This Canadian Survived the War...But Didn't Make It Home-- Part 1: Ray Hilchey

From the May 7, 2022, CBC News "He survived  the Second World War, but this Nova Scotia  airman never made it home" by Richard Woodbury.

Ray Hilchey enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 and died just days after the war ended in Europe at age 22 helping repatriate prisoners.

Stanley and Loretta Hilchey were on their way home from church on Mother's Day 1945 when they noticed somebody on their veranda at their west-end Halifax home.

The date was May 13, just six days after the city erupted in a two-day celebration of the end of the war in Europe after Germany surrendered that turned sour when more than 200 people were arrested when mas looting occurred.  Over 500 businesses were damaged.

They had three sons.  Two were serving as part of the war effort.  With the war over, they had felt that their sons were finally safe.  The person on the veranda  was there to deliver a telegram.  Stanley signed it and opened the envelope and read it and a stunned look came across his face.

It read:  "Regret to advise you that your son Flying Officer Ray Bertram Hilchey missing believed killed, result of flying  operations overseas May ninth."

--GreGen

Sydney Harbour, Canada, Played Role in Both World Wars

From the March 3, 1913, Cape Breton Post by Rannie Gillis.

Both Sydney and Halifax Harbours in Canada played important roles in the world wars as bases for wartime convoys which could easily accomodate 100 vessels.

The use of convoys in the First World War didn't start until the last year of the war.

During the Second World War, there were two distinct types of convoys.  "Fast Convoys" consisted of ships that could keep up with at least 10 knots and left from Halifax.  "Slow Convoys" left from Sydney Harbour.  Both harbors were also bases for escort ships.

A small naval facility was started at Sydney, HMCS Protector.

Never Heard of Sydney Harbour.  --GreGen