John Haslam, first leader of COBWFA, has died
COBWFA founding member John Haslam passed away on 16 December 2024.John Eric Haslam was born in Manchester on 14 August 1945. His father was killed towards the end of the Second World War. Soldiering was a given for the young Haslam, He joined the Welsh Guards, serving nine years completing two tours in Northern Ireland and a UN tour to Cyprus. John attained the rank of Sergeant. After his service in the Welsh Guards John joined the Manchester Police Force, his beat being the Main Road area of the city.
He was a member of the Ontario Regiment where he gained the rank of Captain, some of his appointments were, in the Training Wing, as a Master Warrant Officer, later in his career he became the Regimental Adjutant holding the rank of Captain. While with the Ontario Regiment he became involved, in the setting up of the Regimental Museum. When he retired from his Regiment, John became involved with Branch 178 Royal Canadian Legion, Bowmanville, and was a valued member of the branch executive, his passion for History seen him help put together a museum along with some valued friends, something the branch, is very proud of to this day, writing many articles on Canadian Military history for the Branch monthly magazine, The Informer.
He was instrumental in the setting up of the Western Front Association of Canada, something that John was immensely proud of. John remarried and relocated out West, to Salmon Arm in British Columbia, where once again he was called upon to help set up a military museum in the town. This task he relished and his experience from his Ontario days, meant success was a fore gone conclusion.
He eventually returned to Bowmanville and lived in the Kingsway Arms Retirement home, his apartment was turned into a small museum, he was only too proud to show it off to his friends and those he acquainted himself with.
The writer, John Johnson visited his apartment when holidaying from Wales a few years ago, along with two of his friends from the Ontario Regiment. John was only too happy to show off his collection of Militaria. Although suffering with mild Alzheimer’s Disease at that time, his war stories where clear as ever.
Captain John Eric Haslam had a full and varied life always keeping the Military at the forefront of everything Haslam……….. He will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him and I will miss his camaraderie and overwhelming good advice immensely.
Go with Your God John E.
Written By John D. Johnson (1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and former President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178, Bowmanville) of Colwyn Bay, Wales.
A Celebration of Life ceremony was held at the Col. R.S. McLaughlin Armoury (home of the Ontario Regiment) in Oshawa on 4 January 2024.
From his obituary: John was a dedicated, loving husband to Hazel Haslam (died 2005), father to Natalie (Haslam) and Darren Peters, Melanie (Haslam) and Richard Pinney, grandfather to Brayden Haslam, Logan Haslam-Peters, Samantha Haslam-Peters, Emma Pinney and Fraser Pinney, brother to Billy, Christopher, Mark and Stella, son to Gladys and William Haslam, and friend to so many. He will be deeply missed.
