WHHS Alumni Who Served

West Hill alumni did their part in contributing to the defeat of Nazi Germany during WW2. A total of 1458 males and a minimum of 82 females (see note above) served in the military forces between 1939 and 1945. The majority (42%) opted to serve in the Air Force; 37% in the Army; and,21% in the Navy. There was a mortality rate of 8.3% (128) of the toal of enlistees. The mortality rates reflected as a percentage of each force are as follows: - Air Force 13.4% (87) ; Army 6.3% (36) ; and the Navy, 1.5% (5). Although the majority of enlistees served in the Canadian Forces there were those who served in the USAF, USMC, USN, US Army, USAF, the RAF, the Fleet Air Arm:, the Merchant Marine, and Medical Corps.

Military Awarda and Distinctions

Military distinctions were awarded to: Boyd Humphrey (RCArmy) O.B.E; Thomas Lewis (RCArmy) D.S.O; James Atkins (RCAF) D.F.C; Alan Bartlett (RCAF) D.F.C; Gordon Bell (RCAF) D.F.C; James D. Bell (RCAF) D.F.C; Robert Borrowes (RCAF) D.F.C; Wilbur T. Gee (RCAF) D.F.C; J. Hollingworth (RCAF) D.F.C; Ivar Johnsson (RCAF) D.F.C; Robert Lee (RCAF) D.F.M; A. MacKenzie (RCAF) D.F.C; Ian Ormston (RCAF) D.F.C; Geral Racine (RCAF) D.F.C; Murray Ross (RCAF) D.F.M; Selby Sinclair (RCAF) D.F.C; Otto Steinberg (RCAF) D.F.C

Note: Died

Those Who Paid the Supreme Sacrifice

The following observations are derived from data gathered from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) web site. At the CWGC each individual is identified by Name and Initial; Nationality; Rank and Regiment; Age and Date of Death; Service No. and Additional Information (Parents and next of kin where possible); Grave Memorial Reference and Cemetery. There are gaps in the data, and it also became evident that some individuals reversed their forenames when attending WHHS. There may be errors and/or omissions. Keeping these limitations in mind, and based upon information obtained from the CWGC, the 1945 and 1946 Annuals the following observations are made.

The First and Last to Fall

The first casualty of the war was 25 year old R.A.F. Flt. Lieut (Pilot) Wilson Hammond on November 13th. 1939 over England. The last to die before VE Day May 8th. 1945 was 22 year old R.C.A.F. Flt. Lieut Arthur Harold Nagley. Both Hammond (281) and Nagley (278) are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial in Englnd.

The Youngest and the Oldest to Fall

The youngest and oldest of the casualties were both Army personel. The youngest was 18 year old Pvt. John David Mitchell serving with the Perth Regiment who died on Friday, 8th. of December 1944 in Italy. The oldest casualty appears to be 34 year old Army Trooper Harold Austin Evans serving with the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars in the 7th. Recon Regiment. He died on Sunday, 23 May, 1943. Pvt. Mitchell is memorialized (VI.G.18) at the Ravenna War Cemetary in Italy, while Trooper Evans is memorialized (40.C.10) at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, England. The majority of all casulties were aged from 19 to 25 years old. There were sixteen 20 year old casulaties alone.

The Three 1938 Classmates from Room 34

Fred 'Freddie' Parker was a graduate of the Science class of 1938. He won his wings and Commission in 1940, and was reported missing on coastal patrol in May of 1941. He is memorialized at the Ottawa Memorial Cemetery. Pilot Officer George Davis was a Flight Sergeant (Air Observer) in the RCAF with the 104 RAF Sqdn. He died at the end of May 1942 and is buried at the Malta Naval Cemetary. Flt. Sergeant Robert Whytock (W.Op/Air Gunner) the third member of the 1938 class was reported missing in July 1942. He is buried in the Netherlands.

The Single Deadliest Year - 1944

There were Alumni Air Force losses in each year of the war from 1939 to 1945. Army loses did not occur until 1943 with Naval loses occurring in 1942 and 1944. The highest losses in any one year for the Air Force (33) and the Army (27) was 1944. During this year 5 RCAF alumni were lost in both August and December. Of the 27 Army casualties in 1944 eight occurred in August.

Sacrifices by the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada

Eight members of the same Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Canada (Cpl. (David) Elliot Pow d.44-07-25; Lance Cpl. James Ferguson Brown d. 44-07-28; Pvt. Joseph Henry Harper d. 44-07-28; Pvt. Herbert Ackerley d. 44-08-02; Pvt. John Robert Stansbury d. 44-08-05; Pvt. Rolf Olsen d. 44-08-08; Lt. Kenneth William Carstairs attached to 1st. Batalion d. 44-08-23; and, Lance Cpl. Kenneth Walter Fitzpatrick d. 44-12-17) all died in the period from July 7th - December 17th. 1944.

Disaster at Dieppe August 18th. 1942

On this day 22 year old Sub-Lieutenant Clifford Davidson Wallace (Royal Canadian Navy Vol. Reserve) with H.M.C.S. Niobe died. He was killed in action during air operations at Dieppe and is buried at Dunkirk Town Cemetery. Flying overhead and taking part in the raid was Pilot Officer Eric Patterson who would die ten days later. Mistakes at Dieppe were used to meticulously plan and execute the D-Day invasion at Normandy in June 1944.

Operation Overlord - The D-Day Invasion June 6, 1944

On that day in 1944 Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of western Europe. The Canadian initial landing was at the Juno Beach sectors of the Normandy coastline. By midday, the beachhead had been won, and by nightfall, Canadians had penetrated further inland than any other Allied seaborne forces. By the end of the day , however, the human toll were over a thousand Canadian casualties, including 359 dead. One of the dead on that historic Tuesday was Lance Bombadier John Robert Birss of the Royal Canadian Artillery - 14 Field Regiment. The following day ( D-Day +1) Wednesday, June 7, 1944, 20 year old Lance Cpl. Rudolph Albert Cochius with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G), R.C.I.C died. Nine days after the invasion had started on Saturday, July 17, 1944, 22 year old Cpl. William Riddlesworth with the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin & Halton Regiment, R.C.I.C died. All three West Hill graduates remain in France forever at the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

Those Lost at Sea

• Clifford Davidson Wallace - H.M.C.S.Niobe - 42-08-18. A WW2 land base in the British Isles (named after HMCS Niobe from WW1)
• Blair Menzies - H.M.C.S. Valleyfield - 44-05-07.
• Gordon A. Davidson - H.M.C.S Skeena - 44-10-25. Lost in gale-force winds in icy waters off Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Rober Oliver Armstrong - H.M.C.S. Shawinigan - 44-11-24
• William John Ware - H.M.C.S.Esquimalt - 45-04-16 The last Canadian ship lost to a U-Boat in WW2

At Peace around the World

All 128 of the WHHS casualties listed in the 1946 Annual are buried in 12 countries: Algeria (1), Belgium (6), Canada (16), Egypt (5), United Kingdom (34), France (23), Germany (9), Italy (13), Malta (2), Netherlands (12), Poland (1), and Unknown and serving in the US forces (6).

Alphabetical Listing of Cemeteries preceeded by the number of casualties buried and/or memorialized there

• (1) OTTAWA MEMORIAL, Canada
• (3) ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Belgium
• (4) ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt
• (1) ANCONA WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (2) BARI WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (1) BEACH HEAD WAR CEMETERY, ANZIO, Italy
• (1) BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY, Germany
• (3) BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS, France
• (2) BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Netherlands
• (2) BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY, Germany
• (1) BONE WAR CEMETERY, ANNABA, Algeria
• (11) BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETER, France
• (3) BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY, England
• (1) CALAIS CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, LEUBRINGHEN Pas de Calais, France
• (1) CHARLEVAL COMMUNAL CEMETERY, FRANCE
• (1) CHELMSFORD (WRITTLE) CEMETARY
• (1) GANANOQUE CEMETERY, Canada
• (1) CHARLEVAL COMMUNAL CEMETERY, France
• (1) CHESTER (BLACON) CEMETERY, England
• (1) CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY, France
• (1) CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY
• (3) CORIANO RIDGE WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (1) DELFZIJL GENERAL CEMETERY, Netherlands
• (1) DUNKIRK TOWN CEMETERY, France
• (2) DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY, GERMANY
• (1) EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY, Egypt
• (1) EVERTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, England
• (1) EXETER JEWISH CEMETERY, England
• (1) FELPHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, England
• (1) FELTWELL (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD, England
• (1) GANANOQUE CEMETERY, Canada
• (1) GANDER WAR CEMETERY, Canada
• (6) GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Netherlands
• (3) HALIFAX MEMORIAL, Canada
• (2) HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY, England
• (1) HEMELUMER OLDEFERD (KOUDUM) GENERAL CEMETERY, Netherlands
• (1) HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY, Belgium
• (1) HONINGTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, England
• (1) IJZENDIJKE GENERAL CEMETERY, Nethwerlands
• (1) ILLOGAN (ST.ILLOGAN) CHURCHYARD
• (1) LAONS COMMUNAL CEMETERY, France
• (1) MALTA (Capuvvini) NAVAL CEMETARY, Malta
• (1) MALTA MEMORIAL, Malta
• (1) MESMONT CHURCHYARD, France
• (1) MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (5) MONTREAL (MOUNT ROYAL) CEMETERY, Canada
• (1) MONTREAL (SHAARE ZION CONGREGATIONAL) CEMETERY, Canada
• (2) MORO RIVER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (1) NETHERAVON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
• (1) ORLEANS MAIN CEMETERY, France
• (3) OTTAWA MEMORIAL, Canada
• (1) OXFORD (BOTLEY) CEMETERY, England
• (1) PLYMOUTH (EFFORD) CEMETERY, England
• (1) POIX-DE-PICARDIE CHURCHYARD, France
• (1) POZNAN OLD GARRISON CEMETERY, Poland
• (1) RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY, France
• (3) RAVENNA WAR CEMETERY, Italy
• (2) REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERYK, Germany
• (1) REYKJAVIK (FOSSVOGUR) CEMETRY, Iceland
• (2) RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY, Germany
• (1) RINGSHALL (ST. CATHERINE) CHURCHYARD, England
• (14) RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, England
• (2) SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY, Belgium
• (1) STRATFORD-ON-AVON CEMETERY, England
• (1) TORONTO (PINE HILLS) CEMETERY, Canada
• (1) TUBBERGEN (ALBERGEN) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY, Netherlands
• (1) TYWYN CEMETERY, England.
• (1) WOODSTOCK METHODIST CEMETARY?
• (6) UNKNOWN

  ---

WHHS WW2 MEMORIAL

1939-1945

Notes

• 1. Attended both WHHS & Montreal High School. Killed in an operational flight off the East Coast.
• 2. Left WHHS school in 1938. Killed in action over enemy territory.
• 3. Moved out west in 1932. Reported missing in the Spring of 1942.
• 4. Came to WHHS from Toronto and Stanstead Schools. Took part in many operations, including the Dieppe Raid. Reported missing in August 1942.
• 5. Attended WHHS (left in 1937) & Verdun High School. Served in the Middle East. Reported missing in July 1942.
• 6. Attended WHHS in the early part of his school course, and moved to another district. Killed in a flying accident during training with the RCAF in Canada.
• 7. Attended both WHHS and Montreal High School, later moving to New Brunswick. Killed in action over England.
• 8. Left WHHS in 1935 and entered Sir george Williams College. Missing on coastal operations in January 1942.
• 9. Also attended Grade XII. Won his commission in the Navy. Killed in action during air operations at Dieppe in August 1942.
• 10. Killed on coastal convoy duty with the R.C.A.F. in Canada. Parker, Whytock, and Davis all sat near to each other during 1938 in Room 34.
• 11. Attended WHHS and Montreal High. Served in many flights overseas. Killed in action in February 1943.
• 12. Left WHHS in 1933. Earned observers wing in 1941. Reported missing over Germany in August 1941.
• 13. Left WHHS in 1936 and moved to Moncton, NB. Killed in action with the R.A.F. in England.
• 14. Came to WHHS from Ottawa in 1930. Joins RAF before the war. Killed in a flying accident while training with the R.A.F. in England in May 1939
• 15. Mid (A) D.R. Brown wrote that his "...dear friend Robert "Bob" Whyte was killed...in a flying accident in a Mustang...he was in a British Unit..He was a prisoner of war for two years and just escaped about a year ago.- He was a fighter pilot shot down in North Africa."
• 16. Transferred to WHHS from Westmount High School. Reported missing in August 1942.
• 17. Killed in flying accident during training with the R.A.F. in England
• 18. Killed in flying accident with R.C.A.F. in Canada
• 19. Leader of an aeroplane club while at WHHS. Joined R.A.F. before war. Killed in operations over England.
• 20. Reported missing in July 1942. Whytock, Parker and Davis all sat near to each other during 1938 in Room 34.
• 21. Reported missing after air operations in February 1942. Davis, Whytock and Parker all sat near to each other during 1938 in Room 34.
• 22. Killed while observer in operational flight.
• 23. Killed during operational flight
• 24. After receiving his commission was posted to Ferry Command. Killed over enemy territory.
• 25. Killed during operational flight over east coast
• 26. Served as fighter pilot overseas. Killed in action over England.
• 27. Went over seas as a wireless air gunner. Killed in a large enemy air raid.
• 28. Killed in an air operation in the Middle East
• 29. Killed in air operations in Dec. 1942
• 30. Killed in action in May 1942.
• 31. Killed in a training accident.
• 32. Enlisted in the Army, and transferred to RCAF. Killed during operational flight.
• 33. Killed during air operation.
• 34. Took part in many operations in the Middle East. Killed during air operation.
• 35. Killed in training flight over England.
• 36. Took part in many operations. Killed during air operation.
• 37. Served overseas in many operations. Killed in action over England December 1942.
• 38. See Gordon Beale's article in the 1931 Annual.