True and Fascinating Canadian History
Honour Roll #81
St Peter's Cemetery. Peterborough, ON.
by
Toronto Vet Jack O'Reilly
& J. J. Healy
On November 7th, 1958, Reg. # 20307 Cst. J. Terrence Hoey was on regular police duty when he killed by a shotgun blast at Botwood, Newfoundland. At the time, he was investigating a possible murder. R.I.P.
On November 7, 2008, fifty years to the day of his death, a very meaningful and emotional Memorial Service was conducted at Constable Hoey's gravsite in Peterborough, Ontario.
The Service was an opportunity to recall the life of Constable Hoey and to pray for a memorable and loving son, a brother, a friend and a member of the Force. The Service was arranged in cooperation with the RCMP Toronto Vets, the Peterborough Vets and RCMP District Commander Inspector Glenn Hanna.
The seed to begin planning for the Memorial began with Toronto Vets Jack O'Reilly and Wayne Barry. The two Vets were the principal organizers of Cst. Hoey's Memorial service. The actual planning began when Jack and Wayne contacted the RCMP during the summer of 2007 to suggest a 50th year Memorial Service.
District RCMP Insp. Glenn Hanna was in complete agreement and later, after the Memorial Service, he was highly complimented for all the work which he did towards the Memorial Service. In Peterborough, Inspector Hanna also received additional help from Vet Ralph deGroot who was in Terry's Troop at 'Depot' in 1958.
The Service was held at St. Peter's Cemetery, 895 Monaghan Rd at 10:00 on November 7, 2008. RCMP Chaplain Gerry McMillan presided.
Originally, only 10 people were expected for the Memorial Service, however, it quickly escalated as more and more people heard about it. In the end, over 80 friends and family turned out to honour Cst. Hoey. The group included members of Terry's family, representatives from the OPP and the Peterborough Police. RCMP 'B' Division (Newfoundland) was represented by Sgt. Harold Nippard.
This speech was presented at Terry's Memorial Service. It was given by Scott Fryer, son of Patricia Fryer who was Terry Hoey's youngest sister.
St Peter's Cemetery. Peterborough, ON.
Constable Terry Hoey was three weeks out of Basic Recruit Training, when on the night of November 6, 1958 he and two other RCMP officers went to the Harbourview Café in Botwood, NL. It was suspected the owner of the cafe, Tom Ling was emotionally disturbed and had killed his 22 year old son or was holding him prisoner.
Shortly after midnight on November 7th, Constable Hoey called out to Ling to open the door to his barricaded upstairs living quarters. A shotgun blast ripped through the wooden door, striking Cst Hoey in the chest, killing him.
Later that morning tear gas specialists arrived from Gander. The Botwood Fire Department was called as a precautionary measure in case of a fire when tear gas was fired into the living quarters. When the tear gas was fired, Tom Ling responded with several blasts. Fire Chief Graham LeDrew was wounded in the arm and had to be air lifted to St. John’s for treatment.
A raging fire did break out but was extinguished and the shooting stopped. At 10:20 am, Tom Ling and his son Ken were found dead. Both had died about the same time from smoke asphyxiation.
Constable Hoey was buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in his hometown of Peterborough, ON on November 11th. His was the first funeral in the new St Anne’s Church which he had helped build a few years earlier.
There is a Regimental RCMP headstone on his grave. Ralph de Groot (Toronto Vets) and Paddy Ryan (Golden Horseshoe Vets) were troopmates of Terry Hoey, as well as Art Daye (Newfondland/Labrador Vets).
On August 4, 2018 was the the 60th anniversary of Terry’s death, the current owner of the service station and cafe renamed it to it’s original name, the Harbourview Cafe and a plaque was attached to the building in memory of Constable Hoey.
The renaming of the restaurant prompted Don LeDrew to suggest to the Mayor of Botwood that a wreath be placed on Terry’s grave on behalf of the citizens of Botwood. Don LeDrew is an army veteran (Black Watch) who is living near Peterborough. Don is from Botwood and was 15 years of age at the time of Terry’s death and vividly remembers the events of November 7, 1958. Don’s uncle was the Fire Chief Graham LeDrew who was wounded.
The placing of a wreath by Don LeDrew (dressed in civilian clothes) was planned for Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 2:00 pm at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 895 Monaghan Rd., Peterborough, ON. Don represented the Botwood Town Council on behalf of and in appreciation of Terry Hoey who laid down his life in the line of duty, the first police officer to die in Newfoundland since it entered into Confederation in 1949.
Veteran Ralph de Groot arranged for the Rededication Service in Peterbourough and he contacted the Mayor of Peterborough and the Chief of the Peterborough Police Force. Terry’s only surviving sister, Patricia Fryer has been kept informed and planed to attend.
An invitation was also extended to members of the RCMP Vets who wish to attend.
by Jack O’Reilly
Graves Committee
Toronto Division Vets.
Jack O'Reilly. Vets Toronto, ON.
