Harry LeRoy Babcock was born in 1896 in the village of Yarker, Camden township, Ontario, the son of Simon Duffin Babcock, a barber, and his wife, Elizabeth Schultz. His obituary calls him, “Napanee’s Leading Soldier-Citizen”. Harry Babcock served his country in two world wars, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He enlisted on December 10th, 1915 (serial number 835061) and went overseas with the 146th Battalion. He was taken on strength with the 20th Battalion and saw action at Lens and Passchendaele. He was wounded and on recovery, he joined the Royal Flying Corps but the War ended before he could fight as an aviator. From 1919 until 1936, he was an active and busy member of the Frontenac Regiment, based in Napanee. (Part of this regiment became the 47th Napanee Field Battery in World War II.) At the outbreak of the Second World War, Harry volunteered for overseas service, but he was considered too old, and he spent the war teaching at various Canadian Artillery Training Centres. He retired from the military in 1945 but continued to be extremely active locally. He was a welcomed participant of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Officers’ Association and a tireless member of the Royal Canadian Legion. The Napanee Branch of the Legion is named after him. Colonel Babcock was also very interested in the Boy Scouts and (except when posted away) he participated in local Scouting events from 1915 until 1979. He was also a committed member of the Progressive-Conservative Party. He was particularly active in his support of M.P.P. James Taylor during the 1970's. Colonel Babcock worked briefly for the Gibbard Furniture Company (Napanee, Ontario) between the wars, but is best known for the general store at Conway, Ontario, which he operated with this wife, Ruth. However, on retirement Harry and Ruth moved back to Napanee. He died July 20th, 1980.