Harold Henrikson was born in 1916. He enlisted with the Lord Strathcona’s Armoured Horse Tank Corps. Harold was deployed to England where he joined the allied forces in the Liberation of the Netherlands and Belgium. After serving overseas, Harold was discharged and resumed work at the Steel Foundry producing castings for railway and ship manufacturers.
Early Life
Harold Henrikson, the eldest of seven children, was born on June 29th, 1916. He grew up on Dufferin Avenue playing with the neighbour children some of whom became fellow Dufferin Gang members. His brother, Paul Henrikson, also served in the Second World War in the Navy.
In the 1930s Harold left school to help support his family. He became employed at the Selkirk Foundry where his earnings went towards food and care for his family.
Military Career
On May 7th, 1943, Harold enlisted with the Lord Strathcona’s Armoured Horse Tank Corps. He was then dispatched to Canadian Forces Base Bordon in Barrie, Ontario for training under the command of Gordon Coutts.
He and his wife, Margurite were married in Barrie, and they welcomed their son, Jim soon afterwards.
In 1944, he was called to active duty, leaving behind Margurite and their six-month-old son. Harold was deployed to England where he joined the allied forces in the Liberation of the Netherlands and Belgium. The series of battles involved heavy, active fighting and many hardships on the road to victory.
Post Military Career
After bravely serving overseas, Harold was discharged on February 18th, 1946, and returned to his family in Selkirk. Soon after Harold and Margurite’s second child, Geraldine was born. Harold resumed work at the Steel Foundry producing castings for railway and ship manufacturers. After retiring from the Steel Foundry, he worked at the Selkirk Hospital for Mental Diseases (now Selkirk Mental Health Centre) in support and maintenance services until he permanently retired.
During retirement he cared for his mother, shovelling her walkways, tending to the garden, and grocery shopping for her after she became house bound. The care of his family later in life reflected his selflessness as a young teenager.
Harold remained an active member of the Selkirk Royal Canadian Legion No. 42, the Masons, and the Selkirk Lutheran Church.
Harold passed away at the Selkirk General Hospital on June 7th, 1990.
Harold Henrikson Collection
Click on images to enlarge
Harold Henrikson, c1939-1946, Icelandic Collection, Elizabeth Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba
Sources
Veterans of Icelandic descent, World War II, 1939-1945 Icelandic Collection, Elizabeth Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba
Jim Henrikson – Phone interview, 2021
