CATHY DOBSON

The Observer

Two decorated Sarnians - a star from Sarnia Imperials' heyday and one of the first Canadians to taste battle in the First World War - will be honoured posthumously next month with induction into the Canada Veterans Hall of Valour.

The late Nick Paithouski was named the Imperials' most valuable player in 1940 before leaving for Saskatchewan to play a year with the Roughriders.

In 1942 as a graduate from Queen's University, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers.

His son Joe Paithouski, who grew up in Sarnia, says his father was responsible for building bridges throughout the war in northwestern Europe.

"Those bridges had to be built quickly and on schedule because they were critical to many military missions," Paithouski said.

But he believes the highlight of the war for his father was a friendly game of football that pitted Canadian and U.S. troops against one another shortly before D-Day in 1944.

Known as the Tea Bowl, it was played in White City Stadium, London, England before 30,000 fans. Nick Paithouski played centre.

His son recently uncovered evidence that the Americans were left smarting from the loss and insisted on a rematch a month later, this time calling it the Coffee Bowl.

"The U.S. won that one," Paithouski said. "My father never talked about the war or the football but I know football was his passion."

After the war, in 1946, the President of the United States issued a Bronze Star to Paithouski for distinguished service and bravery in Europe.

Paithouski returned home and played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats for two years before starting a family with his wife Barbara Paul in Sarnia. They had two children, Joe who now lives in Calgary, and Janet who still lives here with her family.

A May 15 ceremony at the Hall of Valour in Carleton Place near Ottawa will be doubly moving for Nick Paithouski and his sister, since their grandfather on their mother's side is also being inducted.

Charles Marr Paul was also born in Sarnia, and was one of the first Canadians to leave for battle in the First World War.

He joined the eight battalion of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, nicknamed the Little Black Devils, and was credited with saving numerous lives.

Early in the war, Paul's battalion held the line during a German attack with poison gas on the battlefield at Ypres, in Belgium. For that he received the Military Medal for courage and gallantry under fire.

Later he earned a Meritorious Service Medal for saving more lives during the Battle of Sommes in 1916.

"His unit was also at Vimy Ridge. He survived so much," Paithouski said.

Paul returned to Sarnia with his British bride and raised eight children while working as a customs officer at the ferry docks. He died in a car accident in 1938 and never met his grandchildren.

Paithowski, a 57-year-old engineer, learned a great deal about his father and grandfather's war contributions while researching their nomination to the Canada Veterans Hall of Valour.

He submitted the paperwork because he believes in the legacy people leave behind, he said.

"To me, their military history is a big part of their footprints."

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