2 Distingushed Aboriginals
Tom Longboat
The Tom Longboat Junior Public school in Toronto honors the memory of Tom Longboat,
one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in Canadian history.
During the First World War, as a dispatch carrier with the 107th Pioneer Battalion in France
and later with the 2nd Battalion Canadian Engineers, he ran messages and orders between units.
Twice wounded, Longboat kept in competitive form by racing in inter-battalion sporting contests.
A member of the Onondaga Nation, Tom Longboat was one of the most gifted long distance runners of
his time, holding every Canadian record from one mile to the marathon at one point or another.
In the years prior to the First World War, Tom Longboat won most of the major distance races in
North America and Europe, including the Boston Marathon and the Powderhall Marathon in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Tom Longboat is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Indian Hall of Fame.
As well, the Tom Longboat Awards serve as a proud national symbol for Canadian Aboriginal peoples.
Tommy Prince
Sgt. Tommy Prince MM, was the most decorated Canadian Second World War aboriginal veteran.
Early during the Second World War, after some two years overseas with 1st Corps Field Park, RCE,
Tommy Prince was transferred to the Canadian Parachute Battalion and commenced training with the
1st Canadian Special Service Battalion.
After training, he returned to Europe with the Special Service Force. In Italy in early February 1944,
during a reconnaissance patrol, Sergeant Prince was able to penetrate deep into enemy positions and
report for several days. His courage and utter disregard for personal safety won him the Military Medal.
Later, in France in September 1944, Sergeant Prince located the gun sites and encampment area of an
enemy reserve battalion. Under most difficult circumstances, he reported back with the information,
and led the brigade to capture over a thousand German soldiers.
For these acts, he earned the Silver Star, an American army decoration for gallantry in action.
He was nominated by the French Commander for the Croix de Guerre, but the dispatch messenger was
killed before reaching HQ.
After WWII, civilian life was a drag. When volunteers were called for Korea, Tommy immediately enlisted,
doing two tours with the PPCLI. Here, he was wounded in the knee, and arthritis bothered him terribly.
His unit received the Presidential Citation for their superb efforts at the Battle of Kapyong.
The Sergeant Tommy Prince Drill Hall and Tommy Prince Drive in Camp Wainwright, AB as well as the
Sergeant Tommy Prince Barracks in CFB Petawawa are named in his memory.
Tommy Prince received 10 Medals total:
- Military Medal
- Silver Star (U.S.A.)
- UN Service Medal
- Korean Medal
- War Medal
- Cdn Volunteer Service Medal with clasp
- Defence Medal
- France and Germany Star
- Italy Star
- 1939-45 Star
Over 500 attended Tommy's funeral. Sadly, he died alone and destitute. Years of drinking,
pain from his knees, discrimination all took their toll on Tommy.
Father of five, crippled by machine gun wounds, he was forced to work at menial jobs.
Proud of his heritage, and always generous to a fault, resulted in him dying penniless.
Where were his friends and the government when Tommy needed them most.
Soldiers like Tommy Prince, great-great grandson of the chief of the Salteaux,
are remembered on November 11th - they should be remembered year round. "LEST WE FORGET"
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