Background
He was born and raised in Campbellville, Ontario, and defied the wishes of his Methodist father when he joined the Canadian field artillery in 1917.
He was born and raised in Campbellville, Ontario, and defied the wishes of his Methodist father when he joined the Canadian field artillery in 1917.
At the time of his death he was believed to have been the last surviving Canadian veteran of the war to have fought on the front lines. He served as a signaller on the front lines in France for two years. After the war, Laking worked in lumber until 1941, when he took over Danforth Wallboard and Insulation Limited.
He ran the company until his retirement in 1965.
In his old age, he led an uncommonly active life. He went to every Toronto Maple Leafs game until he was 100, drove until he was 102, and walked a mile a day.
They had two children, Keith and Sheila. He died in Toronto at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at the age of 106.