1

Eric Smith and children from Meadowview Public School, Navan, Ontario
2004
Navan, Ontario

2

A very talented member of the Cumberland Township Historical Society, Jeannie Smith, has written a song to commemorate the death of Constable Harold Dent. She first presented the song to students of Meadowview Public School and to Eric Smith.

3

Jeannie Smith singing 'Navan 1940...June' (Note: the sound file is 10 megabytes)
2004
Cumberland, Ontario

4

The song is titled "1940... June" and is sung to the tune of "Lily Marlene" (a WW II melody).

1940... June

Long ago in Navan, 1940... June
Harold Dent was unaware the day would bring him ruin
A Policeman, he answered his duty call
To investigate, a stranger tall,
At the Train Station in Navan,
1940... June

Miki was a robber, a thief, a thug, a crook
Alcohol and tobacco from the Gatineau Club he took
He rowed 'cross the Ottawa in a stolen boat
Slept overnight in his overcoat
On the road that led to Navan
1940... June

Norman Edwards noticed the outline of a gun
Concealed in Miki's pocket, as they stood in the morning sun
Their conversation was very brief
Edwards knew not of the coming grief
As he directed the stranger to Navan
1940…June

John Miki, an immigrant over from Finland,
Hitched a ride to the station with a wave of his hand
A ticket he bought for the ten past ten
Sat down alone to wait and then
Hal Dent arrived in Navan
1940…June

The Constable asked a question
‘What's your business here?'
Miki fired two shots that rang out loud and clear
Mortally wounded Dent fell on the floor
John Miki bolted out the door
Of the Train Station in Navan
1940…June

Constable Allan Stringer and his wife ‘Biddie'
Were visiting in Navan with the Findlay Family
His sisters-in-law, Marj and Gert
Phone Operators sent out the alert
To the villagers of Navan in
1940…June

Harold Dent lay dying in Peg Huneault's arms
George and Eric Smith raced over from their farm
Stringer arrived to hear Dent say
"Quick take my gun, he's gone that way!"
Then Harold Dent passed away in
1940…June

The killer kept on running right into Spears' bush
George Smith drove the Policeman, they followed in a rush
Stringer jumped out, ran into the trees
Miki fired two shots, Stringer bent to his knees
Shot a bullet through the head of Miki in
1940…June

Long ago in Navan, a brave policeman died
At Harold Dent's funeral everybody cried
A medal to Sergeant Stringer was given
And life went on as usual in Navan
But they still tell the story of Dent in
1940…June