100-year-old veteran shares navy memories

In honour of Remembrance Day, the town of Didsbury hangs banners with photos around the community honouring local veterans. That includes a banner for 100-year-old Bill Jepps, a World War II Royal Canadian Navy veteran and current Didsbury resident. Well, I guess it's just something I volunteered to do. At the Didsbury Museum, Jepps points to an old photo of the HMCS Glace Bay, the frigate he served on during the latter part of the war. Originally from Redland, Alberta, Jeps signed up for the Navy in Calgary in 1943. His older brother was already in the Army. At 17, Jeps had to get permission from his father. It wasn't long before we were on a troop train east. The Glace Bay escorted supply convoys across the North Atlantic between eastern Canada and northern Ireland. The convoy supplies were critical for the war effort. The journey across the Atlantic was dangerous, but he says the U-boat menace was starting to ease off late in the war. While eager to serve, the young, able seaman was mindful of the risks and sacrifices faced by all who served. He still thinks of it decades later as people gather to honour them. Well, I hope that they would think about... Mostly about the young men, some women, that never came back. Dave Gilson, CBC News, Didsbury.