Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour and wish a happy 100th birthday to a remarkable Edmontonian, Frederick Major Russell.
In December of 1939, Mr Russell shipped out to the U.K., serving with the Royal Canadian Signal Corps, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. He landed with Canadian troops at Dieppe and managed to survive the day.
It is rumoured that he was part of the secret mission to steal the German Enigma code machine on that fateful day. Freddie denies it, claiming he never made it to the beach. However, conspiracists will note that he was declared missing in action in the confusion, and his dog tags were somehow found far ashore that day.
Freddie returned two years later to the beaches at Normandy, and fought through France to eventually march into Dieppe when Canadians liberated it. He fought through Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was awarded the French Legion of Honour, France's highest honour, for his role in the liberation of France.
He returned to Canada where he married his beloved Eileen, making Edmonton their home for the next 60 years of their marriage.
Freddie, happy 100th birthday. I thank him for his service to Canada.