelings, you just can’t put into words.”

Laird, pictured in 2015 honouring the war dead at the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany. (Canada Remembers/Facebook)

After the war ended, Laird returned to Prince Albert and worked as a mechanic and then a service manager for Lonestar Motors. He served as the local president for the Royal Canadian Legion for seven years and as the Zone Commander for 20 years. In total, Laird spent about 80 years with the Legion.

“He and his wife Geraldine just both loved the Legion and they really helped to keep it going,” said Rick Hodgson, president of Legion Branch #2 Prince Albert.

Former Prince Albert Police Chief Jon Bergen visited with Laird during his 100th birthday celebration in May of 2023. (Prince Albert Police Service/Facebook)

Laird worked to establish a veterans home in Prince Albert and volunteered countless hours speaking at schools and events to ensure the efforts and sacrifices of Canada’s veterans are never forgotten. In recognition of that work, he received many accolades over the years including the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

“There aren’t many World War II vets left to tell their stories,” said Hodgson.

Despite his passing, Laird’s history will remain a large part of Prince Albert. In July of 2023, the City of Prince Albert named a park on Muzzy Drive in Laird’s honour. Two years ago, as part of his 100th birthday celebrations, Laird donated his coat and military medals to the Prince Albert Historical Society for display.