Colonel John Everett Lyle Streight (August 15, 1880 – June 2, 1955) was a Canadian lumber merchant, military officer and politician.

Biography

Streight's was born and kept a home in Islington, Ontario (now part of

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

) throughout his life. He joined the army at the age of 18, beginning a 46-year military career in which he was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

. He fought in the

South African War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...

at the dawn of the 20th century and also saw action in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

in which he was captured and became a

prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

."Col. J.E.L. Streight Funeral Saturday", ''Toronto Daily Star'', June 2, 1955 In the 1930s he served as aide-de-camp to the

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...

and, in 1932, served as aide-de-camp to King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...

. Streight first ran for federal office in the 1921 federal election as a Liberal but was defeated in his

York West York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

Henry Lumley Drayton Sir Henry Lumley Drayton (April 27, 1869 – August 28, 1950) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. Early life Born in Kingston, Ontario, the son of Philip Henry Drayton, who came to Canada with the 16th Rifles of England, and Margaret S. ...

. He was elected to the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of Ca ...

on his second attempt, 14 years later, in the 1935 federal election winning by 60 votes. In 1937, he was a member of the Canadian contingent attending the

coronation A coronation ceremony marks the formal investiture of a monarch with regal power using a crown. In addition to the crowning, this ceremony may include the presentation of other items of regalia, and other rituals such as the taking of special v ...

of King

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...

. That year, he turned down an invitation from

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...

to speak to German youth on the need to establish an equivalent to the

Canadian Legion The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canada, Canadian veterans' organization founded in 1925. Members include people who served in the military of Canada, military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian province, provincial or municipal ...

. He retired from politics in 1940.

References

External links

ETOBICOKE HISTORY CORNER: Col. Streight led an honourable life in Islington
1880 births 1955 deaths Canadian Army officers Canadian prisoners of war in World War I World War I prisoners of war held by Germany Canadian military personnel of the Second Boer War Canadian military personnel of World War I Liberal Party of Canada MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario Military personnel from Toronto People from Etobicoke Politicians from Toronto Canadian Militia officers Queen's Own Rifles of Canada officers Governor General's Horse Guards officers 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada {{Liberal-Ontario-MP-stub