Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Flynn
Royal 22nd Regiment

Tuesday was bad for the Royal 22nd regiment, for in the course of war games now in progress south of Camp Borden the regiment’s whole headquarters staff became theoretical casualties in consequence of tank attacks.

(Leader-Post, 31 Aug 1938, 9)

Born in Quebec City on 13 December 1889, Georges Arthur Emile Percy Flynn was a lawyer and son of former Quebec premier Edmund James Flynn (1847–1927). Having served in England and Siberia during the Great War, he was appointed commanding officer of the 22nd Regiment in July 1938. The next month he took part in a war exercise at Camp Borden, where he and his entire headquarters were ambushed and “put out of action.”

Following the First World War, Flynn’s lack of field service in France became a minor point of contention when Liberal MP J.E. Marcile questioned his appointment to be adjutant with the regiment. The defence minister clarified that Flynn’s had applied to revert in rank during the war, adding “this department sees no reason for making any change, providing Captain Flynn continues to prove himself an efficient officer as in the past.”

Following mobilization of the Canadian Army in September 1939, Flynn commanded the regiment as part of the 1st Canadian Division when it went to the United Kingdom in December. He fell seriously ill in January 1941 and the stocky, five-foot-four colonel returned home for military duties in Quebec. He was succeeded by second-in-command Major P.E. Poirier.

Flynn died in Quebec City 15 July 1971.