True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: August, 2019
Reg.#14813, S/Sgt. Edward Cornelius Hill. WWII. DFC
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
This past month I again visited Ottawa’s Library and Archives Canada (LAC) to read the RCAF War Records of Reg.#14813, now deceased former Staff Sergeant and Musical Ride Riding Master Edward Cornelius Hill. I first met Staff Sergeant Hill while undergoing RCMP Basic Recruit Training in the 'Depot' Stables in August, 1964. Eventually, I would learn that he led a very rare and exciting life. At 'Depot' Division, Staff Sergeant Hill was the Riding Master in the Stables, and one could hardly miss the very rare WWII Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) insignia which he wore on his RCMP uniform. That particular badge and what it signified in the minds of Canadians made Staff Sergeant Hill all the more distinguished.
In 1964, word among the recruits was that Staff Sergeant Hill had served honourably during WWII, but no one knew his exploits or the full and dangerous conditions of combat under which he had served. For years and years, his War Records held by the Department of National Defense (DND) have not been accessible to the general public including me.
Edward Hill was born in Scotland in 1924. With the onset of World War II, he volunteered for the Norwegian Merchant Marines as a Seaman. In 1943, his ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat and his ship sank shortly thereafter. Ed Hill and the crew were rescued and transported to Newfoundland and then to Halifax, NS.
Ed Hill then enlisted in the RCAF at Halifax, NS on April 28, 1943 and he was Commissioned a Flying Officer (FO) in August 1944. Canada was at war and all the excitement and the dangers of WWII lay just ahead. Over the next year or so, it became obvious that Ed Hill was well prepared for action in the air.
A citation and a recommendation for the DFC is of such importance that one should read all of it. First, his citation which was taken from his Military File. The citation said, Ed Hill, "completed … numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty." In his file, there is a recommendation dated November 28, 1944 after he had flown 32 sorties (182 hours ten minutes) fro May 27 to 6 October 6, 1944.
And the recommendation for the DFC said this, “Pilot Officer Hill has completed a tour of operations which involved many attacks against the enemy's most heavily defended targets. He has invariably shown great keenness to attack the enemy and the high example he has set has been an inspiration to all. During the course of his tour, his aircraft has, on three occasions, been attacked by enemy night fighters but, primarily due to this Officer's alert search and the precise manner in which he has given instructions to his pilot, his aircraft has not been fired on. “I consider the coolness, courage and high efficiency shown by this officer fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.” There can be no doubt that he flew under the most dangerous of circumstances, and that his skills not only saved his pilot's life, but his own life as the aircraft's co-pilot.
At war's end, Ed Hill was awarded the D.F.C. for his gallant war time service, but no one among all the recruits (including me in 1964) knew about his heroic efforts until his Military File became available. But, there was more fame to the life of Ed Hill.
After WWII, Ed Hill joined the RCMP in Toronto, ON. It was January 31, 1947, and after Basic Recruit Training at “N” Division, Rockcliffe, Ed Hill was posted to general police duties in Winnipeg, Dauphin, Flin Flon and Ashern, MB.
In 1949, Ed was transferred to Ottawa and for the remainder of his service he worked with the Equitation Staff alternating between Ottawa and 'Depot' Division in Regina, SK.
Ed Hill led a distinguished career in the RCMP also. He participated in the Musical Ride in 1949, 1953 (the Coronation Ride), 1956, 1957, (tour of Great Britain) and the 1962 Musical Ride. In September 1958, he was transferred to “Depot” in Regina where he served as the Riding Master. And it was in Regina that I met him for the first time. Ed Hill retired with an honourable pension on October 16, 1965.
But what is more unique about Ed Hill was that he was the famous poster RCMP member that graced every postcard of an RCMP member on horseback throughout the 1950’s, the 1960’s and the 1970’s. The post card of Ed Hill with a long line of war medals and the DFC can still be seen in gift stores today. He was a hero.
Staff Sergeant Eddie Hill had no family except for the RCMP. Over the next few years, after his retirement, his health failed, and he passed away all alone in a Kitchener, Ontario hotel room on July, 8th, 1987. He died from pancreatic cancer. Ed Hill was buried in Waterloo, Ontario.
Over the past fifty years I have often thought of Staff Sergeant Hill, and especially the memories that I have of him in 1964. He was an excellent horse rider and he was very impressive in RCMP Red Serge and mounted on his horse. I am grateful to London, Ontario RCMP Veteran Merle Armstrong for providing me the memorable photo of Ed Hill's grave.
So, the importance RCMP history cannot be underestimated. It is important to recall the heroics of our soldiers whether they fought on the ground, in the navy or in the air. They are all heroes who should not be forgotten. It is very worthwhile to preserve the lives of RCMP members and to honour them for the brave efforts they made towards peace.
The RCMP National Grave Discovery Database allows thousands of Canadians and other people around the world to read of our heroes.
The RCMP National Grave Discovery Database is considered a Canadian treasure.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
August 23, 2019
