Great-uncle Bill (William) first enlisted in the army during the Second World War, on May 7, 1945, having reached the age of majority and knowing that the war against Japan would still require support. He completed his basic and advanced infantry training in Simcoe, Ontario. He was discharged on V-J Day, saying he would like to transfer to the navy one day. He did so on December 2, 1948. Pendant la guerre de Corée, Bill a servi à bord du NCSM Nootka, qui a essuyé des tirs en mai 1952. Le Musée canadien de la guerre note ce qui suit : “While conducting a coastal bombardment on May 30, 1952, near Chongin on the east coast of North Korea, both the Nootka and the American destroyer USS John W. Thomason came under fire. The first shells fired by the radar-controlled enemy guns fell close to the two ships, which were about four kilometers off the coast. These shots caused only superficial damage to the Nootka, as both ships quickly left the area to avoid more serious damage. HMCS Nootka circumnavigated the globe during this deployment.
Bill a servi pendant 20 ans et 2 jours, et a pris sa retraite de la marine pour travailler à la brasserie Moosehead à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Ses deux frères aînés ont servi dans l’armée et dans l’ARC pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et il a plusieurs neveux qui servent actuellement dans l’armée (3), ainsi qu’une petite-nièce qui sert dans la marine.