When George Neilson enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1958 at the age of 18, he was following a family tradition.
“My dad, my uncles, my two grandfathers — they were all military men,” said Neilson.
His father served in the Second World War, and both grandfathers in the First World War.
Born in St. Catharines, he started as an air cadet as a teen.
“I joined at 14 and was a cadet from 14 to 18,” he said. Then, done with school, he looked for a career and decided the military offered great opportunities for a young man.
He joined the Canadian Guards.
“When I joined up, they sent me right to Camp Petawawa” for training, Neilson said. From there, it was a quick jump to Europe, as part of a NATO peacekeeping force.
There was no ‘hot’ war at the time, but it was the height of the Cold War, with nuclear tension between the USSR and the West at its peak.
For four years, the Canadian Guards were stationed in Germany, “looking after different hot spots,” Neilson said.
At the beginning, the troops faced a fair amount of hostility from the local population, although Neilson said, “After a number of years, the German people accepted us.”
He was still posted in Germany at the time of the Cuban Missile crisis.
“I was there when the Russians decided to send missiles to Cuba,” Neilson said. “That made us move. We were all packed up and in convoy. They finally told us we could stand down. The Russian ships had turned around.
“We came very close…”
Back in Canada, he returned to Base Borden, and then to a new posting every three years.
In 1970, the last battalion of the Canadian Guards disbanded, and he was reassigned.
Neilson retired in 1982, after 25 years of service. His final posting was in Moosejaw, Sask., with the Canadian Airborne Regiment, “looking after the squadron souvenirs for the Snowbirds.”
Looking back, Neilson said, “we’ve had good times and we’ve had bad times in service. Everyone’s a brother, everyone’s a comrade. We look after each other.”
Even after the Canadian Guards disbanded, former members kept in touch through the Canadian Guards Association and met for reunions. He attended the final reunion of the Guards this October.
“Our numbers are getting so small now,” he said, explaining why this was the last reunion. “But all the comrades that I’ve met, we got telephone numbers — we’re still in touch. We’re still comrades.”
Now a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in Bradford, Neilson continues to serve and look after his comrades.
Not only is he sergeant-at-arms at legion Branch 521, teaching colour parties their drills, he is also liaison for the new Air Cadet Flight 37, and veteran services officer for the branch.
He calls the latter his most important job — “finding veterans that need help, that are too embarrassed or too shy or bashful to ask for help.”
Neilson helps veterans get the pensions and personal support for everything from hearing aids and glasses, to yard work, they are entitled to for their service to the country.
“This is all done by the legion for the veterans,” Neilson said. And he does it all for his passion for his comrades. “They’re part of my family.”
He encourages veterans, their spouses and immediate families to contact him at the legion at 905-775-5025.
“I would be only pleased if I can help them out in any way. I’m here for them.”
Veterans can also call for a free ticket to the Remembrance Day Dinner, coming up at the legion on Nov. 10.
Neilson joined the military to serve his country, “for the people of Canada — to make sure war doesn’t happen in Canada,” and he has continued to serve, even in retirement.
“My father served in World War II. I’m very proud of him, and I’m very sure he’s proud of me for carrying on the tradition,” he said.
