This Saturday, Kamloopsians will have the chance to pay tribute to a real war hero that spent 50 years of his long life here in this city.

Colonel William ‘Robby’ Robertson was part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy but that wasn’t all the decorated soldier did during World War II.

“He was also awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the fact that in Italy, he went into a minefield to rescue two of his comrades that were trapped there, and he went in and put a trail in and was able to get his comrades out,” Mike Young, of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, said on the NL Morning News.

In all, Robertson earned 20 medals for his efforts, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, awarded for significant contributions to the country.

Robertson, who like many soldier in the war, lied about his age to enlist as he was too young at the time. He died of COVID-19 at Burnaby hospital back on Nov. 17.

“After World War II, he went to Korea and again he got is Korean campaign medals and while he was there he was also awarded the US Army, or US Air Medal for 21 trips over enemy territory as an observer calling in military strikes,” Young added.

A funeral procession for Colonel Robertson will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, beginning at 11:45 a,m. at Riverside Park.

Young says it will continue down Victoria Street to a service at Seymour and Fourth Avenue which people are welcome to attend.