Percy Carl Klaehn (1896 – May 8, 1984) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

educator, soldier, and politician who served as mayor of

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

from 1963 to 1964.

Early life and career

Klaehn was born in

Valleyfield, Quebec Salaberry-de-Valleyfield is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada, in the Regional County Municipality of Beauharnois-Salaberry. The population as of 2019 was 42,410. Situated on Grande-Île, an island in the Saint Lawrence River, it is bordere ...

and came west with his family while still young. Klaehn served with

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricia's) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and was wounded at the

Battle of Vimy Ridge The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions o ...

. At the start of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Klaehn joined the

Saskatoon Light Infantry The Saskatoon Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia (now the Canadian Army). The regiment was formed in 1924, when The North Saskatchewan Regiment (1920–1924) was reorganized into fo ...

. He was named commander of

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh's Own) is a Canadian Army Primary Reserve infantry regiment. Regimental badge The regimental badge is laid out as follows: within a wreath of thistles and maple leaves, the figure of St Andr ...

and took part in the

Allied invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Norma ...

in June 1944. He later commanded the

8th Canadian Infantry Brigade The 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Canadian Army that saw active service during World War I and World War II as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. The brigade fought on the Western Front during World War I ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. He then went to England as commander of the Canadian School of Infantry. In the fall of 1945, Klaehn returned to Saskatoon as regional administrator for the federal

Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers and ...

. In 1946, he became commander of the 17th Infantry Brigade and later the 21st Militia of Saskatoon. Klaehn retired from the military in 1958 but was named honorary lieutenant-colonel for the

North Saskatchewan Regiment , garrison = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan , battles = North-West RebellionFirst World WarSecond World WarWar in Afghanistan , battle_honours = See #Battle hon ...

. Between the First and Second World Wars, Klaehn also taught school in Saskatoon,

North Battleford North Battleford is a city in west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the Town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The Batt ...

and

Weyburn Weyburn is the eleventh-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. The city has a population of 10,870. It is on the Souris River southeast of the provincial capital of Regina, Saskatchewan, Regina and is north from the North Dakota border in the ...

. He was a high school coach for

Ethel Catherwood Ethel Hannah Catherwood (April 28, 1908 – September 26, 1987) was a Canadian athlete. Born in Hannah, North Dakota, United States, Ethel Catherwood was raised and educated in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, where she excelled at baseball, ...

, who later won a gold medal for Canada in the

high jump The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat f ...

at the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

Political career

Klaehn was elected to Saskatoon city council in a 1958 by-election and served on council until 1963. He was elected mayor following the resignation of

Sidney Buckwold Sidney Labe Buckwold, (November 3, 1916 – June 27, 2001) was a Canadian politician, soldier, and businessman. Buckwold served as a Senator for 20 years and as mayor of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for 11 years in two separate tenures. Early l ...

in 1963. He was defeated by E. J. Cole when he ran for reelection in 1964, which was considered a significant upset.

Personal life

Klaehn and his wife Helen had four children: David, Carolyn, Laura, and Valerie. After leaving politics, Klaehn returned to teaching. He served as principal of Biggar Composite School and also taught in

Rosetown Rosetown may refer to: Places * Rosetown, South Australia, locality in South Australia *Rosetown, Saskatchewan, town in Saskatchewan, Canada **Rosetown Airport Electoral districts in Saskatchewan * Rosetown (electoral district), former federal e ...

and

Harris Harris may refer to: Places Canada * Harris, Ontario * Northland Pyrite Mine (also known as Harris Mine) * Harris, Saskatchewan * Rural Municipality of Harris No. 316, Saskatchewan Scotland * Harris, Outer Hebrides (sometimes called the Isle o ...

. He returned to Saskatoon after he retired from teaching and later died there at the age of 88. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery with Helen, who died in 1997. Klaehn was named an officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Klaehn, Percy C 1896 births 1984 deaths Canadian military personnel from Quebec Mayors of Saskatoon Officers of the Order of the British Empire Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Canadian Army personnel of World War II Saskatoon city councillors Canadian Militia officers Canadian Army officers Canadian military personnel of World War I Canadian Expeditionary Force officers Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry soldiers Saskatoon Light Infantry Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa North Saskatchewan Regiment Burials in Canada

Early life and career

Political career

Personal life

See also

References

External links