PERCY BUZZA

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PERCY BUZZA Born September 19, 1924, in Winnipeg, MB, a son of the late Percival George and Rose (Aithens) Buzza, died March 31, 2006, in Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII. He served as a Drummer Boy with The Queen's Own (Cameron) Highlanders (1938 to 1939) and with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (1939 to 1940), and after training in the Elements of Armour he was assigned as a wireless operator in the tank Screwball, and then in the tank Scimitar. He was a silver medalist at the Canadian Forces Boxing Competitions in London in 1942. He trained with No. 2 Commando (Wales) and was awarded the Commando Fighting Knife in 1943. He was promoted during the Battle of the Hitler Line at the Melfa River in Italy and reassigned as Commander of the tank Spartan, which he commanded throughout the Italian and North West Europe campaigns. At age 19, he was the youngest tank Crew Commander in the Canadian Armoured Corps. Percy's tank Spartan is on display in front of the Administration Building, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in Edmonton, Alta. After the Second World War, Percy returned to Winnipeg and completed high school and joined the Naval Reserve as a Stoker in 1946. He spent his summers under training in frigates on the west coast. He was selected as an officer candidate and attended University of Manitoba on an RCN scholarship, graduating with a B.Sc. He married his childhood sweetheart, Kathleen Stobie, on the day he graduated. He completed officer's qualifying courses with the RCN and USN and was appointed to HMCS Iroquois, where he served in the Korean Theatre. He was seconded to the USMC as a Shore Fire Control Officer, operating into North Korea from islands on the west coast of North Korea. He served in a number of RCN ships and shore establishments. He was seconded to the Royal Canadian Artillery for the Arctic trails of the Nike Guided Missile System at the Defense Research Board Rocket Range at Fort Churchill, MB. He served as a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare staff officer. He completed the Artillery Proof Officer's Course at Nicolet, Que. He was severely injured when he fell from the mast of HMCS Restigouche during her trails in Montreal, suffering a broken jaw, back, pelvis, right knee, both ankles and both feet. Upon recovery, he served as Officer in Command, Weapons School, HMCS Stadacona, and subsequently at sea in the First Destroyer Escort Squadron. He served as Officer in Command of Weapons Trials Units on both west and east coasts. He also served as Variable Depth Sonar Project Officer and retired as a Lt. Commander in 1968, with a commendation from the Flag Officer Atlantic for bringing a highly sophisticated submarine detection system into operational use. His military decorations include 1939/1945 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939/1945, Korea Medal, Canadian Volunteer's Service Medal (Korea), Special Service Medal (NATO), United Nations Service Medal (Korea), Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp, Special Service Medal (Riga, Italy), Dutch Commemorative Medal, and the 75th Anniversary Medal, Royal Canadian Legion. In his civilian life, he served as a science instructor with the Adult Vocational Training Centre, and after completing the Guidance Post Graduate Program at Dalhousie University, he served as chief guidance counsellor at the Dartmouth Regional Vocational School (Akerley Campus). He left the educational field to serve as a program manager with Hermes Electronics, building Sonabuoys for USN and RCN. When that contract was completed, he served as a department head at Dartmouth General Hospital. He later served as a project coordinator with Spantec Limited and with Defense Construction Limited on the Dockyard redevelopment project. He retired in 1982 and devoted his time and effort to the advancement of Freemasonry and the Shriner's Orthopedic and Burned Children's Hospitals. He was a member of Fort Gary Lodge No. 130 GRM 1949 (life member), and a Past Member (1987) of Ashlar Lodge No. 107 GRNS (life member). He was a Past Grand Director of Ceremonies (1992), Past Grand Piper (1992 to 1993), Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Uruguay (1994 to 2002), Victoria Lodge of Perfection Nova Scotia (1955), Murray Chapter of Rose Croix Ottawa (1956, life member), Moore Sovereign Consistory Hamilton (1956, life member), Philae Temple AAONMS (1958), Pipe Major Philae Pipes and Drums (1993 to 1998), Potentate's Personal Piper (1993), and Aide to Imperial Potente (1988). His Masonic jewels include Past Master's Jewel, Lewis Jewel, Past Grand Director of Ceremonies, Past Grand Piper, 50 Year Jewel (GRNS), 50 Year Jewel (GRM), and 250 Year Commemorative Jewel (GRNS). He held the office of Deputy Master, Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1586 (1993), Black Preceptory - Red Cross Degree, Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1325 (1994). Percy was affiliated with Iona Presbyterian Church, was a life member of the American Radio Relay League and a life member of the Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Society of Wireless Pioneers. He held an Advanced Certificate for Canadian Radio Amateurs. He was a life member of the University of Manitoba Alumni Association. He was a member of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Association, the Naval Officers Association of Canada and the Canadian Tribal (Destroyer) Association. He is a life member of Royal Canadian Legion, Somme Branch No. 30. He held a Private Pilot Certificate (Winnipeg Flying Club, 1946 to 1954). He was a member of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada and Shearwater R/C Flyers Club. He is survived by his wife Kathleen; daughter Kathy (Joseph) Mason, Dartmouth; granddaughters, Lisa and Janice; and brother Wesley Roy, Winnipeg. No flowers by request of the family. Donations may be made to the Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Gardens or Shriner's Crippled Children's Travel Fund. A Masonic service will be held Monday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. in A. L. Mattatall Funeral Home, 217 Portland St., Dartmouth. Private family interment at a later date. E-mail condolences to may be sent to: almattatallfh@alderwoods.com.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 03, 2006