Harry Beazley

Pilot Officer Harry Thiepval Beazley was born on March 11, 1918 to Robert and Alice Beazley of Halifax. He was a graduate of Dalhousie and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Virginia when war called, and sailed from Pier 21 in July of 1942. He died in the skies over France in June of 1944 and his remains rest in the Gambais Churchyard at Yvelines, near Versailles.

To know that our parents were processed as Landed Immigrants at Pier 21 Halifax was a delightful revelation.

Our father Lauri Joonas Kokkinen,age 33 arrived in Halifax aboard SUFFREN on Aug.3, 1928. He had trained and worked as a shoemaker in Helsinki, Finland . He came to Canada looking for new and better opportunities in his field of work. His destination was Toronto.

Mother Iida Johanna Honkarinta, age 24 came to Pier 21 on the ship DROTTNINGHAM Sept.15, 1928.

She had worked and resided in the Oulu area of Finland when her older sister Jenny encouraged her to come to work as a domestic in in a family home in Toronto.

Lauri and Iida met several months later at The Church of all Nations on Queen Street in Toronto. This United Church Affiliate had a Finnish Congregation and a small Post Office where new immigrants could establish a reliable mailing address for keeping contact with friends and relatives.Many newcomers met their future spouses here.

After meeting and courtship Lauri and Iida were married in 1929. Toronto became their home where they raised four children.

Olavi b.1929- Irja b.1931- Hellen b.1935 - Mailis b.1943.

Our parents became Naturalized British Subjects in 1937.

We, their children were born to be proud Canadians of Finnish Heritage.