It looks as though the last remaining Second World War veteran from the lower Sunshine Coast has died.
After hearing about the death of veteran William (Bill) Hamill, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 17, the Coast Reporter reached out to local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in search of other veterans of the war, which was fought between 1939 and 1945.
Hamill served as an upper rear gunner on Lancaster Bombers with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, flying 30 missions over Germany and France. He then went on to have a distinguished career with the Canadian National Railway, including five years in Tanzania, representing CN and working for the Canadian International Development Agency.
In October 2015, Hamill moved to Gibsons, where he volunteered at the Gibsons Public Market. When asked about the secret to his longevity, he would proudly say, "Everything in moderation." Hamill died four days short of his 101st birthday and his obituary appeared in the Coast Reporter, Sept. 2.
Bill McLean, president of Sechelt Legion, says with the passing of these veterans, their stories are also fading away, which is why it’s important to record them while they’re still alive. It’s why Legions across the country are typically happy to receive memorabilia, such as a recent donation made by the family of Norm Waddell, a highly decorated veteran.
“If you come in the front door, where the snug is, we have a tribute board his family donated to us before we moved over here,” says McLean of the recent move by the branch to a new location. “But there it is on the wall, almost his whole service career during the war is there for you to see on the board.”
McLean notes the branch lost its last Second World War veteran, Paul Lasuta, last year at the age of 102.
“He actually had six brothers total and all six served in World War Two,” says McLean. “And all six came home. He was Royal Canadian Navy.”
Lasuta was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, who served on Motor Torpedo Boat #735 and saw action in Europe.
McLean said another Second World War veteran from Sechelt passed away during COVID. He said the veteran, who was in his 90s, joined the Legion just prior to the start of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the man passed away before COVID was over, so he never had the chance to visit the Legion.
“But I was able to chat with him on the phone and he loaned me a binder,” says McLean, who notes he never wrote the man’s name down. “I was able to look through it and it was like, oh my god, this is just unreal.”
Turns out, the man was part of a football team made up of members of the naval reserve division HMCS Donnacona and the communications training school HMCS St. Hyacinthe, which won the Grey Cup against the Hamilton Wildcats in November, 1944.
According to the Gibsons, Sechelt and Roberts Creek Legions, there are no more Second World War veterans living in those areas. But, the Coast Reporter was told by the Powell River Legion, they have at least one Second World War veteran who is still a member.
If there’s anyone out there who knows of other Second World War veterans still living on the Coast, please get in touch at [email protected].
