September 18th, 2024
Call it coincidence, or call it fate, but Scott Peddle (Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, Retired) was most certainly in the right place at the right time.
The Backstory
In November 2023, Commissionaires sponsored the Ottawa Memorial Project led by the Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation. The initiative is dedicated to preserving the memory of Canada’s fallen military personnel.
Metal art memorials (wall plaques featuring photos and an inscription) were designed to pay homage to the men and women who selflessly sacrificed their dreams for the future. In doing so, they helped secure the freedom Canadians enjoy to pursue our own aspirations.
At the heart of the project is a focus on providing a place of honour for them in the community they once called home. Over 500 communities have taken part in the project over the past 20 years and Commissionaires was honoured to step forward as a sponsor for the campaign in Ottawa.
Present Day
Circle back to July 2024. As a thank you for our sponsorship of the project and event, organizer Mike Dalton mailed a plaque featuring a Fallen Hero to one of our office locations. Scott Peddle, Ottawa Division’s dedicated Headquarters Driver, was dispatched to collect the package and deliver it to our Director of Communications and Marketing.
When our director received the plaque, she opened it and showed Scott. It was at that moment when Scott recognized the name and photo of Richard John Matts Askwith.
Scott Shared His Story
During his time in the military, as part of getting promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class, Scott needed to take and complete a Senior Leadership course. One of his assignments required him to select a topic and write a report.
Scott was a Navy man, but he always held a special place for the RCAF and chose to write about No. 418 (City of Edmonton) Squadron Piyautailili (Inuktitut for “Defend even unto death”). In particular, when completing his research on No. 418 Squadron, one particular man stood out: Richard John Matts Askwith. Scott wrote a considerable amount about Askwith in his report.
About Richard John Matts Askwith
As a member of No. 418 Squadron, Askwith took part in low-level Intruder sorties against Luftwaffe night fighters over France and Germany.
On April 28, 1942, Flying Officer Richard John Watts Askwith died following a night sortie off the French Coast after being shot down by a Luftwaffe night fighter.
Crashing over Holland and first buried at Breda, Dordrecht, Holland, Askwith is commemorated at Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
His citations include the 1939-45 Star, the General Service Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. Askwith was only 22 years old.
Coincidence
Scott still can’t believe the coincidence and timing. “Usually, when I give someone a package, I hand it to them and leave, but I talked to Andrée for a little bit and was there when she opened it,” he said.
Scott was with the Canadian Armed Forces for 37 years, and has worked at Commissionaires for four. “I wrote about him and the Squadron back in 2006 and it was an honour to carry his plaque and be one of the first at our Headquarters to see it.”
This was a true full circle moment, almost 18 years in the making!
When Mike Dalton of the Canadian Fallen Heroes Foundation was contacted to share the story, he said, “Richard was chosen from our honour roll of 2,770 former residents of Ottawa to fall serving with Canada’s military.”
What are the odds?
At Commissionaires, while we can’t promise moments like this all the time, but we can promise meaningful work at a company that exists to support our veterans, their families, and our communities. We truly value the unique skills, experiences and training that men and women in uniform have to offer.
And now, there is a special place for Richard John Matts Askwith at our Commissionaires Ottawa Headquarters. May he rest in peace.