Harry was far more than a volunteer at the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, he was part of its very foundation. As a member of Phoenix Squadron, a Director, an archivist, researcher, and dedicated volunteer, he helped build not only the Museum itself, but also the values that continue to guide it today. His passion, generosity, and unwavering commitment became woven into the fabric of this place.
Those who knew Harry knew that he believed every story mattered. He understood that behind every aircraft was a crew, behind every name was a family, and behind every casualty was a life of service and sacrifice that deserved to be remembered. He worked tirelessly to ensure that no one who served, and no one who gave their life, would ever be forgotten.
Perhaps no contribution reflects that commitment more than They Shall Grow Not Old: A Book of Remembrance. Co-authored with Les Allison and published by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in 1992, this extraordinary work contains the biographies of more than 18,000 Canadian airmen, airwomen, and Allied personnel who lost their lives during the Second World War. It remains one of the Museum’s most significant scholarly achievements and continues to serve families, researchers, historians, and future generations. It is a lasting testament to Harry’s belief that remembrance begins with knowing each person’s story.
Harry’s dedication was evident not only in the major projects, but also in the countless moments of service that defined his character. The pages of the early CATPM Contact newsletters tell stories of long days, difficult conditions, and unwavering determination. One memorable account from October 1985 recalls Harry joining fellow volunteers on a winter expedition to recover an aircraft from Flin Flon through a snowstorm, a vivid reminder that preserving history often required extraordinary commitment. Harry never hesitated when the Museum needed him.
He gave his time generously and his knowledge freely. Through decades of service, he helped create an organization where remembrance is not simply an annual ceremony, but a daily responsibility.
Today, visitors who walk through the Museum, families who discover the story of a loved one, and volunteers who continue this work all benefit from Harry’s dedication. His fingerprints remain on this institution, not only in the archives he helped build or the books he helped write, but in the culture of remembrance that continues to define the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum.
Harry reminded us that history is ultimately about people. He taught us that every name deserves to be spoken, every sacrifice deserves to be remembered, and every generation has a responsibility to carry those stories forward.
For all that he gave to this Museum, to Canadian aviation history, and to the memory of those who served, we offer our deepest gratitude.
You will always be remembered, your contributions will continue to inspire, and your legacy will live on within these walls. Harry, thank you.
Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum & RCAF WWII Memorial 