The turbulent waters of war

WHITBY -- As an ammunitions locker on a Canadian naval destroyer during the Second World War, Jim Hillyard faced two enemies.

There were the German U-boats waiting in the chilly Arctic waters and then there was the sea.

"Just as exciting were the storms we went through," says Mr. Hillyard. "Surviving them was just as spectacular as what the rest of the war had to offer me."

The service officer with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 in Whitby shares his war-time experience with local residents Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m. at the central branch of the Whitby Public Library.

It was a two-year harrowing journey that, oddly enough, began in an air force recruitment office in July 1943. Anxious to volunteer, Mr. Hillyard went there with his two brothers. He was 18.

"But the recruiter couldn't give me any definitive answers," he remembers. "He said, it could be six months before they would call me. He didn't know. The guy was so indefinite, I went to the navy."

Mr. Hillyard's twin, George, went on to serve in the air force, while his younger brother Mervyn signed up for the army. Both are alive and well today.

"It was the atmosphere at the time. All the people you knew were joining one force or another," says Mr. Hillyard looking back.

His ship, the HMCS Iroquois, landed in Britain June 7, 1944, the day after D-Day and headed to the Bay of Biscay where it spent the next two months clearing away enemy ships from the coast of France.

"It meant there were night actions. I thought it always exciting going to action," says Mr. Hillyard, whose job it was to put up 20-pound shells on a gulley for the ship's big guns.

"There was a lot of adrenaline. You never thought of the danger," he adds.

The Iroquois cleared 22 ships before heading to the Arctic. Mr. Hillyard also remembers the ship escorting the Queen Mary out to mid-ocean and providing support to the cruiser carrying Prince Olav of Sweden, after returning from exile.

"Oslo and Copenhagen were celebrating the end of occupation. It was euphoric," he says.

Mr. Hillyard returned to Toronto after the war to raise five children with his wife Elizabeth. He lived in Whitby for 16 years and was an insurance salesman for 25.

The couple recently moved to Richmond Hill to live with his daughter after Mrs. Hillyard developed some health issues.

The 83-year-old says he used to share his story with school children, but adds while his war experience was different than other vets, there are still things he doesn't like discussing from the war.

But Mr. Hillyard counts it also as a chance to stress the importance of the poppy campaign in providing services to veterans and their dependents.

"I'd like to emphasize how much Whitby returns to us in contributions -- they've never disappointed us," he adds.

Mr. Hillyard speaks from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the central branch, 405 Dundas St. W. in Whitby.

Those interested in attending, can register at the second floor information desk in the library, or by calling 905-668-6531 ext. 2020 or e-mailing askalibrarian@whitbylibrary.on.ca.