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Lester Finalyson is one of 23 young men from Richmond who lost their lives in either World War I, World War II, or in the Korean War, whose names are inscribed on the Richmond Cenotaph.
Photo courtesy City of Richmond
In honour of our soldiers: Lester Finlayson
Published 12:00 PDT, Thu July 3, 2025
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In our previous series, we learned about 56 men who gave their lives during World War I and World War II, whose names had been inscribed on the Richmond Cenotaph and were given a poppy street sign. Following our poppy street sign series, we moved onto the young soldiers whose names were inscribed on the Richmond Cenotaph but did not have a road named after them. Those names were compiled of the 23 young men who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, or in the Korean War.
Lester Finlayson was born in Calgary, Alberta on Feb. 3, 1921, at the age of four, his family would make the move from Calgary to Richmond where he would grow up. He attended English School, Bridgeport School, and graduated from Richmond High School at the age of 17. Upon graduation, the Finlaysons would return to their native home in Scotland where Lester would join the British Merchant Marine service.
As a member of the British Merchant Marine service, Lester participated on convoy runs to the Mediterranean and the Northern Atlantic, serving as a 1st Radio Officer on the SS Alresford.
While stationed in Sydney, Nova Scotia on July 6, 1941, Lester and three other sailors aboard a small boat were making their
way back to shore when a sudden strong
gust of wind capsized the boat. Two of the seamen survived but Lester and fellow seamen Nixon ultimately drowned from the accident. Lester had been knocked unconscious during the capsizing, his body was not recovered until August 2 five miles away in Northern Sydney.
Lester was survived by his sisters Annie and May, his brother Ian, and parents Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Finlayson. In November of 1942, May, Ian, and Mr. and Mrs. Finlayson, made the decision to move back to Richmond. Annie, who had become Mrs. J.L. Stewart, would join the family after some time in Edinburgh.
Although, Lester Finalyson shares the same surname as Graham Alexander Finlayson, there have been no available records to indicate that the two were related.
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