Veterans Affairs Canada has announced that one of the nation’s last surviving veterans from the Second World War has passed away.
A post on social media from the federal agency states that William (Bill) Wilson died on Monday at the age of 101.
Born in Manitoba in 1924, he served on the HMCS Ottawa and was involved in the intense D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, according to Veterans Affairs.
The post also mentioned that after the war, Wilson participated in Canadian delegations for D-Day and Netherlands anniversary events.
His obituary notes that “Captain Bill” was instrumental in establishing both the Naval Museum of Alberta and The Military Museums located in Calgary.
A celebration of his life is set to take place in August at Calgary’s HMCS Tecumseh, which is the Naval Reserve unit where he served most recently.
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“Captain Wilson’s dedication to the Royal Canadian Navy, his unwavering commitment to service, and the lasting impact he had on those who served alongside him leave behind a legacy that will not be forgotten,” remarked the unit on social media Thursday.
William “Bill” Wilson smiles in this undated handout photo. Veterans Affairs Canada @Canada Remembers via Facebook
Wilson was only 14 when World War II began in September 1939. He enlisted on his 18th birthday in November 1942.
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In a video from Valour Canada made in 2015, an organization focused on Canadian military history, Wilson shared that he and his unit “had no idea” about what D-Day would entail during Operation Overlord.
“We really weren’t quite sure what we were going to see,” he recalled.
The invasion caught German defenses by surprise with nearly 160,000 Allied troops and around 14,000 Canadians landing on Normandy’s beaches.
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This invasion is now recognized as marking a turning point toward ending World War II.
Caught amidst thick smoke and loud gunfire, Wilson described how sailors rushed out from landing crafts towards the beaches.
A lot of them were quickly struck down by gunfire.
“You can’t visualize guys coming out of a barge and meeting machine-gun fire and mortars and shells from artillery,” he explained. “We couldn’t visualize that.”
A total of 4,414 Allied troops lost their lives that day; this included 381 Canadians. By the end of the lengthy Battle of Normandy lasting 77 days, there were around 73,000 Allied deaths and about 153,000 wounded soldiers.
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“I think (D-Day) was the best day of the war for the world,” Wilson stated during his interview with Valour Canada. “We did free all of Europe, and Canada was there. For a little nation like ours, it still amazes me.”
“Would I do it again? In spades.”
The website for Veterans Affairs Canada mentions that after WWII ended, Wilson joined the naval reserve and officially retired from active duty in 1979.
This past year in June for Normandy’s commemoration marking its milestone anniversary at D-Day’s location where many soldiers fought bravely back then was attended by him as well as other commemorative events planned for next year celebrating its upcoming anniversaries too!
