Calgary's decorated WWII veteran Capt. Bill Wilson passes away at 101
Former Royal Canadian Navy captain Bill Wilson, a highly decorated World War II veteran and key figure in Calgary's military community, died at age 101.
Bill Wilson, a Winnipeg native who joined the Royal Canadian Navy at 18, served as a seaman gunner on HMCS Ottawa during the Battle of the Atlantic and participated in the Normandy invasion. Following his wartime service he worked for Canadian Pacific, moved to Calgary in the 1970s, and remained active in the naval reserve until retiring in 1979. Wilson co-founded the Naval Museum of Alberta in 1984 and was instrumental in raising $26 million to launch The Military Museums, the country’s largest combined army, navy and air-force complex.
His relentless drive to secure historic artifacts earned him the moniker “Captain Rabbit.” He was honored with the Alberta Order of Excellence, and his life will be celebrated at HMCS Tecumseh on August 10. The news w.
Why it matters
The passing of a prominent veteran highlights the fading living memory of WWII and his contributions to preserving Canadian military heritage.
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