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The waves coming over the bow of the ship would often be over 15-feet high. For someone who couldn’t swim well, it was not a welcome sight.

I guess that one would have to go all the way back to 1936; the year when the Royal Canadian Navy first called out to me. I was only 12 at the time, so I had a few years to wait. At 16 I filled out all of the required application forms, including my parents' consent and several letters testifying as to my character and moral conduct. Alas, the Navy replied that they were no longer enlisting Boy Seamen, so just wait and try again. At 17 I tried again, but received the same reply. At 18 I received a reply to the effect that, because I wore glasses, they turned me down again. Now by this time it was 1942; the war had been going on for a bit over two years, and I was getting desperate.

Ken was born in Sunderland, England in 1925. When he was 15 years old, Ken’s father enlisted him in the Air Training Corp in the hopes that it would give him some structure. Ken can remember riding his bike up the hill as a kid and watching the trainee pilots. Occasionally they’d take him up with them, even though they weren’t supposed to.

Ronald first joined the military in 1952, when he was only 17 years old. He served during the cold war, and was deployed to the Middle East from1960-1961. During that time, he was part of the Special Forces unit. He drove a large tractor truck and transported supplies between Egypt and Israel, driving across the large Sinai Desert, which is 61 thousand square km and separates the two countries. He stayed with the military for 20 years.

The year is 1935: in Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler has reinstated the Luftwaffe, violating the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. It is at this time that 14-year-old Ivor Lloyd Rooney joins the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Bugle Band to pursue his love of music.

Story written by Hazel, a resident at Deerwood Creek Care Community in Etobicoke, ON, in memory of her husband, Thomas Keen.

Biography written by Winifred’s daughter.

Winnifred Grant’s childhood was bookended by war. Born in London, England, in 1918, just as the first world war came to a close, Winnie joined the Royal British Air Force and entered WWII when she was still in her teens.

Vitaliano joined the Fanteria 19^th regiment of the Italian Army and completed basic training in Nicastro, in the province of Catenzaro, Italy. He was sent to Crete,Greece, which was a very active area in World War II, with numerous bombings.

Peitro was a foot soldier in the Italian Army. He completed his training in Como, Milano and Antora. He was then deployed to Russia in October 1943, where he fought along the Sol Don River.

Armando enlisted in the Italian Army in 1942, hoping to become a police officer. After training as a foot soldier in Caserma Macao, Rome, Armando was set to be deployed when Italy declared “aminstia” – they had surrendered.

Twenty-eight years after the horrific Halifax explosion, the sky over the harbour was once again erupting with the shimmer and thunder of heavy artillery.

You can always rely on 97-year-old Joyce Schmalz to turn the worst situation into an opportunity for change.