Edward (Eddy) Jobes, 89, Decorated Second World War vet
Matthew Kruk
Danielle Bell
Canwest News Service
Friday, August 29, 2008
NANAIMO, B.C. - A man believed to be one of the last surviving members of
the Canadian Scottish Regiment from the Second World War has died in a
Nanaimo nursing home.
Edward (Eddy) Jobes, 89, died Aug. 15 at the Nanaimo Senior Village. He
lived there for six years.
Jobes and his family came to Canada from England when he was 10 years old
and he joined the army when he was 21.
He served overseas for six years until 1946, when he was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal (the second-highest award for gallantry in
action after the Victoria Cross).
In France, in June 1944, Jobes experienced heavy German machine gunfire
while acting as platoon sergeant on Juno Beach.
As the battle intensified, some men took cover. Despite the hail of bullets,
Jobes leapt to the top of his trench with his machine gun and fired back,
inspiring his troops to brave the bullets. Despite casualties, the move
helped lead to a German retreat.
Mary Barnes, 66, who lives in Parksville, remembers her stepfather as a good
cook who loved gardening.
"He's the only father I've ever known," said Barnes, one of five daughters
in her family.
Barnes's biological father, John Baird, a platoon member with Jobes, was
killed while driving an army truck along Nanaimo Lakes Road in 1942.
Jobes and Baird's widow, Veronica, met as they exchanged letters over their
grief.
They were married in Ocean Falls in the fall of 1948.
Jobes was very active in Legion duties after he retired, following a lengthy
career at the Crofton mill.
A full military service for Jobes will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4. The
location was not confirmed.
Nanaimo Daily News
© Nanaimo Daily News 2008
La N
"Matthew Kruk" <Matthe...@Telus.net> wrote in message
news:Ae9uk.10557$nu6.10215@edtnps83...
> Decorated Second World War vet dies in Nanaimo
> Danielle Bell
> Canwest News Service
> Friday, August 29, 2008
>
> NANAIMO, B.C. - A man believed to be one of the last surviving members of
> the Canadian Scottish Regiment from the Second World War has died in a
> Nanaimo nursing home.
>
>
This is especially poignant from my POV, as I had an uncle who was a member
of the Canadian Scottish Regiment and was killed during the latter stages of
the invasion of Normandy and who is buried over there.
To absent friends.
- nilita