WW2 Canadian Named P37 Small Pack Lt. Col. D.S. Harkness 1942

British made, Canadian issued, webbed material with brass fixtures, pattern 37 small pack, manufacture marked Bagcraft ltd. and dated 1942 with a British Broad Arrow. Shows expected use and wear. SKU: 65206

He was born in Toronto Ontario and moved to Calgary Alberta in 1929. He graduated from the University of Alberta then farmed and taught school in the vicinity of Red Deer. He taught at Crescent Heights High School until 1939.

He fought during the Second World War from 1940 to 1945, serving in the European theater of war. He was posted to Great Britain, Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe. In 1943 was awarded the George Medal "in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner". Harkness was aboard a troopship when it was torpedoed transiting from Sicily to England. Harkness was awarded the medal for his organization of the abandonment of the ship. In 1945, Harkness was the commanding officer of the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment of the 4th Armoured Division After returning from the war, Harkness returned to farming, residing in De Winton, Alberta, south of Calgary. 

In 1945, Harkness was elected to the House of Commons Of Canada for the constituency of Calgary East and briefly held the Cabinet positions of Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister of National Revenue under the government of John Diefenbaker. He was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council For Canada on August 7, 1957, as Minister of Agriculture.

Harkness was appointed Minister of National Defence, being sworn in on October 11, 1960. He precipitated a political crisis when he resigned from cabinet in February 1963 to protest Diefenbaker's opposition to stationing American nuclear warheads in Canada. The resignation precipitated a split in the cabinet and contributed to the defeat of the government in the 1963 Federal Election He continued to sit as a Member of Parliament until 1972.