Percy Harry Allan Kimpton

Written by his daughter, Deitra Kimpton: Dad's name was Al Kimpton (actually Percy Harry Allan Kimpton but he always went by Al).

Contributed by Jim Holsworth. 

Dad was born in Toronto on March 29, 1921. Son of Lt. Percy Francis Kimpton, London, England, who served in WWI in the 3rd Battalion The London Reguiment Royal Fusliers, dying at a very young age as a result of mustard gas poisoning, and Clara Bulman, London, England. His parents had moved to Canada on the advice of their physicians. The drier Canadian air better for Percy’s breathing as well as Clara’s rheumatoid arthritis. I think it was due to his father’s service in WWI and the fact he died when Dad was only a teenager that he developed a love of all things military and not only served but collected items wherever he could. 

He joined 3 (R) Div. Signals on March 26, 1943, having had to challenge the recruiting office to allow him to join which they at first rejected due to the fact that my Dad had one leg shorter than the other (accident as a child when he was 2 years old). He at first wanted to join the Air Force as his best friend, and my godfather, Stewart ("Bud") Sherwood had already joined. Rejected there, he wrote to then Primer Minister Mackenzie King, stating he saw no reason why if rejected for permanent regular force deployment due to his disability that he could not serve in some fashion on this side of the Atlantic. Mackenzie King agreed, meeting with him over coffee in the Prime Minister’s Office on Parliament Hill and providing Dad letter to take to the recruiting office who felt he would be best suited in 3 (R) Div. Signals. 

Dad loved everything about his military career despite only be able to be a reservist. He was an avid collector of all things military, but most especially Signals - the place where he was able to find a home. 

 He rose through the ranks quickly, and was a Sgt by the time the war ended. By 1968 he was RSM of the regiment (CWO A. Kimpton - RSM) and proud as punch to be so. He has the honour of being the last RSM of 3 Sigs and the first RSM of the then renamed 703 Ottawa Communications Regiment. His term of RSM came to an end November 3, 1973, literally weeks short of Dad gaining his second rosette (Canadian Forces Decoration or CD). Initiated on December 15, 1949 and first awarded on September 1, 1951, the medal replaced all other long service awards for those joining the Canadian Forces after September 1, 1939 and is still current and is awarded to officers and noncommissioned members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of service. 

Dad tried to get the short extension as he never wanted to be an officer but he was left no choice and as he wanted he second rosette, which is awarded to the Regular Forces, Reserve Forces and to Officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), Dad joined 2332 Cadet Corps in the Commission Rank of Lt. and served as their Admin Officer until July 1975. As I said, he never liked the fact that he was an officer but he certainly enjoyed helping the younger generation in the cadets and they were extremely happy to have him as stated in memos I found in his military file, “it is rare that someone with 30 years in the militia is willing to turn around and devote time and energy to the cadets” and so they wanted him! 

Amongst his many accomplishments, Dad was also an amateur artist, his pencil drawings of eveyone from Presidents, Prime Ministers, Royal family members, sports personalities and hollywood stars accumulated a collection of hundreds of autographed photographs and letters of appreciation from these people. If you Google his name you will see an article in the Toronto Star showing a young 18 year old artist who had caught the attention of the then Queen Elizabeth (http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/queen-accepts-ottawa-artists-pictures-allan-kimpton-18-year-news-photo/502822233#queen-accepts-ottawa-artists-pictures-allan-kimpton-18yearold-ottawa-picture-id502822233). And he had not yet started his military career! For his "day" job, he started at almost the same time as an office clerk in Munitions and Supply, finishing his government career in Income Tax as a forms designer. 

Once retired from both the military and the government, Dad went on to become an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion (Mongomery Branch 351, Ottawa) serving on the Poppy campaigns, as Treasurer, and other posts on the Executive, finishing by becoming branch President. 

My Dad started life with a disability and set out to prove he could do as much if not more than those able bodied and I think he suceeded admirably. Dad passed away September 13, 2004, Ottawa.