Harold Hague, well-known Regina veteran, dies at age 99

Well-known Regina veteran and business owner Harold Hague has died at age 99.

He fought in the Second World War as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, and was on board a minesweeper on D-Day. In his life after the war, Hague spent many years promoting remembrance.

One of his close friends called Hague “the face of Remembrance Day at the Agridome.”

Hague is also remembered as the owner of Loggie’s Shoes, which closed in 2014.

He died Thursday of natural causes.

980 CJME spoke with Jan Hague, 83, Harold’s wife of more than four decades.

“I’m sorry to lose him. I wanted more time, of course, but I’m very happy for the years we’ve had together,” she said.

The two met in the mid-’70s when Harold was in Ontario, buying supplies for his shoe store. They hit it off instantly, and Harold spent the next three years making monthly trips east to see Jan.

Eventually, she moved to Regina and they eventually got married.

“He was just such a kind, giving person,” she said. “There was an immediate attraction there … There was something about him that you just can’t help to be drawn to him … Just a wonderful man.”

Harold also had one son and two daughters from his previous marriage.

His family will fondly remember him, and so will Regina’s veteran community.

Cliff Walker, a retired brigadier general, originally met Hague through Remembrance Day ceremonies. They also worked together at the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.

Walker remembers Hague as a friend and as a representative for Regina veterans.

“He was a fine, fine man. This country was lucky to have had a person like Harold Hague who was so willing to put himself forward to defend this country,” Walker said.

Walker pointed to Hague’s role on D-Day on June 6, 1944, as a prime example, when he worked on a minesweeper to help guide Allied crafts to shore.

“He witnessed the airplane involvement, the bombardments, the ships and the soldiers going ashore. He had a first-hand knowledge of what D-Day was all about, and that has now passed into history,” Walker said.

But Hague’s actions after coming home were also appreciated.

“He made it a point to really reach out and help his fellow veterans in any way he could,” Walker said.

While Walker is very sad about the news, he’s glad Hague had the time he did.

“If you had asked him, as a young seaman on June 6, 1944, when hundreds and thousands of people are dying all around him, ‘Do you think you’ll live to be 99?’ I think he would have smiled ruefully and said, ‘If I’m alive tomorrow, I’ll be grateful for that,’ ” Walker said.

“I think that any time that Harold has had since has been bonus time and he has lived life to the fullest since … I will miss him … But it was a life well-lived, and now we have to keep our memories of Harold alive.”

You can learn more about Hague’s service in the Second World War here.