WATCH ABOVE: Harry Beblow shares the story of his brothers whose connection runs deeper than the family name
REGINA – He’s been researching for decades, poring over birth certificates and regimental records.
Harry Beblow found out his oldest brother paved the way for his family’s legacy of military service.
“Like being part of the Normandy Invasion, that’s quite a thing I never knew until I got this information,” said Beblow.
He’s describing his older brother Nick, who was 23 years old when he enlisted.
Nick was a Lance Corporal with the Regina Rifles. The regiment was one of the first allied groups to arrive on the beaches of Normandy.
Nick’s brave service, including D-Day, earned him six medals.
He was later wounded during action in France and died.
“My older brother and sister were saying the first time they saw dad cry was when he heard (Nick) got killed,” Beblow said, fighting back tears of his own.
The family ties continued – brother William (Bill) served in World War II.
Four years later, another boy was born – also named Nick.
He took after his namesake. “Nicky” joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1967.
“He got thinking he’d like to join the forces, kind of because of the other two brothers,” Beblow said. “He really enjoyed the forces.”
“Any training there was, he liked to go and take any training he could.”
A United Nations peacekeeper, in 1981 Nicky went to the Golan Heights conflict between Syria and Israel.
He returned with an illness, and passed away at the age of 33.
Harry wanted to honour his two brothers, bound by name and by sacrifice.
In 2009, he succeeded. Beblow Lake is now named for the two.
A bronze plaque on the shore ensures Nick and Nicky won’t be forgotten.
“Basically, to think (the older Nick) was part of the family, that’s the way I feel,” Beblow said. “I really feel good about it.”
With files from Raquel Fletcher
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