Lt Col (Retired) John Archie Davidson CD
Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

After over 3 years of courageously fighting his blood cancer (myeloma), John passed away peacefully at The Ottawa Hospital on February 4th 2019. He leaves behind his beloved wife of over 48 years Raymonde, two loving daughters Julie (Ravi) and Sandra (Lyle), and 5 treasured grand-daughters – Brooklyn, Audrey, Gabrielle, Charlotte and Alice. Dear brother of twin sister Mary (Pam), Eileen (Magloire), and Maureen (Frank), predeceased brothers Alan (Jackie) and Fred, as well as many nieces, nephews and life-long dear friends.

John had a very successful career as an artillery officer in the Canadian Armed Forces working in Petawawa, Germany, Shilo (Manitoba), Gagetown (New Brunswick), Leavenworth (Kansas), St- Hubert (Quebec), Cyprus, Rome, Croatia, and Kingston (Ontario). John also had many interests - he relished watching his grand-daughters growing up, travelling with his wife, and was an avid reader particularly of military history and war studies and a wiz at crossword puzzles. In his younger years he loved hockey, basketball and volleyball. He will be greatly missed.

On behalf of the family, we would like to sincerely thank Drs Kew, McCurdy, all the nurses and the hematology team at The Ottawa Hospital.

Friends are invited to pay respects at the Hall of Colours of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. on Friday February 15th 2019 after 1:00pm Funeral Ceremony will be held in the Sacred Space at 2:00pm followed by interment at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces and a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations to be made to Myeloma Canada in his name.


John`s military career history:
Pre 1963 – Militia 50th Field Regiment (a 105 mm howitzer unit) in Peterborough

1963-1964 OCP at the Royal Canadian School of Artillery – mostly – After phase 1 John was sent to the School of Infantry in Borden – after a few weeks he asked to be sent back to the Artillery.

1964-1967 4 RCHA in Petawawa

1967-1968 2 SSM (Training) Battery in Shilo

1968-1972 1 SSM Battery Iserlohn, Germany then (1970) CFB Europe Headquarters and then 4 CMBG (Moved from Iserlohn to Lahr during this time)

1972-1974 3 RCHA in Shilo

1974-1977 Combat Arms School / Artillery School at CFB Gagetown – the first year as a student on the IG course. Promoted Major circa 1975

1977-1978 US Army Command and Staff College Leavenworth Kansas

1978-1980 FMC Headquarters St Hubert

1980-1984 3 RCHA then CFB Shilo (including a tour in Cyprus and promoted LCol circa 1982)

1984-1987 FMC Headquarters (St Hubert) with NATO Defence College Rome circa 1986

1987-1990 4 CMBG Liaison Officer in Stuttgart Germany

1990-1994 1 Canadian Division Headquarters Kingston including a long tour as the Chief of Staff – J 3 (Operations) in the United Nations Protection Force in the former Republic of Yugoslavia (Croatia – Knin)

1994-1996 National Defence Headquarters and retirement