Harold Crowchild

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Harold Crowchild, also known as Iron Shield, was a Canadian Tsuu T’ina Nation elder and World War II veteran. He was born March 18, 1915, and died January 12, 2013, at age 97. He was the last surviving Tsuu T’ina veteran of World War II and the last veteran from any Treaty 7 First Nation.

Crowchild appeared at the Calgary Stampede before the war and kept taking part well into his 80s. He volunteered to join the Canadian Army in 1942 at Currie Barracks in Calgary, even though some Tsuu T’ina leaders questioned whether a member of the First Nation should go to war. He later said, “We wanted to fight, what the hell.”

He served with the 4th Canadian Armoured Division Headquarters and fought in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. He operated Sherman tanks and guarded German prisoners of war.

Crowchild received five service medals for his North West Europe Campaign: the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, and the War Medal 1939-1945.

He passed away on January 12, 2013. A memorial service was held at his home on the Tsuu T’ina Nation reserve, followed by a traditional funeral at the Sarcee Seven Chiefs Complex. Tsuu T’ina Chief Roy Whitney called his death “a sad week for the Tsuu T’ina Nation and for Canada.”