Elizabeth Patrick had high hopes for closure this Remembrance Day after a nearly ten-year quest to locate her estranged father’s grave, which led her to a cemetery near Winnipeg. However, her plans were derailed when she discovered her father’s grave was empty during the disinterment at Green Acres Cemetery earlier this year.
Sgt. Gordon Patrick, a glider pilot for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force during World War II, spent his final years in Winnipeg and passed away in 1973 without any family in Canada. Elizabeth Patrick, his daughter, expressed her disappointment at the lack of a headstone or marker for her father’s grave, emphasizing that no veteran should be left in such anonymity.
In May, Elizabeth, who resides in England, decided to relocate her father’s remains to a cemetery in Ontario where her son is buried. However, upon excavating the grave, it was found to be empty. Despite initially positive interactions with Service Corporation International (SCI), the company that owns Green Acres, communication slowed down after forensic searches failed to locate Sgt. Patrick’s remains.
SCI proposed paying for a custom headstone but insisted on installing it in one of their cemeteries, which Elizabeth found unacceptable. Additionally, SCI’s legal counsel argued that the company bore no liability for the missing body as the burial took place before they acquired Green Acres in 2006. Despite legal discussions, Elizabeth remains hopeful for a fair resolution to honor her father with a proper veteran’s burial.
Winnipeg lawyer Troy Harwood-Jones suggested that SCI’s liability could hinge on the specifics of the company’s acquisition and compliance with the Manitoba Cemeteries Act. Elizabeth Patrick continues to seek a reasonable offer from SCI to cover the costs of a headstone in Ontario, emphasizing the importance of honoring her father’s service and giving him the recognition he deserves on Remembrance Day.