Benny served his country from 1957 to 1984, much of that with the Airborne. He served in Edmonton from 1971 to 1973, with Special Services from 1977 to 1978 and in Petawawa from 1978 to 1980.

He was a strong, hard Airborne soldier who never passed a fault. He enjoyed nothing more than to be in the field and around the troops. Benny was well liked by all who worked with him and is missed by all who knew him.

R.I.P. Brother.

Don Reekie served in the Canadian Forces from 1951 to 1980. He was the Regimental Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Edmonton and in Petawawa.

He became the Assistant Director of the NS Tattoo in 1981 and remained in that position until his retirement in 2010. He was also the Assistant Director of the Canadian Forces Tattoo that toured Canada in 1985.

Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.

Le Sgt Duperré s’est enrôlé dans les Forces canadiennes le 19 septembre 1961. Sa première mutation fut au 2e R22eR de 1961 à 1967. Il quitta pour servir au Régiment aéroporté de 1967 à 1976. Durant cette période, il servit outre-mer pour les Nations-Unis à Chypres lors de l’invasion turque de 1974. En 1976, il fut transféré au 1er R22eR en Allemagne où il y servit jusqu’en 1980. À son retour au pays, il servit 1 an à l’école de combat avant de prendre sa retraite le 9 juin 1981.

La famille recevra les condoléances le vendredi 27 avril de 19h00 à 22h00, ainsi que samedi, le 28 avril de 09h00 à 10h00, au complexe funéraire F.X. Bouchard inc., 2258, ave Larue, Beauport, Québec, G1C 4A3. S’en suivras une cérémonie religieuse à 10h30 en l’Église de l’Ange-Gardien, 6357, ave Royale RR4, L’Ange-Gardien, G0A 2K0. Les responsables de la Légion Royale Canadienne, filiale 249, La Beauce seront présent pour l’hommage aux anciens combattants.

Le Drapeau Régimentaire sera mis en berne le 28 avril 2012.

It is with regret that we announce the death of Sgt Albert Duperré, CD (Ret’d) died April 22, 2012, at age 71.

Sgt Duperré joined the Canadian Forces on September 19, 1961. His first posting was 2nd R22eR from 1961 to 1967. He then served with the Airborne Regiment from 1967 to 1976. During this period he served overseas for the United Nations in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion of 1974. In 1976, he was transferred to the 1st R22eR in Germany where he served until 1980. Upon returning home, he served a year in Battle School before retiring on June 9th, 1981.

The family will receive condolences on Friday, April 27 from 7pm to 10pm and on Saturday from 9am to 10am at the funeral home, FX Bouchard Inc., 2258 Avenue LarueBeauport, Quebec G1C 4A3. A religious ceremony will follow at 10:30 am in the Church of the Guardian Angel, 6357 Avenue Royale RR4, L’Ange-Gardien, G0A 2K0. Officials of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 249, La Beauce will be present for a tribute to veterans.

The Regimental Flag will be flown at half mast on April 28, 2012.

A service will be held on Thursday March 29/2012 at 11 a.m. in Deep River at Valley Funeral.

Sam began his military career in 1956 in a High School Cadet Corps #109 in Ingersoll Ontario. He attended cadet leadership and communication courses in London, Ipperwash and Blackdown and took the Banff National Cadet Camp in 1960.

He joined 3 RCR (The London and Oxford Fusiliers) in 1959 and then attended Officer Training in Borden in 1962. Sam served with 2nd and 1st Bns of The Canadian Guards and on their reduction in 1969 he was transferred to 2 PPCLI in NW Europe.

Sam was posted to the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown, 2 Commando in Edmonton, and then 3PPCLI in Victoria. Subsequent postings with the RSS Pacific in 1979 at Bay Street Armouries and 1982 in Vancouver linked Sam to the Militia units in BC and the cadet participation in many BC unit activities.

In 1985 Sam left the Regular Forces and joined 11 Svc Bn as DCO and later his civilian job took him to Vancouver where he served with Militia Area HQ at Jericho.

In 1996 Sam was asked by RCSU Pacific to address some cadet issues and as a result he volunteered to serve as C Coy Commander in Vernon CSTC and later as the DCO. This led to his appointment as CO of 3005 RCAC (11 Svc Bn) in Saanich. In 2000, Sam went to Connaught CSTC and was privileged in 2001 to take the National Rifle Team to Bisley UK.

After five summers in Connaught Sam was again given one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to command Whitehorse CSTC, in 2005 and 2006. In the past, Sam has managed a convenience store in Victoria for ten years and for four years was the Director of the Provincial Emergency Program Academy at the Justice Institute in Vancouver.

Recently he has delivered the Harassment Advisor and Harassment Investigator courses for the Admiral and conducts Administrative Investigations into Human Rights violations for the Base Commander Esquimalt.

Sam is a graduate of many courses including Staff Colleges at Kingston, ON and Quetta, Pakistan. In addition, he has completed the US Ranger course, the Australian Jungle Warfare course and the Royal Marines UK High Angle training. Sam served with the UN in Cyprus in 1964 and 1974 (as DCO of 2 CDO during the Turkish invasion). He retired in 2007 after 48 years of Regular and Reserve Force service.

Sam was currently serving as the Executive Director of the Army Cadet League of Canada – BC Branch and he was a past president of the Vancouver Island Branch of the RCR Association. Sam Meckbach was married to Marjorie (nee Purkiss) and they have two children and six grandchildren, all residing in BC.

Fair winds and soft landings Brother.