H/CAPT The Rev Harold Appleyard Captain Harold Appleyard was the Padre for the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Canada while serving overseas in England & Northwest Europe. On 16 July 1943, while in England, he consecrated the New Colours presented by H.M. King George VI at Camp Algonquin, near Surrey. During his spare hours, Capt Appleyard visited many of the bombed out English churches and with permission, began a collection of pieces of broken stained glass windows from 125 of these destroyed churches. After returning to Canada, Capt Appleyard had his collection incorporated in a new Memorial window installed in Christ Church, Meaford, Ontario where they can be seen today. In France on 11 Jun 44, Capt Appleyard was taking part in a burial party, burying a number of enemy dead found in the area when he was caught in a German air attack in the middle of a mined field near St. Germain. Without regard to his own safety, he continually visited the men in forward Companies while they were under fire. Captain Appleyard was fearless and devoted to the care for the troops in his spiritual charge. This made him one of the most beloved figures in the Regiment. It was one of the main reasons the morale in the Regiment remained so high despite the constant danger and difficult living conditions. After the War, Royals Veterans would get together and travel to Meaford once a year, to pay a surprise visit to the Padre who served them so well. On 18 Aug 1962, the 100th Anniversary year of the Regiment, Capt Appleyard joined with Capt Homfrey Clifford to conduct the Dieppe Memorial service at the Cenotaph at the City Hall in Toronto. H/CAPT The Rev Harold Appleyard Christ Church, Meaford, Ontario
