Requiem for a soldier
War veteran remembered for selfless acts of service
For 74 years, Roy Rushton carried a pain hidden to the world.
A piece of metal was lodged in the back of his knee – too close to a nerve to risk removing it.
The piece was embedded there during a Second World War battle when Rushton was in Holland liberating the country from the Germans who had invaded it.
In June, after Rushton died at 100 years old, Roy’s wife Margaret and his son Rob were speaking with the funeral director when Margaret posed an unusual request.
“Can you take out the bullet?” At first Rob was surprised by his mother’s request, but now he’s thankful she did.
The metal that had caused so much pain for his father now is kept in a display with the medals he earned during his years of service. While his dad and doctors had believed it was a bullet, Rob now thinks they may have been mistaken. The small piece of metal has markings on it that aren’t consistent with a bullet. Rob has examined cross sections of German grenades and believes it may have come from one. Or it could be a piece of shrapnel. Whatever the case, it is an evidence of the kind of man Rushton was, and tells a piece of the story of the life he lived.
Rushton was born in Amherst but moved to Pictou County as a child. During the Second World War, he volunteered for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and was part of the Canadian Battalion that first jumped into Normandy the night before the June 6, 1944 allied invasion of France.
Rushton was wounded on the first day, as were many of his comrades, but he stayed in combat. When the battalion returned to England in October, there were only 200 soldiers left standing of the original 600.
Rushton returned to action with his unit near Bastogne, Belgium as part of the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944. It was then he was wounded in the leg, leaving the metal that would stay with him for life. He was sent to hospital in Scotland and was recovering from the wound in England when the war ended.
Roy returned home to Pictou County and opened a store in Salt Springs, but his days on the front lines weren’t over. In 1950 he went to fight in the Korean War. His knee hurt constantly, but he had more battles to fight and wasn’t about to sit home.
In Korea, he was in charge of his platoon after the previous officer in charge was badly wounded. He commanded it throughout his service in Korea and led several attacks on enemy positions.
One man who served with him said he was like a father to his men and credited his battle experience and good judgment with saving many lives.
“He was one of those guys that was meant to be a soldier,” said Rob.
A soldier himself, Rob believes his dad had skills for battle that people can only be born with.
“Either you have it or you don’t. He’s one of the men who had it and more.” Civilian life
Roy Rushton held many positions after he returned from Korea.
He was president of Canada’s Normandy Veterans Association and was a delegate on the Veterans Affairs Canada Pilgrimage to Korea in 2003. He was awarded France’s Legion of Honour in 2013 for his service in France.
Despite a return to civilian life, the spirit that longed for adventure never left Roy. His son Rob recalls the time his dad, at age 65, was determined to make one final jump from an airplane. He ended up injuring his knee and almost landed in the reservoir but accomplished his wish.
Sometimes, in more recent years, Rob would find his dad alone with tears in his eyes. He didn’t have to ask what he was thinking about. He’s sure there were thoughts about fallen comrades and battles fought. Remembering Roy A memorial for Roy Rushton will be held Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. in Branch 16 Royal Canadian Legion, 130 Veterans Dr., Pictou.
Dignitaries present will include Senator Michael MacDonald, who represents Nova Scotia in the Canadian Senate, Brigadier General Vincent Kennedy, the Colonel of the Regiment of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, members of the Nova Scotia Legislature, and the mayors of Pictou, New Glasgow, and other nearby communities.
Veterans who are members of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry Association and other organizations will also participate.