Lest We Forget

Charles Harvey Buchanan was born March 30, 1923, in Atwood, Perth County, Ontario, to parents Charles Harvey and Janet “Jane” (Anderson) Buchanan. He was one of five children, one of whom passed in infancy, growing up with sisters Edna May and Isabelle Buchanan and brother Andrew Raymond “Ray” Buchanan.

At the beginning of WWII, Charles had attempted to enlist in Stratford first, then London, but was turned away both times due to his young age. Once he turned of age, he enlisted in Guelph, Ontario, and was stationed with the 100th Battery of the 4th Light-Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Division. He was later attached to the 2nd Heavy-Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Before going to France, he was transferred to the 103th Battery of the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment of the 2nd Core. Over the course of his service, he was stationed with units in England, France, Belgium, and Germany, and fought under Major David Currie at the strategic Battle of Falaise Gap.

Charles met Phyllis Mary Page while stationed in England, and they were married in Canterbury, Kent on August 19, 1942. The first time they met, he had been guarding a bomb crater, and she had been running to her mother’s house. She had been so scared that when he made her stop, she had thought he was speaking German. The second time they had met, he asked if she wanted to see the movie—they were in possession of a reel containing the film Gone with the Wind, though, with no projector, they resorted to looking at the frames by holding it up to the light.

After demobilization, Charles returned to Perth County, Phyllis following shortly after him, and together they moved into a house in Atwood. Together they had four children, Harvey, Sandra, Andrea, and Michele. Charles worked with the Department of Highways from his return until his retirement. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No.8 Stratford and the St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

Charles passed away on February 11, 2012, at 88 years old in Stratford, and was buried in Saint James Anglican Churchyard.