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The Kings Police and Fire Service Medal1940
28
The day after Dent's murder, Acting Sergeant Stringer was promoted to the rank of Sergeant "in recognition of his courageous bravery under fire, and devotion to duty in coming to the aid of his dying comrade" (words of recommendation by OPP Commissioner W. H. Stringer (of no relation)).Sergeant Stringer was awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry. This honour was bestowed upon him in 1943 by the Honourable Albert Matthews, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario – the first and only time a member of the Ontario Provincial Police was awarded this medal. At the time it was the highest decoration obtainable by a police officer (or fireman) in the British Empire.
Stringer later became District Inspector in No. 8 District Peterborough. He retired from the Force in March 1963. He and his wife had a son and a daughter.
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Norman Edwards1944
Cumberland, Ontario
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The concerned citizenNorman Edwards (1903 – 1986) was a well-known farmer who owned land along Trim Road between the villages of Cumberland and Navan. He and his wife Florence Emma Kennedy (1905-1987) were proud residents of Cumberland whose families had been early settlers in the Township.
He was friends with Dent and Stringer and was one of the major witnesses at the inquest into Dent's murder held at Forrester‘s Hall in Navan. He met John Miki on the morning of June 20 while Miki was walking south towards Navan. Later, upon returning home and at his wife‘s urging, Edwards phoned the Rockland OPP to alert Harold Dent to the suspicious stranger in the area.
Edwards was active in his community and served as Councillor in 1941 and Reeve from 1944 to 1948. Florence and Norman Edwards had seven children, and many of their offspring still reside in Cumberland and Navan.
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George Smith1940
Navan, Ontario
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The driverGeorge Smith (1894 – 1970) was one of the first Navan boys to enlist for WW I. He arrived back home in June 1919 after serving overseas, to take over the family farm southwest of the Navan train station on Milton Road.
George's wife Mary (Adams) got the call from the Findlays about the shooting at the train station. George and his son, Eric, were in their farmyard at the time and looked up to see the shooter running south from the station towards Spears' Bush. George and Eric left their work, jumped into their car and arrived at the station to find a bleeding policeman. Minutes later, George drove Officer Stringer to the woods.
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Miki shooting witness will testify at probe; Keays quizzes inspector1943
Belleville, Ontario
34
George Smith testified at the inquest in Navan and again years later, in Belleville, Ontario.35
Eric Smith on his last day as a civilian. Inset Eric Smith in Air Force uniform.1940
Navan, Ontario
36
The young driverNineteen-year-old Eric Smith worked on his father's farm until he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 1941. He accompanied his father, George, to the train station, then remained at the station to await the arrival of the Ottawa Police. Later, Eric guided Constable Thomas Stoneman to Spears' Bush and then helped carry Miki's body out of the woods.
In WW II, Eric was a flying instructor at Uplands Airport before he flew Mosquito Mark VI fighter-bombers. He was one of 22 Canadian pilots who flew US Air Force F86 Sabre jets into 'Mig Alley' during the Korean War. Eric was a Squadron Leader with the Fourth Fighter-Interceptor Wing. Eric Smith was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After leaving the Air Force, Eric farmed in Kemptville and worked in real estate. He has since returned to live in Navan with his wife, Dinah. His daughter, Erin (Zintel) and her family live close by.
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Edlow Lancaster1980
Navan, Ontario
38
The good SamaritanEdlow Lancaster (1894 – 1985) owned and operated the Navan Feed Store with his brother Urban Lancaster. He often traveled the township roads to make deliveries for his business.
On the morning of the murder, he and his helper, Les Thomas, were returning from a delivery north of Navan. Edlow picked up a hitchhiker and continued south along Trim Road to Navan. Lancaster dropped the stranger off at the main intersection in Navan and then gave him directions to the train station that lay just west of the village.
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CPR Train Station (1919), Navan, Ontario1919
Navan, Ontario
40
The kind neighboursMiddi and Peggy Huneault lived next door to the train station. They arrived on the scene to find Harold Dent mortally wounded on the floor of the station. Dent died in Peggy's arms less than an hour later.
The stationmaster
Canadian Pacific Railway stationmaster Bill Heintz , his wife, and daughter Gladys, lived at the train station. Mrs. Heintz was an active member of the Navan Women's Institute.
Heintz sold Miki a train ticket for the 10:18 a.m. train bound for Ottawa. Following the shooting just minutes later, Heintz called the Findlays and asked them to call the police.
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