MAJOR CHRISTOPHER EYRES

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MAJOR CHRISTOPHER EYRES, CD1 Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Fort Garry Horse 26 December 1917 - 4 July 2008 1939 - 1945 Star France and Germany Star Defence Medal Canadian Voluntary Service Medal and Clasp War Medal 1939 - 1945 United Nations Service Medal Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Medal Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp With sadness, the family of Major Christopher Eyres of Winnipeg announces his passing on 4 July 2008. A career soldier, Major Chris Eyres joined the militia (11 Med Bty, RCA) in 1937, transferred to the Canadian Army (Active) in 1939 as a Trooper in the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), and served with the regiment in Canada and overseas. While overseas with the Straths, he was selected for officer training and graduated in May 1944 from the Armoured Officer Candidate Training Unit at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; he was commissioned Lieutenant (Canadian Armoured Corps), and on return the Straths, saw action in Italy and Northwest Europe. He was selected for transfer to the Canadian Army (Regular) in 1946 and served in various staff positions in Northwest Europe and Canada throughout the remainder of his military career. In 1959, he rebadged to the Fort Garry Horse and served the remainder of his career as a Garry. He was promoted Captain in 1949 and Major in 1960. He retired from the Canadian Army in 1966. Among the more interesting of his postings/assignments, he numbered a nine-month tour of duty as a Liaison Officer with HQ 3 Canadian Infantry Division of the Canadian Army of Occupation, a position which saw him couriering court documentation in support of the war crimes trial of SS Major General Kurt Meyer. He was also particularly proud of tours of duty as Officer Commanding of the Parachute Packing Hangar (Shilo)/Parachute Instructor (Joint Air Training Centre-Rivers), Commanding Officer 8 Personnel Depot (Winnipeg), Officer Commanding of the Communications Squadron (RCAC School-Borden), and his final posting as Senior Staff Officer (Training) with Saskatchewan Militia District. He served on two UN missions: the United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon and the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization (Palestine). On retirement, Chris embarked on a most successful second career as an insurance adjuster, working first with W.O. Jones (Inc) and later with Co-Op Insurance. When the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation hired him on start-up, he served the corporation diligently and professionally until retirement. On beginning his MPIC employment, he was chosen to establish the Brandon office as the corporation established itself. “We promised people we would take claims on the official start up date,” he said, “and there I was with a couple of others, taking claims in a bare office with only pens, pencils, and papers. We had no furniture; the floor was our desk for the first week or so. But we were operational, on time.” By the end of his MPIC career, Chris had been manager of two major Winnipeg claims centres: the King Edward Street centre, and the Pembina Hwy centre. On final retirement, he settled down to a life of backyard puttering, delivering Meals on Wheels for a number of years, golf, winters in Victoria with his wife, Elaine, and basking in the deep affection and enjoying the accomplishments of his much loved and loving granddaughter, Jane Eyres Walker. Chris was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Elin Eyres; brother Thomas Eyres, and sisters, Annie Woodhall, Margaret Eyres, and Dora Graceffo (all of Winnipeg), as well as sister Ellen Paul (Port Arthur, ON). He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elaine Eyres; daughter Christina Shapiro and son-in-law Jim Shapiro; granddaughter Jane Eyres Walker (all of Winnipeg); son Stephen Eyres and daughter-in-law Dolores Saulter (Qualicum Beach, BC), as well as his sister Ruth and brother-in-law Metro Pedruchny (Lac du Bonnet), and brother Bill Eyres of Stony Mountain. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at Bardal Funeral Home, 843 Sherbrook Street with Padre Gordon Shields officiating. A private family interment will take place at Brookside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. I stood watching as the little ship sailed out to sea. The setting sun tinted its white sails with a golden light, And as it disappeared from view, a voice at my side whispered “He is gone.” But the sea was a narrow one, and on the furthest shore, A little band of friends had gathered to watch in happy expectation. Suddenly, they caught site of the tiny sail. And at the very moment when my companion had whispered, “He is gone,” A glad shout went up in joyous welcome with the words, “Yes! Here he comes!” Condolences: www.bardal.ca Ample parking behind the funeral home

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 08, 2008