This year, for my Remembrance Day editor’s welcome, I decided to channel my inner Ted De Welles. In going down one of my many rabbit hole online searches, I discovered a veteran from Millwood Road who died earlier this year at nearly 100.
Philip Daniel was interviewed, at Sunnybrook’s Veterans’ Centre, as part of the Cresswood Oral History Project. Both his parents had seen action in the Great War, so it seemed only natural that Philip would also dedicate himself to war-time service.
According to the Cresswood oral history, he joined the army at age 17 “under a program that allowed for early entry, and when he reached the age of maturity he automatically transitioned to the regular forces. …Philip was stationed at Aldershot, and more training took place, along with visits to London and the local pubs. He also happened to meet with Princess Elizabeth at this time, when she was serving with the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service).”
Even after WWII had ended, Philip chose to make the army his career and remained in service for 34 years. He saw action in the Korean War and was sent to Germany as part of Canada’s NATO contingent. Following this service, he was deployed on a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai.
Toronto Star, July 24, 1945.
Ted De Welles shared with me a feature from the Toronto Star relating the story of how Philip Daniel met a neighbour from Millwood, Bill Herbert, when they came face to face at a transit camp in Nijmegen, Holland…having never met one another back home but recognizing by sight a fellow Millwooder. “Hiya, Millwood!” Philip Daniel shouted when they crossed paths. “Hi, yourself!” Bill Herbert replied. They managed to run into each other again during their service, also quite by accident.
These are the stories that bring to life the rich and interesting histories of our local heroes.
You can learn more about some of them by participating in the annual Leaside Remembrance Day Walk, to be held on Nov. 11, starting at 2 p.m. at the entrance to Trace Manes Park. Much thanks to organizers Leaside Heritage Preservation Society, whose walk stops at houses where fallen soldiers from the area lived before their service.
“Lest we forget.”
