Longtime Legion member Clarence Jackson passed away on April 11, 2025 and the Prince Legion branch has recognized his continuous service as a Legion member.
Jackson, who served in World War II, was recognized with an 80-year pin and bar, which his son Alan accepted at a ceremony in January.
Outgoing membership chair Deanne Reise presented Alan with the award on Jan. 12. Reise talked with Alan about his father’s time in the Legion as well as his significant collection because of his family’s long tradition of joining the military. Alan said that his father was happy to be a member of the Legion.
“He was very proud of that. He was proud of his service. He never talked about it much, but he was proud of it,” Alan said.
Clarence Jackson was a longtime member of the Milestone Legion, which no longer exists according to Alan.
“By the time it was ending, he had to transfer his membership,” Alan said. “He was living up at Emma Lake so he had a choice. He could go to Christopher Lake or he could go to Prince Albert.
“He chose to join the Prince Albert branch, but it’s a little far afield, really, so he didn’t make many meetings.”
Clarence was one of many members of the family who served. Alan said his grandfather on his mother’s side served in World War I with the 214th Overseas Battalion before switching to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade.
His mother’s uncle died in the Battle of Arras and a nephew died at Gallipoli with the Wiltshire Regiment.
“His other nephew, first one of our bunch to actually make officer, he went over as a private, died as a lieutenant, just outside of Ypres on the Passchendaele Offensive,” Alan explained.
Another two sons signed up with the 1622 Saskatchewan Horse Battalion and the Air Force. A Son-in-law was a captain in the artillery ended up in the Service Corps.
Clarence Jackson enlisted in the Canadian Navy in March 1944 at the age of 17 and a half years old. He said his reasons for enlisting were similar to other young men.
“Like so many others of my age back then, I felt it was the right thing to do,” he explained in a 2023 interview with the Herald.
After completing training, Jackson joined the crew of the HMCS Red Deer as a gunlayer where he served for the remainder of the war and a bit beyond.
Jackson was kept on the Red Deer until October of 1945 even though the rest of the crew had been either discharged or re-posted. As such he was the last and only member of the crew when he was finally taken off the ship.
Clarence Jackson, seen here celebrating a birthday, passed away in April 2025.
He was discharged in March of 1946 in Regina where he had first signed up two years earlier.
“He didn’t make quite long enough to end up with the Atlantic star as well as the 39 to 45 star. He really wanted that, but the war finished too soon, which nobody can complain about,” Alan said.
His father’s brother-in-law was also in the Air Force. One who is not on the wall is his father’s uncle.
“He couldn’t make up his mind where he wanted to be. He started with artillery, went to medical corps, and then finished up in the service corps,” he said.
His brother Bruce and cousin Jerry Wallace also signed up. Bruce is a retired full Colonel in Ottawa.
Alan, who is 70-years-old also served after signing up in 1974 and was in the military for a short service.
“(I was a) Ground pounder. Infantry here in Saskatoon in the North Saskatchewan Regiment in the reserve. They surprised the heck out of me when they told me I’m actually a veteran,” Alan said.
Clarence moved to Saskatoon in 2009 with his wife who passed away in 2022.
“He moved into my house. It would have been 2009. So 17 years ago, I guess,” Alan said. “Him and mom lived here until they died.”
Alan also has various items in his collection including a riding crop. He has also been trying to collect records on the family.
“What I’ve done is I’ve actually ordered the full service records on everybody up there that I can. The British ones, well, I can’t do too much about,” he said.
Unfortunately, he misplaced Clarence’s records.
“I had dad’s records until the day of the funeral. Somebody was helping clean up and they vanished and nobody knows where they went so I’ve ordered them too,” Alan said. “At least I had photographs of all of his. I took pictures of them before because I wanted to be able to look things up.”
He also wants to order the records of his uncle who passed away in 2007.
Alan said the Legion has been a big part of the family’s life.
“Between Granddad and the rest of us, we’ve pretty much had a member in the Legion for the last 100 years,” Alan explained.
Alan recently signed up for a Legion membership at the Prince Albert Legion branch
“I figured there’s enough veterans in Saskatoon to keep the other two going. But PA could probably use members more than they could.”
Reiss’s time as membership chair concluded in Dec., 2025 and her last official act as chair was presenting the award to Jackson.
Clarence Jackson received the Quilt of Valour in 2022 and a federal Platinum Jubilee Medal and 75 Year pin and bar in 2023. He received his 70-year pin in 2018.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
