Mark Tennant
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Tennant, CM
, ED
, CD
(June 27, 1913-December 29, 1997) was an alderman of the City of Calgary.
Mark Tennant was born in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. He was educated at St. Rose du Lac and later moved to Alberta
. In 1925, Tennant joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets
, and later joined the Militia, enlisting in the South Alberta Regiment.
with the rank of Private
.
Tennant was appointed quickly to the position of Platoon Sergeant Major, and then commissioned. He earned the nickname "The Green Hornet", after the comic book and radio serial character of the same name
, because he "always knew what the bad guys were doing" during his turn as orderly officer. He was a captain by the summer of 1942, and commanded Support Company in Normandy. Promoted major in August 1944, he was severely wounded at Hoogerheide
in October, but returned to the battalion in 1945 to see the end of the war.
In civil life, Tennant founded the North Hill Auto Body Works, and was elected Alderman for the City of Calgary, a post he held for twelve years.
On July 13, 1977, he was appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of The Calgary Highlanders, remaining in that position into 1981.
His Order of Canada citation reads:
On the fiftieth anniversary of Holland's liberation in May 1995, the City of Doetinchem
named a park "Mark Tennant Plantsoen - A Canadian Liberator".
Mark Tennant was buried with full military honours in 1997; his casket was draped with the Union Jack in honour of his request, rather than the national (maple leaf) flag
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(June 27, 1913-December 29, 1997) was an alderman of the City of Calgary.
Mark Tennant was born in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He was educated at St. Rose du Lac and later moved to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. In 1925, Tennant joined the Royal Canadian Army Cadets
Royal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
, and later joined the Militia, enlisting in the South Alberta Regiment.
War service
Tennant enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force on August 27, 1939 when Militia units across the country were placed on active service. Receiving regimental number M7, he became a Gunner in the 20th Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. He soon transferred to The Calgary HighlandersThe Calgary Highlanders
The Calgary Highlanders is a Canadian Forces Land Force Primary Reserve infantry regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada...
with the rank of Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
.
Tennant was appointed quickly to the position of Platoon Sergeant Major, and then commissioned. He earned the nickname "The Green Hornet", after the comic book and radio serial character of the same name
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is an American radio and television masked vigilante created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell, in 1936. Since his radio debut in the 1930s, the Green Hornet has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media...
, because he "always knew what the bad guys were doing" during his turn as orderly officer. He was a captain by the summer of 1942, and commanded Support Company in Normandy. Promoted major in August 1944, he was severely wounded at Hoogerheide
Hoogerheide
Hoogerheide is a village in the municipality of Woensdrecht, North Brabant, Netherlands. The name "Hoogerheide" means "High Heath" in English. The Grand Prix Adri van der Poel cyclo-cross race is held annually in Hoogerheide.-External links:*...
in October, but returned to the battalion in 1945 to see the end of the war.
Post war
After the war Tennant served as the Training Officer of the Calgary Highlanders, now a Militia unit again, and in 1948, he became Second in Command of the Regiment. In June 1950, Tennant married Joyce Jalland, a marriage that endured until Tennant's death. He commanded the Highlanders from 1953 to 1956, retiring from the military in 1962.In civil life, Tennant founded the North Hill Auto Body Works, and was elected Alderman for the City of Calgary, a post he held for twelve years.
On July 13, 1977, he was appointed Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of The Calgary Highlanders, remaining in that position into 1981.
Honours and awards
In June 1981 was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He had never been decorated for bravery during the Second World War, but did receive three Mentions in Despatches.His Order of Canada citation reads:
- For many years of service to his community, not only as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Calgary Highlanders but as alderman and active member of the boards of many organizations including the Canadian Institute for the Blind, the Hospital Board, the City Transportation Commission and the Calgary Centennial Committee.
On the fiftieth anniversary of Holland's liberation in May 1995, the City of Doetinchem
Doetinchem
Doetinchem is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . The municipality has 56,700 inhabitants and has an area of 79.66 km²...
named a park "Mark Tennant Plantsoen - A Canadian Liberator".
Mark Tennant was buried with full military honours in 1997; his casket was draped with the Union Jack in honour of his request, rather than the national (maple leaf) flag
Flag of Canada
The national flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf, and , is a red flag with a white square in its centre, featuring a stylized 11-pointed red maple leaf. Its adoption in 1965 marked the first time a national flag had been officially adopted in Canada to replace the Union Flag...
.