Charles "Checker" Tomkins (8 January 1918 – 2003) was a Canadian Métis code talker.[1][2]
Born in Grouard, Alberta, Tomkins was a fluent speaker of the Cree language. Shortly after marrying Lena Anderson, he enlisted in the armed forces and was shipped overseas during the Second World War. He helped develop a Cree-language code to report aircraft sightings.[1] After the war he re-enlisted and served in a number of different regiments for 25 years, eventually being promoted to corporal.[2]
For his wartime service he was awarded the Defence Medal, the 1939–1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the War Medal 1939–1945. He was also the subject of a short documentary produced by directed by Cowboy Smithx.[3]
References
- ^ a b Shirley Anderson (10 November 2020). "How Cree Code Talkers From Alberta Helped Win the Second World War". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ a b Heather Conn (25 June 2018). "Charles Tomkins". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Documentary honours secret Cree code talkers of Second World War". Edmonton Journal. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2021.