Devlin, Eric H.

Perth Legion President Eric Devlin gave more than 42 years’ military service to his country at
various times in the previous century. He served in the Canadian Army during World War II, as
well as in Japan, Korea, Germany, and with the Canadian Army in Active, Special Force, and
Regular categories. Deployments included Indo-China with the International Commission for
Supervision and Control, and Canadian Armed Forces Regular and Reserve, including
Supplementary List, Primary Reserve, and Cadet Instructor List
Eric enrolled in the Royal Canadian Artillery (25 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, 9th LAA Regiment,
RCA) of the Canadian Army in May, 1942 with basic training at Lansdowne Park, Ottawa,
followed by a posting to Petawawa that July. He served with the Regiment in Vancouver, Port
Alberni, Wainwright, Terrace, Vernon, Nanaimo, and Wainwright, then posted to Officers
Training Centre in Aldershot, NS.
An Infantry Training Battalion posting to Peterborough took place in October, 1945, and Eric
then attended a Sports Instructor Course in Kingston, Ontario in January, 1946. After a stint with
The Royal Canadian Regiment in Brockville starting in March, 1946, he was released from
service in late July, 1946.
Following World War II, Eric bided his time as a farm worker during harvest season near
Yorkton, Saskatchewan, then returned to Perth due to the illness of father. In January, 1947, he
obtained employment in the Credit Department of Andrew Jergens Co. Ltd. He also assumed
the local positions of his father temporarily, until his father died in April, 1948.
Eric then resigned from Andrew Jergens and was confirmed in the positions for the Ontario
Attorney-General appointments of Justice of the Peace, Division Court Clerk, and Bailiff, and
Sheriff’s Officer in Perth until October 1950.
“As a result of the invasion of South Korea by North Korea in June, 1950, and the
announcement of Canada’s participation in August, I volunteered by mail, through channels, for
service with 25th Special Force Brigade of the Canadian Army”, said Eric.
He volunteered for service with 25th Special Force Brigade of the Canadian Army, and was
enrolled in the Canadian Army Special Force in Kingston, followed by training at Camp
Petawawa for 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR).
He served in Fort Lewis, Washington and Wainwright, Alberta, with 2RCR and 3RCR. His
transfer to the Canadian Army (Regular) came in early 1951, and he was posted to Yokohama,
Japan in June of that year. He was then posted to Korea, landing at Inchon, on Sept. 1, 1951,
and proceeded to join 2RCR as a Platoon Commander.
During ‘Operation Ortona,’ in October 1951, Eric’s platoon was involved in the capture of five
enemy prisoners, who were sent back to the rear echelon.
After being appointed 2RCR Battalion Transport Officer, Devlin was transferred back to Canada
in July, 1952, and subsequently served in various positions, moving with the Battalion to
London, Ontario, Wolseley Barracks in January, 1953. He attended a two-month career course
in Camp Borden, and in June was posted for parachute qualification in Rivers, Manitoba; then
appointed Battalion Intelligence Officer on his return to the unit.

In October 1953, he proceeded with 2RCR to Germany as member of the Advance Party and
trained at various places in Germany during the next two years. In November 1953, the 2nd
Battalion, The RCR, was deployed to Germany as part of Canada’s continuing NATO
commitment. They were part of the newly established 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group (1
CIBG), which was replacing 27 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB), Canada’s initial overseas
formation that was deployed to Hanover, Germany, in November 1951.
Devlin was promoted to Captain in June 1954, and appointed Acting Company Commander for
Headquarters Company. In March 1955, he was appointed Transport Officer when the new
Headquarters Company commander reported for duty from Canada, and he returned to Canada
in October 1955, with 2RCR.
The Vietnam War era soon followed, and in January 1956, Devlin was posted to Indo-china as
part of the International Commission for Supervision and Control (ICSC) following the departure
of the French from Vietnam. He arrived in February, and served in various places in North
Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Laos until his return to Canada in February 1957.
In 1957 Eric was posted to a staff position in Ottawa with Instructional Staff for Militia and then
to Army Headquarters (AHQ) in June 1960. The Perth Courier of May 23, 1957 noted, “Ideal
weather conditions prevailed for the annual Cadet inspection of the Perth Collegiate Cadet
Corps and girls, on Thursday afternoon of last week. About 300 were on parade and again they
were complimented for their splendid display by the inspecting officer Capt. Eric H. Devlin.
Service in AHQ included personnel and training staff positions with a five-week posting in
Germany for the Brigade Rotation to Canada in 1966, until he was released from the Canadian
Forces in March 1969 due to age factor.
In May 1969, Eric again entered military service, when he was called out for Class “B” special
duty with the rank of Major. He organized and participated in Canadian Forces Small Arms
Competitions at Connaught Ranges, Ottawa, for 15 years and continued there with the
Dominion of Canadian Rifle Association Control Staff until the mid-nineties.
Military decorations include: Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Korea
Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (Korea), Special Service Medal, (NATO/OTAN),
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal (Korea), ICSC (Indo-
China), Canadian Forces Decoration with three bars, and several Canadian commemorative
medals.
Well known to Legion members across the country, Eric has been a member of Perth-Upon-Tay,
Branch 244 since 1965. He has served in various executive positions for most of those years,
including his current fifth term as president. He was Branch Parade Marshal for almost 30 years,
and continues to organize Remembrance Day ceremonies. A Life Membership was awarded in
1994, and he was named Branch 244 Legionnaire of the Year for 1999. He was awarded the
highest Legion medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, in 2005, and the accompanying Palm Leaf
in 2010.
Other veterans’ groups include: The Royal Canadian Regiment Association, the Korea Veterans
Association of Canada, and the Armed Forces Pensioners Association. He is also associated
with 42nd Pipes and Drums Heritage Band of Perth and District and served as Drum Major for
several years.

Cadet Organizations such as Rideau Wing No. 443, Air Force Association of Canada and 585
Rideau Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets have benefitted from Eric’s leadership for many
years, and in May, 2001 he was appointed a Director with the Air Cadet League of Canada,
Ontario Provincial Committee, and completed 35 years’ service.-