After more than 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, MWO Bill Lynch, CD, will retire on 07 Sep 2021. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small informal DwD ceremony will be held on 25 June 2021 at CFSU(E) in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Anecdotes, congratulatory messages, and pictures can be sent to WO E.M.F. Cochelin at Elyse.Cochelin@forces.gc.ca.

Bill initially enrolled in the CAF in August 1976, as an Army Reservist with B Company Royal Newfoundland Regiment in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. He spent that summer at Camp Aldershot, Nova Scotia, completing what was then called General Military Training. Bill remained with the Regiment until 1979.

After releasing from the Reserves, he did what most Easterners did during that time; travelled west. During his civilian years, he attended trades school to earn a technical diploma as a steam fitter / pipe fitter.

Bill returned to the Regular Force on 13 February 1986 and subsequently served in two occupations. The first thirteen years were as a supply tech. Bill then re-mustered to the Water, Fuels, and Environment (WFE) trade in September 1999 and attended Holland College. After successfully completing trades training, he was where he truly belonged, with the Engineer family.

During the course of his career, MWO Lynch has had many postings which include Gander, Greenwood (twice), Petawawa, Gagetown (twice) Winnipeg, Moncton, Germany, and a one year posting to Afghanistan. He completed tours in the Golan Heights, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Alert, not to mention numerous courses, exercises, and box-tops. MWO Lynch always served with professionalism, receiving three commendations, Engineer of the Quarter from 1 ESU, and the Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan award. While in the military, MWO Lynch has been awarded the General Campaign star with two rotation bars, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force medal, the IFOR medal, the Special Service medal, the Canadian Peacekeeper medal, and the Canadian Forces Decoration.

MWO Lynch and his wife, Ann Marie, will retire in the Moncton, New Brunswick, area where they will spend time golfing with their daughter, Chelsea, and planning to visit their son, Charles, in Ontario.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small informal DwD ceremony will be held on 25 June 2021 at CFSU(E) in Geilenkirchen, Germany.