213 www.on.legion.ca ONTARIO COMMAND HICK, Allan Arthur Allan was born in London, Ontario on November 30, 1926. In July 1944, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy and was assigned to HMCS St. Boniface and HMCS Crescent. He served on the High Seas during World War II. Allan’s fondest memory the war was on Christmas Day 1945. While tied to the Esquimalt Harbor in British Columbia, he was called to the Captain’s cabin. It was tradition on Christmas Day that the youngest man in the crew is honorary Captain. The Captain left him with his jacket and hat and left him in charge. The HMCS Winnipeg had arrived that night and Allan knew he had had a good friend aboard. He requested that he was to be brought to him. Allan and his buddy spent time together having a drink and laughed about their training days in Cornwallis. He also did the Captain’s rounds of the entire ship which drew jeers and surprise from other members of the crew. Alan has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Vimy Branch 145 for forty Years. HILL, Ralph Roschman Ralph was born in Kitchener, Ontario on February 21, 1922 to John and Yaddah (Roschman). He had three brothers and three sisters: Leonard, Carina, Murray, Madeline, Stanley and Elizabeth. Ralph received his schooling in Kitchener, Ontario, and like most boys his age, enjoyed hockey and baseball. He worked as a stock-keeper and shipping-clerk with John Forsythe Limited in Kitchener before he enlisted during World War II with the Royal Canadian Air Force on October 21, 1941, at 19 years of age. Ralph’s older brother Leonard also served in the RCAF overseas as a Flight Sergeant with 422 Squadron. On February 9, 1943, S/P Hill’s Spitfire crashed into a tree during an air accident while attempting to pull out of a shallow dive. He is buried in Section C, Grave 40 in Llantwit Major Cemetery in Glamorganshire, United Kingdom. Sergeant Pilot Ralph Hill is gratefully remembered today as a “Son of Waterloo” and his picture hangs on the Memorial Wall in the City Hall in Waterloo, Ontario. HICKMOTT, Kenneth Russell Kenneth was born in Ruthven, Ontario on June 16, 1924. On June 30, 1942, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He flew 36 missions bombing many strategic sites during World War II. He was part of the 619 Squadron during his time in England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, France and Germany Star, Canada Defense Medal, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. A new medal was awarded to those men who were part of the Bomber Command. Ken was so proudly presented the Bomber Command Medal, by his grandson Nick who is a USA Navy Chaplain, just a year before he died. He was very proud of his service and later in life he wished he had stayed in the Air Force. Upon returning to civilian life he worked at Heinz in Leamington while studying to be a chemist. He then took a job in Detroit and finished his career at the GM Hydro-Matic plant testing metals for transmissions. He married Darlene Shaw in 1946 and they had four girls and one boy. During his life he has maintained a close relationship with his 619 Comrades, attending many reunions both in Canada and England. Kenneth passed away on February 2, 2014.
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