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Full military honours for Herbert Rice
James Elliott
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Spectator File Photo
Herbert Rice first served under Mackenzie King and 10 more prime ministers after that. He retired last year as honorary lieutenant-colonel at age 94.
Herbert Rice, Canada‘s oldest soldier when he finally retired last year after 79 years of military service, will be buried with full military honours today.
He was 96 when he died at St. Peter‘s Hospital Thursday.
The Hamilton native was 15 and a Bell Telephone office boy when he enlisted as a signalman in No. 14 Company, 2nd Battalion, Canadian Corps of Signals in 1922. First in uniform when Mackenzie King was a rookie prime minister, he would see 10 more PMs come and go before he left the service.
His first instructors were Great War vets and his training included Morse code and use of semaphore flags. He was commissioned an officer in 1927 and within five years commanded his unit. In 1937 Rice was the only Canadian signals officer to attend the coronation of King George VI and one of a select few presented to the monarch. In addition to his Coronation medal, he proudly kept a clipping from The Times of London that noted all the officers the King received that day.
In 1939 when the Second World War broke out, Rice‘s company was put on war strength and he took a reduction in rank to get an overseas posting with the 1st Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. In the U.K. his rank was restored and he commanded a special detachment charged with setting up communications for the Canadians. He also worked in Washington as liaison officer to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Returning to Hamilton as a civilian, he worked 44 years as a stock broker and financial adviser. In 1980 he was named to the first of seven, three-year terms as honorary lieutenant-colonel of 705 (Hamilton) Communications Squadron, the descendant of the unit he joined as a teen. A stroke at 89 left him hobbled and mute but intensive rehab and considerable determination enabled him to regain his speech and ability to walk. He held his honorary post with the squadron until age 94.
Feted at his retirement dinner by 160 admirers, including several army brass, he would say modestly "I‘m just amazed that so many people came to see an old soldier."
His funeral today will have representatives of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Brigadier-General Andrew Leslie, commander of the army‘s communications‘ directorate.
Rice‘s coffin, borne by six members of his unit, will be followed by three soldiers carrying his hat, sword and medals. After the Last Post is played at his graveside in Hamilton Cemetery, the flag on his coffin will be presented to Helen, his wife of 60 years, his medals and hat to his son, Douglas, and his sword to his daughter, Toni.
James Elliott
The Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Spectator File Photo
Herbert Rice first served under Mackenzie King and 10 more prime ministers after that. He retired last year as honorary lieutenant-colonel at age 94.
Herbert Rice, Canada‘s oldest soldier when he finally retired last year after 79 years of military service, will be buried with full military honours today.
He was 96 when he died at St. Peter‘s Hospital Thursday.
The Hamilton native was 15 and a Bell Telephone office boy when he enlisted as a signalman in No. 14 Company, 2nd Battalion, Canadian Corps of Signals in 1922. First in uniform when Mackenzie King was a rookie prime minister, he would see 10 more PMs come and go before he left the service.
His first instructors were Great War vets and his training included Morse code and use of semaphore flags. He was commissioned an officer in 1927 and within five years commanded his unit. In 1937 Rice was the only Canadian signals officer to attend the coronation of King George VI and one of a select few presented to the monarch. In addition to his Coronation medal, he proudly kept a clipping from The Times of London that noted all the officers the King received that day.
In 1939 when the Second World War broke out, Rice‘s company was put on war strength and he took a reduction in rank to get an overseas posting with the 1st Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. In the U.K. his rank was restored and he commanded a special detachment charged with setting up communications for the Canadians. He also worked in Washington as liaison officer to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
Returning to Hamilton as a civilian, he worked 44 years as a stock broker and financial adviser. In 1980 he was named to the first of seven, three-year terms as honorary lieutenant-colonel of 705 (Hamilton) Communications Squadron, the descendant of the unit he joined as a teen. A stroke at 89 left him hobbled and mute but intensive rehab and considerable determination enabled him to regain his speech and ability to walk. He held his honorary post with the squadron until age 94.
Feted at his retirement dinner by 160 admirers, including several army brass, he would say modestly "I‘m just amazed that so many people came to see an old soldier."
His funeral today will have representatives of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Brigadier-General Andrew Leslie, commander of the army‘s communications‘ directorate.
Rice‘s coffin, borne by six members of his unit, will be followed by three soldiers carrying his hat, sword and medals. After the Last Post is played at his graveside in Hamilton Cemetery, the flag on his coffin will be presented to Helen, his wife of 60 years, his medals and hat to his son, Douglas, and his sword to his daughter, Toni.
