A few months ago I shared the remarkable story of Lawrence ‘Toonie’ McGeein, a 17-year-old Portsmouth teen that courageously sacrificed his own life in 1942 – attempting to save three British airmen from drowning in a capsized canoe off Portsmouth Harbour.

McGeein’s nephew, Mike Granger and his wife Kathie, kindly shared photos of the Medal of Bravery awarded to Toonie’s family for his sacrifice.

McGeein was posthumously awarded the prestigious Royal Canadian Humane Association Bronze Medal of Bravery. At the time only a handful of Canadians had received the honour given to those that demonstrate remarkable selfless courage in the face of great danger to attempt to save the lives of others.

McGeein drowned off Portsmouth Harbour on a stormy night in June,1942, his body recovered a month later. In November, 1942 family, friends and neighbours filled the parish hall at St. John’s Anglican Church in Portsmouth for the presentation of the Bronze Medal of Bravery to his parents and to celebrate Toonie’s life.

Father M. J. Brady from The Church of The Good Thief officiated along with Canon Smart from St. John’s Anglican Church and Rev. Ellis from Portsmouth United Church.

The McGeein family received a War bond presented by MacLachlan Lumber, the local business where McGeein worked as an apprentice carpenter.

After McGeein was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kingston, Father Brady penned a handwritten letter to enter into the parish records recounting McGeein’s heroism, and a copy was provided to his parents.

A special stained-glass window was put in place at The Church of the Good Thief dedicated to McGeein, honouring his life and sacrifice. McGeein was added to a special scroll at the parish to honour those from the congregation that served in World War II.

The Kingston Memorial Wall was built in 2012 and located at Veterans Park on the grounds of the Kingston Memorial Centre. There are 1,022 names of Kingstonians that died in service. Just two are civilians, Lawrence McGeein is one of them.

Portsmouth Village created a World War II Roll of Honour that was placed in Portsmouth Town Hall (the limestone building in Aberdeen Park on King Street near Yonge Street). It lists all the men and women that supported the war effort from Portsmouth Village, and it includes Lawrence McGeein. For the size of the village it’s impressive, 107 names.

There are three other McGeein’s on the list, Bernard McGeein, and two brothers of Lawrence, Merne and Charles McGeein.

The full story of Lawrence McGeein’s tremendous courage and heroism and the events of that tragic night in June, 1942 at Portsmouth Harbour can be found at the link below.

Lawrence McGeein; The remarkable story of a Portsmouth teenager that sacrificed his life attempting to save three British airmen in a capsized canoe in 1942.

Mark Potter grew up in Portsmouth Village and knows both the McGeein & Granger families. Mark is a longtime Kingston broadcaster and honoured member of the KIngston & District Sports Hall of Fame.