Aug 10, 1921 - Jan 22, 2018
Born 10th August 1921 Clevedon, Somerset, England - Passed away 22nd January 2018 Duncan, British Columbia.
Dad will be sadly missed by his children: Carol (David) Ipswich, England; Per (Val); Greta (Kent); Grant (Abeth), of the Cowichan Valley, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
As a young man eager to do his part for the war effort, he enlisted in the RAF at the onset of the war in 1939 and was trained as a pilot on a Hawker Hurricane, a single seat fighter. He saw action over Britain and France during the Battle of Britain, but during a dog fight he sustained injuries to his foot and leg, and was relieved of flying duties. He retrained as a wireless directional operator and electrical mechanic, and volunteered for duty in Japanese occupied Burma. Dad also served in Rangoon and Calcutta.
In 1957 Douglas and family immigrated to Vancouver Island, living in Wellington and Nanaimo for a short spell, before moving to Cobble Hill in 1962 where he lived until 2011. He started work at Crofton in 1958, helping with the construction of the original B.C.F.P. pulp and paper mill. On completion of the building of the mill, he carried on working in the steam plant and qualified as a steam engineer. He retired in 1986 but kept busy with a plumbing/handy man business into his 80's.
Never a man to sit still for long, he was instrumental in the founding of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 744 Squadron, as well as being a lifetime member and past President of the Royal Canadian Legion 226 Cobble Hill Branch.
A gentle man, Dad loved to putter in his garden and loved all animals, large and small, that passed through his life. We will miss him.
There will be a graveside service for family at St. Andrew's Church, Cowichan Station at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the S.P.C.A.
With our love on your final flight...