A Lifetime of Service
My father, Arthur Fredrick Haley, is a 105-year-old Veteran of World War II living in Wiarton, Ont. Art joined up in 1943 despite having a wife and a young family of three. After preliminary training at Camp Borden in Ontario and CFS Debert in Nova Scotia, he shipped out on the SS Île de France, reaching Grenoch, Scotland, on May 8, 1944. He received further training in England as a sniper with the Queen’s Own Rifles. On July 30, he crossed the English Channel, landing north of Caen, France. He became a replacement member of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders as a newly minted stretcher bearer. His infantry division advanced against the Germans at Falaise in France, then advanced to Boulogne and on to Scheldt Estuary in Holland to liberate the Dutch. Art and his son, David, attended both the 50th and 60th anniversaries of the liberation of Holland. While overseas, Art wrote many moving poems (see his poem Falaise at right) and continued this hobby when he returned home in 1946. He has published two books of poems: Haley’s Comments and The Return of Haley’s Comments, as well as his autobiography, No Regrets. Art wrote more than 300 letters home to his beloved wife, Alberta, which she kept. Art has volunteered most of his adult life and has been presented with many certificates of appreciation, including the Caring Canadian Award in 2001, presented by Adrian Clarkson; the Veterans Affairs Commendation Award in 2007 and the Bruce Peninsula Volunteer Award. He spent 20 years volunteering at the local school as a tutor and in the library. Art is also an 80-year member of the Masonic Lodge. He was inducted into the Billy Bishop Hall of Fame in 2001. Art’s latest awards include the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and the Legion of Honour from France in 2014. In November 2018, his granddaughter presented him with a Quilt of Valour. Art and his wife, Alberta, who died in 1994, were married for 56 years and had six children, 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Art now resides in a long-term care home but is very alert and is enjoying being looked after. His life’s philosophy is “Think positive, have a sense of humour and stay healthy.”