Fleck Family Genealogical Database

"Little drank a glass of whisky every evening, a habit to which he attributed his longevity."

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawas-william-little-drove-a-floating-tank-in-d-day-assault-wounded-on-juno-beach

https://www.hpmcgarry.ca/memorials/Little-William/3814830/obituary.php

Obituary for Lt.Col. (Rtd) William (Bill) Dalton Little,M.C,C.D
Lt.Col. (Rtd) William (Bill) Dalton Little,M.C,C.D
Passed away peacefully at the Montfort Hospital, Ottawa, on Sunday, April 21st, 2019. Predeceased by wife Patricia (nee Sampson). Survived by daughter Sandra Tryfon; son-in-law Andreas Tryfon; grandchildren Nicholas, Yiannis and Alexia; great grandchildren Andreas, Thea, Alexandra. Son of the late Frederick and Helen (nee Norquay) Little of Selkirk, Manitoba.

Bill served in the Fort Garry Horse in WWII, was wounded on the beaches of Normandy. He received the Military Cross for bravery and the Canada Decoration. He was presented with the Legion of Honour by the President of France. Upon his retirement from the military, Bill became director of the Canadian Equestrian Federation and subsequently director of equestrian events at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

He was deeply loved and admired by all his family and friends.

https://sirc.ca/news/in-memoriam-william-little-1920-2019/

Equestrian Canada – Ottawa, ON, May 2, 2019 – Equestrian Canada (EC) extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) William “Bill” Dalton Little, MC, CD, of Ottawa, ON, who passed away peacefully on April 21, 2019, at the age of 99.

Little was born in Selkirk, MB, to Frederick and Helen (née Norquay) Little. He began developing his equestrian expertise serving part-time with the Canadian Militia’s mounted cavalry unit, The Fort Garry Horse, in Winnipeg, MB. Little’s military career spanned several decades, and his heroic actions during World War II in St. Aubin-sur-Mer, FRA, on D-Day and in Hoogerheide, NED, earned the Military Cross for bravery and the Canada Decoration, as well as the Legion of Honour from the President of France. For further details on Little’s incredible military career, please read this history Opens in a new window courtesy of The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives.

Upon his retirement from the military, Little returned to his equestrian roots. He served as Executive Director for the Canadian Horse Council, and was then appointed Competition Director for equestrian events at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

“Montreal was only allocated the Games in 1974; we had to build everything from scratch and needed a manager who wasn’t afraid of hard work,” said Roger Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, Venue Manager at The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. “Bill was a very hard worker, and always pulled his socks up to get things done, whether it was planning the cross-country course or building show rings. I remember we had meetings at six every morning and nine every night during the Games to solve the problems that came up that day and those that would come up tomorrow. He always had a good attitude; his positive nature was his greatest strength.”

Based on the success of the Games, Little was selected as the first Executive Director of the Canadian Equestrian Foundation (CEF) in 1977.

“The industry had trust and faith in his capabilities because of his already-demonstrated leadership skills,” said Cara Whitham of Campden, ON, a retired FEI 5* Dressage Judge who knew Little through her time as CEF Director of Dressage. “I found him very friendly, knowledgeable, and an outgoing person who always had the Canadian equine industry as a priority in all of his dealings.”

After his retirement from the CEF in 1984, Little continued to lend his immense talents in service to the equestrian world. In 1986, partnered with Hans Pracht (GER) and reunited with Deslauriers, he helped make history by drawing the World Dressage Championships out of Europe for the very first time to bring the competition to Cedar Valley, ON.

Personable and diplomatic, Little’s knack for resolving conflict and building relationships facilitated immense progress for equestrian sport in Canada. Furthermore, his unparalleled work ethic and great sense of humor made him deeply loved and admired by all who had the good fortune to know him.

“It is with great sadness that I learned of Bill’s passing,” said EC CEO, Richard Mongeau. “He set a strong example of leadership in our community, and established a foundation of excellence with the Canadian Equestrian Federation that has continued into Equestrian Canada today.”

Little is survived by his daughter, Sandra Tryfon; son-in-law, Andreas Tryfon; grandchildren, Nicholas, Yiannis and Alexia; and great-grandchildren, Andreas, Thea, and Alexandra. In lieu of condolences, please consider making a donation to Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind Opens in a new window.

https://www.equestrian.ca/cdn/storage/resources_v2/XHhexod4DdBraM9cD/original/XHhexod4DdBraM9cD.pdf?utm_source=Cyberimpact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=In-Memoriam

William Dalton Little hailed from Selkirk, Manitoba. Prior to the Second World War, he served
part-time in the Fort Garry Horse, Canadian Militia, which was still training as mounted cavalry.
He started as a Trooper and had achieved the rank of Sergeant by September 1939. On the
outbreak of war, the FGH was designated as a tank regiment, and training began on this new
mechanical horse. WD Little qualified as a “Driver, Internal Combustion” (as the term “Driver”
still referred to horses at that time) in November 1940, in Camp Borden, Ontario. By February,
1941, he was also qualified to drive tracked vehicles as well as wheeled.
In August 1941, he was selected for Officer training and went to the Officer Training Centre, in
Brockville and returned to the FGH with the rank of Lieutenant.
In England, in addition to learning how to command a troop of tanks, he took special training in
camouflage and anti-aircraft defence and aircraft recognition. It was not all work though, and
after receiving formal permission from his Commanding Officer, he was married to Miss Patricia
Sheila Samson at the Registrar’s Office, Brighton, Sussex in 1943. While the final preparations
for D-Day were under way, he received the news of the birth of his daughter Sandra May, in
Brighton, in late May 1944.
Part of ‘C’ Squadron of the FGH, WD Little led a tank troop using the top secret “Duplex Drive”
floating tanks and landed at St. Aubin-sur-Mer on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Their advance blocked
by an eight foot high seawall, he led his troop of three tanks along the beach under fire, knocking
out a German anti-tank gun along the way. His troop was credited with making the success of the
Attack of the North Shore Regiment on the German positions in Tailleville. He was wounded on
D-Day and evacuated to hospital in England.
In early July 1944, along with three other FGH officers who had been wounded on D-Day, he
left the hospital and made his way down to Portsmouth and the four talked their way aboard a
ship heading to France. They met up with the FGH again and were back in action at the Battle of
Carpiquet. All four were charged with being Absent Without Leave from the hospital in England.
They were marched in one at a time to General Harry Crerar, commander of the Canadian Army,
who gave him a reprimand, then shook his hand and said “now go take care of the Germans”.
He was promoted to Acting Captain in August of 1944 and became Second in Command of ‘C’
Squadron. His squadron continued to fight through France and Belgium and into the Netherlands
in October 1944. It was at the strong German defensive position of Hoogerheide that WD Little
earned the Military Cross. The citation reads as follows:
Capt Little commanded a troop of tanks in the first assault wave on 6 June 1944. In the
campaign through France and Belgium he established a reputation for bold decisive leadership.
It is the action of 7 October 1944, in Holland, however, for which he will be chiefly remembered.

Capt Little had been detailed to support the infantry in an attack on Hoogerheide. Without this
town our forces could not cut the enemy communications between South Beveland and the
Walcheren islands. But from the moment our infantry moved forward, they came under
unexpectedly heavy mortar and machine gun fire. It was necessary to change the plan but there
was no time for an Orders group. As soon as the danger became apparent, Capt Little went
forward alone and on foot, to reconnoiter a better position for his own tanks. Following his
reconnaissance, he placed his own tank in a very exposed flank, thus drawing fire while the rest
of his tanks made the dash to the flank position he had chosen. Although his tank was hit several
times, it was not knocked out. From their new position, the tanks were enabled not only to cover
the advance of the infantry, but in doing so destroyed two machine guns, at least one mortar and
two 40mm guns in addition to a great many infantry. A few moments later, the last obstacle to
the town was removed when an enemy self propelled gun was destroyed by Capt Little’s own
tank. The capture of Hoogerheide isolated the enemy garrison and the approaches to Antwerp.
The personal courage of Capt Little contributed in an essential manner to this vital achievement.
Awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 10 November 1945 and Canadian Army Routine Order
6193 dated 12 November 1945.
He was confirmed in the rank of Captain in November 1944. Now in command of two troops of
tanks, as Second-in-Command, he continued to lead his men in action as the campaign in the
Netherlands moved forward until he German surrender in May of 1945. As he had been one of
the ‘originals’ in 1939 and had a family, WD Little began his discharge and return to Canada in
late June 1945.
After the war, WD Little stayed in the Regular Army. In 1958, a Regular Force component of
The Fort Garry Horse was formed in Petawawa, Ontario. WD Little, with the rank of Major, was
made regimental second-in-command. During his time with the Regular regiment, he had the
tune Red River Valley arranged as the official Slow March of the Fort Garry Horse, and that
music is still in use today.
After his retirement from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, WD Little remained
in touch with the regiment in Winnipeg. He gave significant support to the production of a
comprehensive regimental history which was published in 2012, and also funded the restoration
of ceremonial gold lace crossbelts and sword slings worn by officers of the regiment with
traditional Patrol dress, maintaining our cavalry traditions. In February 2018 he visited the
Canadian War Museum on the occasion of the acquisition of the medals of Lieutenant Colonel
Harcus Strachan, who had won the Victoria Cross as a cavalryman with The Fort Garry Horse in
the First World War. Those medals now reside at Strachan Armoury in Winnipeg, home of The
Fort Garry Horse.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2019/06/06/enlisted-as-boys-fought-as-men

Gravestone at Beechwood Cemetary Reads:

ZH206 LCOL
William D. Little MC CD
Fort Garry Horse
15 June 1920 - 21 April 2019

Patricia S. (Sampson) Little
Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother
9 August 1922 - 14 October 2010

https://en.geneanet.org/cemetery/view/10847807/persons/?individu_filter=LITTLE%2BWilliam+D.

BIRTH RECORD
https://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca
DETAILED BIRTH INFORMATION
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1920-030076

CHILD'S DETAILS
Last Name: LITTLE
Given Names: WILLIAM DALTON
Sex: MALE Date of Birth: 15/06/1920

PLACE OF BIRTH DETAILS
Name of Hospital:
Place of Birth: SELKIRK

USUAL RESIDENCE OF MOTHER
Address:
City, Town, Village, Rural:
Province: Country:

MAILING ADDRESS OF MOTHER (IF DIFFERENT FROM RESIDENCE OF MOTHER)
Address:
City, Town, Village, Rural:
Province: Country:

OTHER PARTICULARS
Duration of Pregnancy: wks
Number Liveborn Including This Birth:
Number Stillbirths:
Birth Weight: grams
Parents Married: YES
Mother's Marital Status: MARRIED

FATHER'S DETAILS
Last Name: LITTLE
Given Names: FREDERICK DALTON
Place of Birth: ONTARIO
Date of Birth: Age: 27

MOTHER'S DETAILS
Maiden Last Name: NORQUAY
Given Names: HELEN ELIZABETH
Place of Birth: CLOVERDALE
Date of Birth: Age: 22

Date of Registration: 19/06/1920