MOOSE JAW - Twenty-five new banners featuring Moose Jaw veterans now hang from light poles throughout the downtown
Below are the biographies of Adelard Brin and Alastair James Muir, who appear on the banners. The information comes from the .
This is part 1 of 8 in a series.
Adelard Brin
Adelard was born on April 6, 1922, one of 14 children whom Charles and Rosilda Brin raised on a small farm near Coderre. In his later years, Adelard described his childhood as very much poor but happy.
Adelard was one of many young men roaming Prairies looking for work in the final years of the Great Depression. However, the call for recruitment of servicemen came and he, along with seven of his brothers, stepped up to serve in the Second World War.
He volunteered in late 1941 and completed his basic training in Ottawa, followed by his enlistment on Jan. 12, 1942, having trained in the Army Service Corps and Signal Corps with the rank of signalman with the 4th Canadian Army Division. He was “employed” as a wireless operator while serving as a soldier.
Adelard’s active duty took place across Northwestern Europe. He was involved in many front-line battles and witnessed many horrific events. After over four years of active service, he completed his tour of duty and landed back in Canada on Feb. 16, 1946.
Along the way, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, The France and Germany Star, The Defence Medal, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and The War Medal 1939-1945
Following his service, Adelard farmed in the Eastleigh district near where he was raised. There, he married Kathleen Kelly, who also hailed from the Coderre area. They raised four children on the farm.
In the early ’70s, they sold their farm and moved to Moose Jaw where they remained until he died in 2001 at age 79. He was greatly loved and adored by his wife, children and seven grandchildren. Our hero indeed.
Throughout his adult life, Adelard remained tremendously proud of his service to Canada.
Alastair James Muir
Alastair James Muir was born in the village of Killin, Scotland, on Nov. 1, 1921, to John and Georgina Muir. At age 17, he was employed at a law firm and was about to enter into a formal contract to serve as an apprentice, working there when not attending law classes.
On Sept. 3, 1939, while listening to a radio broadcast, the nation was informed Britain was at war with Germany. He realized his plans would be put on hold and he was called up on April 10, 1941.
Following basic training, he was assigned to an army transport unit. In 1943, he was registered with the Special Service Brigade. Following his acceptance and completion of training at Achncarry, he was assigned to 34 Troop of 30 Commando — Section No. 2. Soon after, he embarked on a ship bound for Italy to join the men there.
At the end of the war in Italy, he was sent to finish his service in Palestine until his release in the fall of 1946. He was called up to the army reservists for 15 days of exercises in 1951 and was discharged on Jan. 29, 1951, with exemplary military conduct, earning the Military Medal, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star and the War Medal 1939-45.
With a brain like a sponge, he picked up enough language in Italian, German and French to get by in the war. He returned to his studies, graduating with a degree in law from the University of Glasgow in 1949.
In 1952, he immigrated to Canada, settling in Moose Jaw and practising with the law firm Grayson and McTaggart. He married Eleanor Buchanan in 1957 and had two daughters. In 1964 he was appointed a Crown prosecutor and on Nov. 1, 1972, was appointed a Provincial Court judge.
He served on numerous boards and foundations and was called to mediate many labour disputes. Alastair was an honest, hard-working, dedicated family man, and apart from a few stories he shared with his two sons-in-law and a memoir of his time in the war he wrote for his granddaughter at her request, he spoke very little of his service in the Second World War.
It is no wonder that he cherished quiet solitude at his property at Buffalo Pound Lake with a few heads of cattle, horses and his garden. Wanting no recognition of his service, he told his family the soldiers who never returned home to their families were the real heroes. Lest We Forget.
