There’s not much that can surprise Second World War navy veteran Bill Saunders, he turned 99 last Friday.
However he was caught off guard when members of Branch 1 of the Royal Canadian Legion in St. John’s, Newfoundland showed up in front of his house to sing “Happy Birthday.”
Bill opened the garage door in his home and stood there in pajama pants and a sweater to greet his friends. If he’d known they were coming, family members said, he’d have dressed in his legion uniform and pinned his service and legion medals to his chest. Granddaughter Jenna Fitzpatrick said the visit by legion members made her grandfather’s day. “The legion is his second family.”
Bill Saunders was 18 when he joined the Navy in 1939. He was a gunner on a ship that took part in the June 6th, 1944 D-Day invasion force in France. His legs still show the marks of wounds he suffered when a shell exploded near him. He also served on ships protecting convoys crossing the Atlantic, and on ships that sailed to Asia and Australia.
Bill said he keeps his mind active by reading. Currently, he said, he’s reading a book about the Royal Naval Reserves in the First World War and said one thing he has learned is you have to deal with whatever comes in your path, like the current pandemic.
Happy Belated 99th Birthday to Bill Saunders of St. John’s, Newfoundland and thanks for your service from Hot Country 1035.
-Ian
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