Private Olliver Cole
WWII Veteran
Cape Breton Highlanders
3rd Division
D-Day veteran

Liberator of the Netherlands

Photos below:

Military Heritage of Summerside
The Military presence in Summerside began in 1941 when no.9 service flying training school was established to train personnel for action in WWII. Later no.1 general reconnaissance school RCAF Station and finally Canadian Forces base Summerside were intergral parts of the community until it was closed in 1989. Thousands of Canadian men and women have called Summerside home while posted here during military careers.
Summerside volunteers served with distinction in the great war, WWII and Korea. This mural celebrates the rich military tradition of this community and is dedicated in honor of its many veterans who served so courageously during time of war.

The veterans illustrated represent the many that have served. Also depicted are the ensignia and ships of the merchant navy, including the Corvet HMCS Summerside.

Flying officer Charles E. Monty completed two tours of operation over enemy territory as a rear gunner with bomber group. The survival rate for such service was atrociously low. Flying mostly in Halifax bombers, Monty received the distinguished flying cross from King George VI.

Company Sergeant Major Harry J. Bishop served with the North Nova Highlanders in France, Holland, Germany and Africa, where he was wounded. Bishop received the military medal from Alexander of Tunis for conspicuous gallantry in action at the battle of Bienen, Germany.

Nursing sister Bea Rankin sailed from Halifax in 1943 on the Queen Elizabeth along with 27000 other passengers. She served at the 10th general hospital near London, England. In 1944 she was transferred to France and then to Antwerp and Bruges, Belgium where she served until the War's end.

Captain Fred T. Peters joined the British Navy in 1905 at the age of 16 and served in both world wars. He ranks as the most decorated island veteran and the only native islander to be awarded the Victoria Cross. His VC was for valour while serving as captain of the American Coast Guard Cutter Wainey (on loan to the british army) during the WWII battle of Oran. Peters also received the distinguished services order, the distinguished Services Cross and Bar, the US distinguished Services Cross and an Italian decoration.
The merchant navy suffered heavy loss of life while manning inarmed ships engaged in accompanying supply convoys to Europe. They were at the mercy of German submarines operating in the North Atlantic. The heavist casualties occured in 1942 during the battle of the Atlantic