Oliver Percy Drinkwalker- A Man who Found the Love of his Life After Coming Home from the War
Service #: B-135968
Enlisted: Nov. 14, 1942
Company: Queen’s Own Rifles, Canadian
Rank: Rifleman
Information supplied by daughter of Oliver Percy Drinkwalker, Rhonda St. John.
The Queen’s Own Rifles formed part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and Oliver was part of the reserve brigade, being the second assault wave that stormed ashore at Bernieres-sur-Mer in Normandy at 8:45 a.m. on D-Day. Oliver then fought his way through northern France and on into Belgium.
As a Motorcycle Dispatch Rider (he was also a Driver/Mechanic), he was shot off his motorcycle twice in Belgium while on reconnaissance missions, requiring hospitalization and surgery both times. He recovered and continued fighting on into Holland where his unit helped to liberate several Dutch villages and towns. Oliver didn’t speak of the war for many, many years and when he finally did, these were the “good memories”; the liberation stories always brought him to tears.
Oliver and his Unit continued fighting into Germany and he remained there until the War ended, returning home to Canada aboard the Monarch of Bermuda on December 15, 1945. Five months later, he met the girl of his dreams, Madeline. They were married six months later and celebrated 64 years of marriage before Oliver passed away on Nov. 22, 2011.
“Thank you to the members of the Newmarket Optimist Club for their generous donation. Our family is proud to say that one of the “Trees for Heroes” that will be planted as part of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute will represent the service that Oliver made to protect Canada. He was proud to serve his country, was a proud Canadian and would be honoured to be represented with his fellow veterans.”