Bruce Ivan Hillman was born on October 12,1921 the youngest son of William Wallace Hillman and Corlena Peckham. He died in a train accident at Lawrence Station on July 14, 1945 just a month or so after he returned home from service overseas.
In the late 1930’s and the early 1940’s Dutton was a hockey powerhouse in the Ontario Rural Hockey League. Bruce was very much with his brother John Arnold Hillman a part of the Dutton Thistles' success. I have included a photo of the Dutton High School hockey team that won a championship in the 1940/41 hockey season. Bruce is the goalie though that was never his favorite position.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air force on May 6 1941. He trained as a pilot in London, Aylmer, Trenton, and Hagersville. He left oversees Feb. 18 1943 and was attached to the RAF’s 65th squadron, where he flew Spitfires and Hurricanes.
He married Betty Alice Horsburgh Jan.1, 1945 while stationed in England.
The middle photo is of members of the 65th squadron taken sometime in 1944.
2 comments:
Hello,
My name is Amanda O'Brien my Mother
is Betty Alice Hurley, she was married to Bruce Hillman, her maiden name was Horsborough, she is still alive and living in Port Elizabeth South Africa, I have many photos of Bruce which she kept, please contact me should you be interested
Hi,
My name is Amanda Jane O'Brien my Mother is Betty Alice Hurley, she was married to Bruce Hillman and after he died she married my father Edward Frank Hurley, she is still alive and lives in Port Elizabeth South Africa, I have photos of Bruce which she gave me
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