WW2 Sniper Loses Final Battle

[IanS]

It is with great sadness that I report the loss of Geordie Davison, who died on Vancouver Island on the 10th January. Geordie was in his mid nineties and was probably the last surviving KOSB WW2 sniper. He served as a Corporal Sniper with my dad in the 4th Battalion, KOSB.

I used to meet Geordie during my trips to Canada, he was great company and fun to be around, especially when he rattled off his huge repertoire of jokes, usually after a few drinks.

Thanks to Geordie and others like him, who went to war and gave us the freedoms we so dearly love and respect.

Ian.

In the attached picture, Geordie is on the right, my dad is on the left.

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[enfield303t]

It is with great sadness that I report the loss of Geordie Davison, who died on Vancouver Island on the 10th January. Geordie was in his mid nineties and was probably the last surviving KOSB WW2 sniper. He served as a Corporal Sniper with my dad in the 4th Battalion, KOSB.

I used to meet Geordie during my trips to Canada, he was great company and fun to be around, especially when he rattled off his huge repertoire of jokes, usually after a few drinks.

Thanks to Geordie and others like him, who went to war and gave us the freedom we so dearly love and respect.

Ian.

Sad news Ian, Cass and I met him at your fathers memorial. What a character, full of life and stories.

[CINDERS]

A sad fact they are all eventually going to be a memory as they the WWI soldiers are today we owe them everything.

[enfield303t]

A sad fact they are all eventually going to be a memory as they the WWI soldiers are today we owe them everything.

I do wonder if all of them are now gone? If you think about how young one must have been to still be living today the odds are few if any are still alive. A generation of brave who shall never be equaled.

[GeeRam]

I do wonder if all of them are now gone? If you think about how young one must have been to still be living today the odds are few if any are still alive. A generation of brave who shall never be equaled.

Handful left in some cases, none in many.
My late father joined up not long after his 18th birthday in late 1944, and saw action in the last couple of months of the war during the push into Germany, and he would have been 93 years old this year.
Most of the veterans associations have folded as so few left, or none left.

[mrclark303]

Absolutely, another of the legendary generation headed West...

Not born, but cast in steel, we won't see the likes of them again.

[mr.e moose]

Sorry to see another gone.God speed you ,the likes of him are what we owe what we have today.

[bros]

I tip my hat to all those WW2 vets who served in the name of preserving the freedoms of the day.
Unfortunately the very freedoms they fought so bravely for are being assaulted by the politically correct spineless politicians. I point the finger first and foremost especially to our own Justin Trudeau. I dare say "Justin" don't stand at the cenotaph at rememberance day......your ideals are so far fetched from the reasons that these brave men fought so unselfishly for that you don't belong there.......
I was honored to have stood at the grave sight (as per Steve's request) as part of a Canadian Ranger honour guard for Dawson City's own Cpl. Steven Kormendy. Steve Kormendy served with the Calgary Highlanders during WW2 in the Scout Sniper Platoon that operated behind enemy lines. Steve was a sniper/observer often paired with Sgt. Harold Marshall they were often photographed by Ken Bell who was our own war correspondent/photographer. I knew Steve personally and did visit with him periodically......a true gentleman and a real Yukon outdoors man. Ironically often Steve never came out to the remembrance day ceremonies in town.......he said that it was just to tough on him and brought all the horrible memories to the forefront. Steve told me of a number of his wartime experiences but the one that haunted him most was losing his best friend killed by automatic weapons fire during the battle for the Scheldt in Holland.
For those of you who are interested pictures of Kormendy and Marshall.......they can be found on the net or in our very own site under "Knowledge Library.....Canada". Proceed to the link 1945 Enfield No.4 Mk1*(T) Long Branch Sniper Rifleand scroll down till you find the pictures mixed in with the pictures of the Longbranch T.

Cheers!!!!

[IanS]

Bros, what you did was truly a great tribute and your comment about Steve not attending remembrance celebrations struck a note with me. My dad said it took him two years to "get over" his experiences by taking himself off to the hills to just sit there on his own. They never really got over their experiences, they just found a way to cover them up. My dad told me of an occasion when he had to shoot an enemy machine gunner, you could see the tears welling up, I could never ask him how many of the enemy he had killed when I saw how it affected him.

When I told him about Harold Marshall being at the Scheldt, he wanted to meet him. Unfortunately, Harold died before I could make enquiries to do something about it.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Here is hoping he did not loose the final battle but simply moved one to a place where he will not only be welcomed by his creator but by many of his friends who paid the ultimate sacrifice all those years ago who's memories I am sure he carried with him from then until now.
May he rest in peace in the place where they have seen the end of war.