At 101 years old, Tom’s memory remains sharp. He can recite a poem from his youth called Two Frogs, which narrates the story of two frogs trapped in a bowl of cream, with one of them persevering until he escapes. The triumphant message: “You will always win if you never give in.”

Tom was born in Berry Creek, Alberta, 160 kilometers east of Calgary. His father immigrated to Canada with his two older brothers, accompanied by his new bride. However, their attempt at establishing themselves in Canada wasn’t successful, leading them to move to England when Tom was just two years old. They settled in Yatton, England, located south of Bristol.

After graduating from high school, Tom began his career as a Youth in Training (YIT) for Post Office Engineering in 1940. The UK’s postal service not only managed mail delivery but also operated the telephone network across the country. Tom’s family had a history with the Postal Service, as he had uncles on his mother’s side who also worked in the same field.

Eager to contribute to his country during wartime, at the age of 17 Tom volunteered for the Royal Air Force. His training was delayed because of his essential role in the Post Office Engineering department. It wasn’t until 1942 that he was able to begin his training at the Air Crew Reception Centre (ACRC) in Hyde Park, London.

Tom learned to pilot the Tiger Moth and fondly recalls his first solo flight, which took place at Smith’s Lawn which was used as an airfield during the war in Windsor Great Park. His instructor added to his nerves, saying, “OK Burdge, just land here and let me out,” he recounted. Tom braced himself, fearing the worst. However, to his surprise, he was then directed to complete his solo flight and return to pick up his instructor afterward. With a lighthearted warning, “Just remember, don’t hit the bloody castle!” 

Transitioning to pilot training on the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, Tom found his passion for flying. He remembers the plane well, even its quirks. “Both engines on the Mosquito rotated the same direction. If you weren’t careful, and were a little abrupt in opening the throttle, the aircraft would swing to the left instead of going straight.” It was these quirks that added to his love of flying the Mosquito.

By 1943, a Pilot Officer after training in Alberta, Tom was then stationed in Banff, Scotland. Flying the Mosquitos, Tom and his navigator traversed the Norwegian coast, scanning for enemy-controlled supply ships transporting goods in either direction between the German empire and the Norwegian garrison. Tom’s job was to fire on these supply ships, ensuring the supply line was cut. “We would look for them in a fiord moored at small dock, or anchored off in the fiord and ferrying across supplies.” Ensuring the Mosquito was never more than 50 feet above the water to avoid radar detection for the journey, when they got close they would go up to approximately 3,000 feet, so they could dive on the enemy ships. “It was more efficient to dive on the target. We had four 303 machine guns in the nose sticking out, and four 20-mm cannon. It was right under your feet, and your feet would jump. And it would make a heck of a racket!”

For 80 years, Tom (on the left) and his navigator Sid Pritchard (on the right), remained dear friends, marked by countless phone calls, emails and visits by Tom from Canada to England.

The Germans were excellent gunners and Tom would inevitably get a few hits. “You would get your fuel line severed occasionally, but we had drop tanks for moments like those.” The more concerning situation was the eight RP-3 unguided rockets, and watching out for his own friendly fire. “The rockets had tremendous power. If you hit the hull of the enemy vessel, under the waterline, it did the most damage. But if it didn’t hit anything solid inside, sometimes they would come out the other side of the ship. They would curl up and come back towards us.”

Tom’s navigator, Sid Pritchard, would keep watch and helped avoid two very close calls. As scary as it was, Tom said the bonus was, you would get two holes for the price of one. 

After the war, Tom continued his involvement with aviation as a volunteer reservist until 1946. He then pursued a civilian career, obtaining his commercial pilot’s license and working for a private air navigation school. Eventually, he made the decision to join his family’s dairy farming business in England, which led him back to Canada in 1958.

Settling on Vancouver Island with his first wife, Tom balanced farming with various career endeavors, including selling dairy equipment, working in insurance, and later venturing into real estate development. Even in his retirement years, Tom remained active in his community through volunteering, odd jobs, and an active member of the Vancouver Island Aircrew Association.

Tom met Kathy in 1990 and they were married in 2009. Tom and Kathy share a blended family with children, step-children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all are very close and visit often.

Tom’s life journey, filled with adventure and resilience, brought him to a point in his life where he needed more support day to day. So in 2023 Tom moved to Veterans Memorial Lodge. The view from his room overlooks Rithet’s Bog, which in a remarkable twist, is an area of former farm land he once worked.

*** In the early hours of March 1, 2024, surrounded by family, Tom passed away. Like all Canadian and allied veterans, Tom gave up so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today. It was our honour to serve Tom during his time living at Veterans Memorial Lodge, a Broadmead Care Home.

To obtain permission to use this story in your publication, please contact Connie Dunwoody, Communications Coordinator, at connie.dunwoody@broadmeadcare.com.