Canon Laurence Wilmot

Canon Laurence Wilmot, an author of three books, died in Winnipeg on Dec.13.

A few months before he died, Canon Wilmot, 96, was busy doing public readings of his memoir, Through the Hitler Line: Memoirs of an Infantry Chaplain , published in 2003. The book documents his life as a young priest who served with the West Nova Scotia Regiment, which was part of the First Canadian Division patrolling the Ariella front lines in Italy during the Second World War.

Ordained in the diocese of Brandon , he was appointed chaplain to the Canadian Black Watch in 1942. In 1943, he was assigned as chaplain to No. 2 Canadian Hospital, based in England , and later, as chaplain in Lucera , Italy . He was awarded a Military Cross after the war.

Upon his retirement from the military he taught in a veterans’ vocational school, and served as Central Western Field secretary of education and priest in various parishes. He was warden of St. John’s College from 1950 to 1961.

A memorial service was held at St. John’s Cathedral, Winnipeg , on Dec. 18.