Edward Leask has lived a life of service and today, the 90-year-old Second World War vet and retired Vancouver Police Officer received the highest honor awarded by one of the countries he helped liberate.
Retired Cst. Leask, who was dressed in his pristine Canadian Army dress uniform, received the French Legion of Honor medal in a ceremony at Vancouver Police headquarters today.
Surrounded by family, friends, current military and police personnel, the Second World War vet was given the medal for merit and bravery from the Consul General of France, Jean-Christophe Floury.
The award, which dates back to 1803, has only been given to 28 Canadians. Past recipients include singer Celine Dion, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and film director David Cronenberg.
Born in Prince Albert, Sask. in 1924, Leask joined the Regina Rifle Regiment at aged 17 and was sent overseas to fight for the liberation of France. As part of the Allied invasion of German occupation in France, Leask’s regiment was one of the first to land on Juno Beach in Normandy on D-day, June 6, 1944.
He stormed the shore on an experimental motorcycle and faced an ugly scene of seeing the Canadian infantry being cut down by German fire from all directions.
“We went through holy hell when fighting through France,” Leask said.
“It’s a wonder that most of us got out of it.”
After completing his tour in 1945, Leask returned to his former job at the Saskatchewan Box Factory, eventually moving to Vancouver in 1946 and working for the Hammond Furniture Company.
In May 1951, Leask became a constable with the Vancouver Police Department, where he served for 28 years before he retired in 1979.
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