This page is in loving memory of my Grampie, Douglas James Wright. Douglas was given to me as a middle name in his honour at my birth.

Grampie served both in the Merchant Navy & Canadian Army. He served in Atlantic & Indian Oceans in World War II, and South Korea in the Korean War. His military service started with the Stone Church Army Cadets and went on to include the 2nd Battalion, Saint John Fusiliers (MG) Reserve Force; fireman aboard the merchant ship Michael Livanos which was torpedoed and sunk; Sailed on the ship Anna T; 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for service in Korea; and finally 2nd Battalion, Canadian Guards, at Camp Petawawa where he was honourably dishcharged on March 17th, 1955.

He received several military awards including 1939-45 War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, Queen's Korea medal, Canadian Volunteer Service medal again for Korea, and the United Nations service medal for Korea.

After the service he worked as a Pipe Fitter with the Water Department of the city of Saint John.

I know that Gramplie lived with us for a short time when I was very young out in the Ben Lomond subdivision out past the airport. But mostly I remember him living in that small one bedroom apartment on Duke Street in the south end. He never had much food in the fridge and everything was stained by cigarette smoke. He would be sitting on the side of his bed, with no shirt on, watching tv and smoking cigarettes all day long. When ever we would visit he would scoop up all the loose coins on his nightstand and my sisters and I would split it between us.

As I got older I would visit from time to time on my own. I would often sit there for an hour or so just chatting with him, keeping him company. I would always run down to the corner store to buy him whatever he needed. Usually a coffee (double double) and some cigarettes (even though I was below the legal age to buy smokes. They wern't so strict about that back them). If memory serves me correctly he smoked Du Maurier King Size.

I have a couple of prized pocessions to remember him by. When I was a little boy I made and painted a little wooden tug boat. Upon his passing I received this treasure back. I also have what I call "an old man hat" that he gave me and I have worn on occasion when I wanted to feel "artsy" lol. My favorite item is a Remembrance Edition Holy Bible in a wooden box presented by his old union. Inside the box I keep a poppy and the small minatures of his war medals that he would have worn on the breast pocket of his uniform.