Errol Eric Patrick
Master Gunner Errol Eric (E. E.) Patrick joined the Canadian Army intending to fight in the Korean War and chart his own path in life. E. E. was born in Montreal, Quebec and raised by his grandfather in Trinidad. He returned to Canada at sixteen years of age and enlisted in the Canadian Army in British Columbia in 1950 against his father’s wishes. His original plan was to enter university after the war, but he served in the military with distinction for 35 years.
Patrick trained at the Royal Canadian School of Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba, as a gunner and served in Korea from January 1952 to March 1953. He served with the 1 RCHA and 2 RCHA and was grateful for the seasoned Second World War veterans in his battery who shared their battlefield knowledge. Patrick recalled feeling supported by his fellow soldiers despite working with dangerous recycled artillery in rugged terrain and harsh climates. He served with the Commonwealth Division’s artillery in the defence of Hill 355 (Little Gibraltar), a strategically important site and a point of heavy fighting and significant loss for the Canadians.
Upon returning from Korea, he trained with the 1st Light Battery, becoming a paratrooper and being promoted to sergeant. Over his military career, he served in Korea, Germany, and Canada, rising to Master Gunner and Chief Warrant Officer. He was a three-time Regimental Sargeant Major, a paratrooper, a member of four Royal Canadian Horse Artillery regiments, and a Sargeant Major Instructor-in-Gunnery. He was a proud Korean War veteran and actively advocated for veterans’ well-being and Remembrance Day in Canada. Patrick passed away on 5 January 2021 in Ottawa, Ontario. He leaves behind a legacy of exemplary service and is remembered with admiration by those who knew him.
Veteran Interview - Conditions for the Soldiers
Veteran Interview - Motivation to Do Well
Veteran Interview - Taught by World War Two Veterans
Veteran Interview - Scrounging for Equipment
Korean War - Key Events
December 6, 1950
The U.S. Marines at the Chosin Reservoir begin their “attack in a different direction” as they engage in a fighting retreat to the port of Hŭngnam. Two entire Chinese armies have been tasked with the destruction of the 1st Marine Division. They succeed in driving the American force from North Korean territory but pay an enormous price: as many as 80,000 Chinese troops are killed or wounded, and the CPVF Ninth Army Group is rendered combat-ineffective for months. “Frozen Chosin” becomes one of the most-storied episodes in U.S. Marine Corps history.
These events are taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica
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