P3
FRIDAYNOVEMBER 8
CITY: Campground proposal sent packing by council
www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005
Lest we forget
Body found at
Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com
Gravel Pit Lake
Enoch Maxiam Patrick grew up in what was known until 1990 as Fraser Lake Indian Reserve, a member of Nadleh Whut’en First Nation (Dakelh) in the central interior of British Columbia. Patrick served overseas as a soldier in the Second World War. However, it was only recently that his son, Norman Patrick, 70, one of six children, can shed some light on his father’s military service. “He always said the things he saw in France during the war, were just ‘too graphic’ to talk about. He saw his best buddy get killed. And I know that he lost other friends too ...but he wouldn’t talk about it. Once, when we were out hunting in 1975, he spoke just a few words about it – how he’d seen people get shot in the head – then he went quiet again.” Three of Norman Patrick’s uncles (one was Dick Patrick of Stoney Creek) also served overseas in the Second World War, a couple of them were wounded, but they all came back, he said. In 1989, when Enoch Patrick passed away, Norman, the oldest son, was given a box of his father’s personal items. Inside, Norman found a silver war medal bearing the image of King George VI, some military papers, and an old photograph of his father in uniform. Enoch Patrick was an artillery expert with the Canadian forces. He joined the war in 1939, was discharged on April 24,1945 and returned home on May 26, 1945. Norman Patrick recalls that his father had some good memories of his wartime experiences. “He was proud to be fighting overseas for his country. Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Norman Patrick with his father’s Second World War medal and photo. He told me he liked being treated just like everyone else The inset shows the medal’s reverse side: a lion standing on a doubleover there, ‘like a regular white person.’ He had more headed dragon. freedom in France than in his own country. “He could go out to restaurants and he could drink to serve his country, said Norman, but he was told that he was “too alcohol with his buddies. Colour didn’t matter. They were all servshort” to join the RCMP. Instead, he drove truck for 35 years. ing – and dying – for the same reason.” It took many years for Enoch and other First Nations people to Norman Patrick explains that at that time, and even into the ‘50s, be recognized for their contributions during war, said Norman, in many parts of Canada, First Nations people weren’t allowed in who still has questions surrounding his father’s military service. restaurants, particularly where they served alcohol. There are confusing issues and missing information which he “I remember as a kid going to into a restaurant (in northern hopes MLA John Rustad’s office can help him sort out. B.C.). We had to order our food from the back and they brought it For instance, Enoch Patrick had two different military numbers to us at the back door and then we’d eat it outside. In France, during assigned to him, one an army number, the other an air force numthe war, my father was treated as an equal and he liked that.” ber. It may be, says Norman Patrick, that he served in both. His father’s name is listed along with many other First Nations One thing Norman knows for sure, though, is that his father and people, on a special plaque at the Prince George Native Friendship other members of his family were dedicated to defending Canada. Centre honouring those who served during wars. “They joined up to serve and to help save our country,” Norman When he returned to Canada in 1945, Enoch wanted to continue said, placing his father’s war medal back in its small cardboard box.
The Prince George RCMP and the BC Coroners Service are currently investigating a report of found human remains west of Prince George. Just after noon on Saturday the Prince George RCMP received a report of found human remains at Gravel Pit Lake, just off Highway 16 West near Isle Pierre Road. On attendance to the area, police located a burnt-out structure and human remains. Police have attended the scene and continue to investigate with the assistance of the BC Coroners Service and fire investigators. Investigators would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed a fire in the area of Gravel Pit Lake approximately two weeks ago. If you have any information about this investigation, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300.
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