Tufts became a member of the cavalry regiment Lord Strathcona’s Horse, which became a mechanized outfit. He trained in Camp Borden, Ontario and was later transferred to England in 1943. Once there, he joined a scout car troop. Tufts would later fight in the Mediterranean Theatre, spending time in North Africa before moving on to Italy by Christmas, 1943. He first saw action in the famous battle of Ortona, where the Canadians suffered over 2,000 casualties capturing the town from German paratroopers. Tufts was wounded while serving on the Italian Front.

He was later transferred to Northern Europe, participating in the liberation of the Netherlands in April 1945. Tufts saw the devastation the country had suffered during the occupation and fighting. A strong bond was formed between the Dutch and Canadian soldiers, and he would later return to the country after the war. He was discharged from the army in 1946. He married Celia Poole in 1950 and had four children. He worked in a garage, owned and operated a farm, was a service manager in a John Deere dealership and started a welding firm. He and his family moved to Boissevain in 1976 and he retired from work in 1985.

In later years, he became well known for his work with the Boissevain recycling project, in particular building and repairing equipment like balers.

He enjoyed a celebration of his 100th birthday on April 16, 2022. Vincent’s mother Amy said he is the perfect grandpa, and at the time of sharing the photo, they were planning to take another trip to Killarney to show off the boy’s Halloween costume. 

As one of the last remaining World War Two veterans in the area, Laverne Tufts deserves the continued thank yous from all of us who appreciate what his and his comrade’s sacrifices have allowed us to enjoy in Canada.

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff