253 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND MEEKER, Howard William “Howie” Howie was born in Kitchener, Ontario, on November 4, 1923, to Charles Howard and Kathleen (Wharnsby). He had four brothers: Charles, Kenneth, Charles, Richard and Tommy. He joined the Canadian Military (Regular Force) in 1943 with the Royal Canadian Engineers in World War II. After basic training, he embarked for England where training continued. In 1944, Howie was badly injured in England while on guard duty during exercises when a live grenade exploded. He recovered and went on to serve on the Continent and was released in 1945. He played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, was Rookie of theYear (1946), coached (1956), GM (1957) and won four Stanley Cups. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, also the Special Olympics Hall of Fame. He was a Member of Parliament (Waterloo South), a broadcaster for thirty years, and received the Order of Canada (2010). Howie married Grace Elvira (Hammer) and raised six children: Jane, Peggy, Kim, Howie Jr., Mike and Andy. Grace passed away in 1998. Lost in life, while in BC, he met and married Leah. Howie passed away in Nanaimo, BC on August 11, 2020, and is laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery in New Hamburg, Ontario. MEIKLEJOHN, Robert B. Robert was born in Harriston, Ontario on September 26, 1907. He joined the Canadian 16th Field Ambulance, 4th Armoured Division, in June 1940 to serve as a surgeon. In 1943, Major Meiklejohn served with the 3rd Canadian Field Surgical Unit attached to the British 10th Corps which had been seconded to the American 5th Army on the push through Italy. In January 1945, he joined up with the 2nd Canadian Corps in Holland then returned to Canada in October 1945. He received the 1939-1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. After the war, Robert set up his obstetrics and gynecological practice at St. Michael’s Hospital, and later moved to the Toronto Western Hospital where he served as Department Head from 1957 to 1970. Concurrently, he taught at the University of Toronto. Dr. Meiklejohn retired in 1985 and was a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Harriston Branch 296 for 54 years before he passed away on December 2, 2008. MEEKER, Kenneth George “Ken” Ken was born in Ontario in 1930, to Charles Howard and Kathleen (Wharnsby) Meeker. He has four siblings: Charles, Howard, Richard and Tommy. He obtained his education in Kitchener. In 1949, he enlisted in the CanadianArmy with the Royal Canadian Dragoons where he became Sergeant in charge of a Sherman tank. He served peacekeeping duty in Korea and was discharged in 1954. In 1961, Ken moved from Ontario to Newfoundland where he quickly became established as a writer and a broadcast journalist. He covered many breaking stories such as construction of the hydro complex in Churchill Falls, the seal hunt, and the demise of the Smallwood Government. He was a trailblazer in his coverage of environmental issues, including Collect a Wreck and litter clean up campaigns that have had lasting impacts on the provincial landscape. Also, thousands of people broke their tobacco addiction with Ken’s guidance through his Quit Smoking Campaign. Ken and Jean raised four children: Steve (Donna), Geoff (Kathy), Sue Peddle (Chris) and Tom (Kim). The Meeker roots are now permanent in Newfoundland with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ken passed away on October 31, 2013.
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