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Local veteran receives honour from France

Dec 23, 2017 | 10:00 AM

A huge honour was recently bestowed upon a Battleford area veteran by the French government in appreciation for his service to help liberate France from the iron grip of the German Third Reich.

Elmer Hall was awarded a medal as a Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour on Nov. 8 and he could not have been more proud.

“I was very honoured to receive it,” Hall said, who served in the South Saskatchewan Regiment. “I never thought I would receive anything like that.”

Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order of the Legion of Honour is the highest French order of merit for military or civilians and has five degrees of recognition: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander),  Grand Officier (Grand Officer), and Grand-Croix (Grand Cross).

The jovial gentleman said he joined the Armed Forces during the Second World War as he believed it was the right thing to do.

“I was young and thought that someone should go over there,” Hall added. “What they (Nazis) were doing to the Jewish people just wasn’t right. Someone had to stand up for them so I enlisted.”

Hall saw his fair share of combat during his time overseas, coming under fire on many occasions.

“I won’t lie I was scared quite a lot,” he joked. “I tell people that’s what saved me. You get scared and get out of the road.”

Upon returning home from the war, Elmer discovered his wife had a terminal illness and he had two sons he did not know of. He eventually remarried and had a step-daughter. Hall farmed for many years in the area and was well-known for cutting and delivering wood for many years.

“He is my hero,” his granddaughter Coleen Shepherd said. “He has taught so much and is the most incredible and kind man.”  

She said while growing up, Hall didn’t talk much about his wartime experience.

“It really wasn’t until my grandmother passed away in 2009 that we began spending more time together that he started opening up to my husband (Scott),” she added. “Every now and then he would share the odd story but not like he has the past few years.”

Hall will turn 98 on Dec. 28 and said the keys to living a long and fulfilling life is simple; have the right attitude and treat people with respect.

“If you have a good attitude everything seems to work out,” Hall said. “Mind your own business and live life the way the Bible teaches us to doesn’t hurt either.”

Coleen Shepherd said a special ceremony is in the works to celebrate Hall’s birthday and medallion at the end of December.

 

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter