We regret to advise of the death of Tony Lay, in Chilliwack on 21 September 2002 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Tony joined the Royal Engineers in 1939 and served during the Second World War in France, Italy and North Africa. Notable activities during the war and immediately after included repair of a train tunnel in Italy, building a road from Baghdad to the Russian border to assist refugees leaving Russia, and clearing rubble from a volcanic mountain on the East coast of Sicily. Tony returned to England in the late '40s and was demobilized - later joining the Reserves and then the Territorial Army. He transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers as a Field Engineer in 1954 and served in Chilliwack, Regina, Egypt, Vernon and North Vancouver. He was Acting Company Sergeant Major of the Canadian Works Company with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt 1962/ 63.
In retirement, Tony was instrumental in starting the Retired Sappers Reunions and was also an active participant in the Chilliwack Retired Sappers. His contributions to support the RCE and CME families will be remembered. A memorial service was held on 10 October 2002.