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Remembering Frank Taylor, a World War II vet 'with a heart of gold'

Frank Taylor died July 31 at the age of 96
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FILE PHOTO — World War II veteran Frank Taylor seen speaking to students at Lourdes high school on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday

Calling his friend a war vet with a heart of gold, Joe Tersigni says Frank Taylor wouldn’t have liked a fuss being made about him after his death on July 31 at the age of 96.

“Frank was quiet and unassuming — he would be really ticked off about me speaking about him,” quipped Tersigni.

Taylor served in World War II as a maintenance technician looking after trucks for the Canadian and U.S. Forces in Europe.

Tersigni said Taylor humbly accepted France’s highest national order — the French National Order of the Legion of Honour — last year in recognition for his service overseas between 1942 and 1945. 

“He was proud to serve, but he didn’t like flash,” said Tersigni. “He was a maintenance technician looking after all of the trucks — they couldn’t have rolled through Europe without him — but he felt there were other people who maybe had more important roles.”

Taylor and his family moved to Guelph when he was 15 months old and lived his whole life in the city, aside from the years he served overseas during the war. He was long-time member of the Col. John McCrae Royal Canadian Legion in Guelph.

A remembrance service for Taylor will be held Aug. 17 at the Legion during Veteran’s Friday Morning Coffee Hour, a weekly event that Tersigni said the war veteran rarely missed. On Thursdays Tersigni would often drive Taylor to the bakery to pick up butter tarts and macaroons for the following day’s coffee hour.

“He loved that. He loved seeing other veterans and having a tart,” said Tersigni.

Taylor also loved the Army sing-along nights at the Legion. His favourite war-time song was Wish Me Luck by Very Lynn, especially the following verse:

“Though I’m going on my way, don’t be sad at heart,
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye, with a cheer, not a tear…
‘Till we meet once again you and I,
Cheerio, here I go on my way”

Taylor was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, said Tersigni.

“He was very quiet, but kind. I said he had a heart of gold because he would do anything for anyone,”  said Tersigni.

Now a retired teacher, Tersigni met Taylor about 10 years ago when the war veteran began speaking to young people at Our Lady of Lourdes High School about his experiences during the war.

“Frank and these other war vets give us something we can never get from a textbook,” said Tersigni. “It’s an eyewitness account. That’s what kids these days need to hear.” 

Taylor came to Lourdes about eight times over the years to speak to students, said Tersigni.

“He was very quiet when he spoke, but when he spoke — people would listen.”Tersigni said pretty soon we are not going to have any World War II veterans left. 

“Who is going to tell us the real story? They say history is written by the victors, well what about these guys who were on the front lines?”


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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