When the Flin Flon armoury was reduced to rubble last month, it marked the end of one era and the beginning of a new one in the community’s history.
It was also an opportunity to reflect on the life of the man creditted with bringing the landmark building to the community, the late Ben Grimmelt.
Like many Flin Flonners, Ben Grimmelt was employed by HBM&S (now Hudbay) prior to the Second World War. When Canada declared war, he, along with hundreds of others, took leave of absence from the company to serve their country.
On return from overseas, he resumed his career with HBM&S, and eventually attained the position of superintendent of the Surface and Transportation Department.
However, this distinguished soldier was not about to “fade away.” Grimmelt became deeply involved with the local army reserves. In 1949 he was promoted to the rank of major and appointed the first commanding officer of Flin Flon’s new 21st Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers, a position he held until 1954.
During his tenure, he fought tenaciously for an armoury in Flin Flon. Nothing would deter him from that goal, and in the early 1950s, the Department of National Defence announced Flin Flon would receive an armoury with all of the latest in training facilities.
The facility opened in November of 1956. It was only fitting that Grimmelt was appointed the first officer in charge of the armoury complex after handing over command of the field squadron to Maj. Ralph Bloomfield.
During his lengthy time overseas during the Second World War, then-captain Grimmelt served with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, mainly in tank recovery operations all over Europe.
He distinguished himself by twice being mentioned in dispatches. This is a process by which one’s name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to a higher command, in which is described his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.
Maj. Grimmelt passed away, on the west coast, shortly after his retirement from HBM&S.
