January 2026
One of Canada’s most decorated military veterans, Major-General (Ret’d) Richard Rohmer, OC, CMM, OOnt, DFC, CD, KC, was honoured by the City of Barrie, with a memorial at Military Heritage Park on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay in September 2024.
Rohmer, a Collingwood native, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 18 in 1942, flying Mustang aircraft as fighter and reconnaissance pilot for operations across Normandy, Belgium, Holland and Germany, including D-Day. By the end of the war, Rohmer had completed a 135-mission tour of operations. He then transferred to the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant (RCN(R)) after demobilization in 1945. Serving with HMCS Hunter in Windsor, as the Commanding Officer for the University Naval Training Division from 1946-1948, after which Rohmer left the service.
Two years later, Rohmer re-joined the RCAF Auxiliary, flying DH100 Vampire jet fighters. He commanded 400 City 0f Toronto) Squadron, an Auxiliary Fighter-Bomber Squadron and 411 (County of York) Squadron, an Auxiliary Fighter Squadron, both stationed at RCAF Station Downsview in North York.
Rohmer retired from the RCAF in 1953 as a Wing Commander. He would go on to become a bestselling author, lawyer and Alderman for North York Township from 1957-1959. In 1960, Rohmer was appointed as a Queen’s Council, which automatically became King’s Council upon the ascension of King Charles III in 2022.
However, Rohmer wasn’t done with the RCAF and he returned to the air force in 1971 as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (and later Honorary Colonel) of 411 Squadron. In April 1975, Rohmer was appointed Senior Air Reserve Advisor in the rank of Brigadier. A year later, he was appointed Commander of the newly formed Air Reserve Group.
On 31 January 1978, Rohmer was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed Chief of Reserves, serving until January 1981, when he retired for the final time.
Honorary appointments since then have included being named honorary advisor to the Canadian Armed Forces Chief of the Defence Staff in December 2014, followed in June 2015 by a promotion to the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-General, and Honorary Chief of Toronto Police Service in March 2015.
Over the course of his career, Major-General Rohmer became one of Canada’s most decorated military veterans. These awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross in WWII, Commander of the Order of Military Merit in December 1978, an Officer of the Order of Canada in April 1990, a Member of the Order of Ontario in 1997, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals in 1977, 2002, 2012, King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2022, the Canadian Forces Decoration with 1 Clasp, Knight Justice of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and foreign honours including the Order of Leopold (Belgium) and the Legion of Honour (France).
The paverstone roundel in Military Heritage Park that now bears the name of retired Maj.-Gen. Richard Rohmer stands as a lasting tribute to his lifelong service to Canada. It was a part of two projects along Barrie’s waterfront, marking the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 100th anniversary. Rohmer also turned 100 in 2024. The other is a floral roundel where the former Grand Trunk Railway roundhouse once stood.
sources: RCAF roundel named for retired general on Barrie’s south shore – Barrie News, Barrie honours Maj.-Gen. Richard Rohmer with dedication at Military Heritage Park, Barrie monument renamed in honour of decorated veteran, Roundel in Barrie’s Military Heritage Park renamed in honour of Major-General Richard Rohmer | Barrie 360, Richard Rohmer – Wikipedia.
