Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk awards 100-year-old Ethel Bowles for her more than 80 years of giving to CFB Shilo soldiers at a birthday celebration and plaque presentation for her supporting efforts on Dec. 6. Ethel turns 100 on Dec. 8. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag News

Ethel Bowles will be 100 years old on Dec. 8. She has spent 80 per cent of her life supporting the Canadian Armed Forces with voluntary donations of time and funds.
On Dec. 6, the centenarian celebrated the milestone life moment being honoured by the CFB Shilo Command Team and Brandon Salutes for her contributions to soldiers, which started during the Second World War.

At a birthday ceremony in Virden, Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk and Matt Bolley, chairperson of Brandon Salutes, awarded Ethel with a “Salute” framed certificate and a commemorative plaque in appreciation of her steadfast support.

Lieutentant-Colonel Cronk said visiting with Ethel and presenting her with a plaque was an honour for him.

“It’s a great opportunity to acknowledge someone who has been a great supporter of CFB Shilo and, most importantly, deployed soldiers.”

For as long as those around her can remember and for at least 17 years, Ethel has mailed $30 to $40 cheques regularly to support care packages sent to deployed CFB Shilo soldiers through the We Care package program.

“She has single-handedly assured dozens of soldiers have been remembered and thanked for their service,” Brandon Salutes stated.

Ethel’s unwavering support of troops in action started during WW2 when, as a young woman in her 20s, she and her mother knitted socks for soldiers on the front lines.
She told Shilo Stag News that she would write many letters to soldiers overseas to keep their morale up. She knitted so many pairs of socks she couldn’t remember just how many pairs there were.

Once, a pair of her socks made it to a soldier named Bill Burnet from Virden during the war. He wrote her back to say he had received them and was grateful.

Recently recovered from three falls in the previous weeks before turning 100 years old, she has outlived two husbands and her daughter and still lives independently.

Her son David Greenlay said that when Ethel came across the Brandon Salutes care package program, which started in 2004, she found a purpose and decided to donate.

Brandon Salutes chairperson Matt Bolley said despite the years of support and knowing her through letters and donations, they had not met Ethel in person until the celebratory day. He said he was ecstatic to celebrate such a momentous occasion with her and see such a smile on her face.

“Thanks to her, we’ve sent dozens of care packages overseas to soldiers serving our country. It’s been a real pick-me-up for them. We get countless soldiers thanking us for the packages when they get home. {They tell us} how much it means and how much it separates CFB Shilo from other places in the country.”

“Without Ethel it would be much more difficult financially to put those packages together,” Bolley said.

For years, Ethel has been sending cheques with a “nice little note,” said Brian Midwinter, a Brandon Salutes member since 2016 and honourary Lieutenant-Colonel of 26 Field Regiment.

He said the donations and correspondence she sends create a real connection for the organization.

” [She is] somebody out there in the community who has taken a real personal interest in our efforts. It’s quite remarkable – She found us.”

More than 35 people attended the ceremony, where a military bagpiper serenaded the community champion with a rendition of Happy Birthday before cake and coffee were served to the attendees.

“She has very generously, over the years, given to this important program. It’s a small thing for the Base to come up here and take a bit of time to recognize Mrs. Bowles, who has done outstanding work for the community and soldiers,” LCol Cronk said.

Centenarian Ethel Bowles cuts her birthday cake with CFB Shilo Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk and Matt Bolley Chairperson of Brandon Salutes, at a  celebration and plaque presentation non Dec. 6, for her past and ongoing efforts to support deployed soldiers. Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag News