Robert Metcalfe: Iconic Canadian Veteran
World War 2 Veteran Portrayed on Canadian $10 Bill.
Oct 27, 2008
Metcalfe, who did not become a Canadian citizen until after World War 2, recently died at age 90. He is pictured on the back of the Canadian $10 bill standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial.
A brief biography of Metcalfe has been circulating online in email messages and also appears on the websites and in the newsletters of several Royal Canadian Legion branches. It does not give much information on the post-war activities that led to his currency image.
War Experiences
That Metcalfe survived the war is a miracle. Born in England, he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the European mainland, where they faced a new German warfare technique, the Blitzkrieg. He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. En route to the hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire.
He was among those evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade. Two of the sister ships with them were sunk.
Metcalfe recovered and was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy. Enroute, his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck. In North Africa, he served under General Montgomery against Rommel, the “Desert Fox”.
It was during the Italian campaign that Metcalfe met his future wife. A lieutenant, she was a Canadian hospital physiotherapist. The day they were wed they were married in the morning by an Italian mayor and in the afternoon by a British padre.
After the war, they settled in Chatham, where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county. When he retired, they moved to Ottawa.
At age 80, Metcalfe wrote a book about his experiences.
Working for Veterans
During the past 45 years, he helped raise thousands of dollars on behalf of the Gurkha Welfare Appeal. These funds provide pensions, welfare, recreation and medical centres to the veterans of Nepal.
For the past 10 years, Metcalfe was Royal Canadian Legion speaker in the "Encounters With Canada" program, addressing grade 12 and 13 students. He also served many years as a Canadian War Museum volunter guide, offering insight into achievements and sacrifices of Canadian Veterans.
Honored by Royal Canadian Legion
In 1996, Metcalfe was awarded a life membership in the Royal Canadian Legion in recognition of his commitment to veterans and support of the RCL.
He hosted, at his own expense, many groups of veterans and their families in Europe, leading them on visits to First World War battlefields, cemeteries and cenotaphs. In addition to funding two tours to Sicily and Italy, Metcalfe conducted several tours coinciding with D-Day anniversaries. He personally researched the sites prior to conducting the tours, ensuring that next of kin would visit the final resting places of their relatives and comrades.
One day Metcalfe received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for, or why they chose him. “He had no idea he would be on the bill,” his daughter said.
That’s the story of the old veteran on the $10 bill.
A companion article covers Remembrance Day observances.
SOURCE: Additional biographical material from the Veterans Affairs Canada website.
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