Reported as being wounded to his wife Mrs. F. E. Atkinson, while he was serving in the Sicilian campaign, The wounds were not serious and he was expected to rejoin his unit shortly.

Lieut. Born in 1921 at London, ON. He volunteered for the army the day after War was declared. Lieut. Atkinson participated in the invasion of Sicily at Pacino on 10 July, 1943 and was seriously wounded.  Reported as being wounded to his wife Mrs. F. E. Atkinson, while he was serving in the Sicilian campaign; the wounds were not serious and he was expected to rejoin his unit shortly. RIN 24/08/11.

After the war, Sherry dedicated his life helping other veterans through his work as District Director with Veterans Affairs Canada and later through the Royal Canadian Legion. He was involved in the Royal Canadian Regiment Association (Capt. Sheridan Atkinson was the last surviving member of the RCR – London to have participated in the invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943). He was part of the “Red Patch Division” of the British Eight Army.

During their 28 days of fighting, they fought through 240 Kilometers of mountainous territory – more than any other formation in the British Eighth Army, bearing a large sgare of the fighting on the Allied Front during the final two weeks of the campaign.

Sheridan was critically injured during the approach to Agira on 24 July, 1943. This battle ended Sherry’s war, but not his lifetime connection with the Regiment 

Predeceased by his first wife Louise (nee Basset), his eldest daughter Mary Lou (nee Roger) and his ‘baby brothers Ellison and Freddie. Survived by his wife and partner Susan (nee Coltart) 

Captain Sheridan Atkinson passed away 22 May, 2019 in Chatham.

Curators foot-note: I met Sherry a few times and he was a very entertaining to talk to. I mentioned that he must have been very young when he enlisted. He smiled and told ne of his enlistment. He had been working dressing a window in a men’s ware store on 3^rd Street when two fellows in Army uniforms waved him to come out. He knew the men so he did. The war had just started so “Why aren’t you enlisting? Well he hadn’t given it any thought  but it sounded like a good idea. He phoned his parents who were not over joyed but that evening he was in the back of a Army truck going to London to join the Royal Canadian Regt.

It did not take the regiment that he was under age but had been enlisted, what to do with him? He was asked if he could type. “Sure”…though he had no typing training at all. That became very evident as he was enlisting men. “You haven’t much speed on the typewriter.” Things were backing up so it was decided to still keep him but in the payroll dept. It turned out he was much better there and in practice all but ran the Pay Roll dept 

When he was old enough one of the possibility was Officer Training and he did well at that and was commissioned a Lieut. and was shipped out overseas where he enrolled with the RCR.

JRH – story confirmed by his wife Susan Atkinson. (10/06/19)  

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

RIN (24-08-2011), CDN obit

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