Bill Merritt lived history every hour he spent with the Canadian Army in Europe during the Second World War.
One of those moments occurred in the Netherlands in 1945 when he came across a discharged V-1 flying bomb, one of the thousands fired by Nazi Germany from launch sites along the French and Dutch coasts towards targets in England.
The English called them Doodlebugs and these cruise missile forerunners claimed nearly 23,000 casualties, most of whom were civilians.
"They were loaded with a ton of TNT on the nose comb," said Merritt, a Truro native. "They were set by a device and could fly six miles when they were launched.
"When you saw one coming you had very little time to take cover. Those Doodlebugs could do a lot of damage for a fair distance when they struck."
Merritt arrived in England in 1944 where he was assigned to the signal corps.
"Our job was communications," he recalled. "Dispatching riders to make certain important messages got through was part of what we did. We were also attached to the artillery and worked closely with those on the front lines."
The 21-year-old corporal was in Germany when the war ended in 1945.
"We were shelling German submarine pits when dispatch riders brought printouts. That's how we found out the war was over."
For Merritt, the war years are important history and he feels younger generations should recognize the terror and destruction that come with such conflicts.
"People should realize the importance of Germany's unconditional surrender May 8, 1945 and Japan agreeing to surrender August 15, 1945," he said.
Merritt went to work that same year for Purdy Motors in Halifax and he would spend the next five decades in the automotive business.
"I came to Truro a couple years later with Christie Motors when they were on Inglis Street at the corner of the Esplanade," he said. "Later, I worked for Glassey Motors and after that I was service manager at Briarwood Ford.
"I enjoyed the car business and working with people. I tried to take everything in stride. Car dealerships allowed me to stay in Truro where I wanted to be."
Merritt, now 86, has also spent the past 51 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion (Colchester Branch 26) where he spent two terms as president.
"Bill has been a mentor of mine," said legion president Murray Dawson said. "We met 17 years ago when I first joined the legion. Bill has been so good in getting things done for the legion. He's such a caring, considerate person. I can't say enough about him."
Merritt also was a driving force behind the well-being of convalescents. Delivering beds, wheel chairs and crutches considerable distances from Truro became his trademark.
"There was always someone who needed a wheelchair or a bed," he said. "I was blamed a time or two for spoiling people."
These days Merritt enjoys spending time with legion member Peter Grant.
"I enjoy Peter and I help him out in any way I can. He took over my job on medical supplies. I enjoy getting down to the legion every day. Getting to see my comrades is good."
TAGLINE: Lyle Carter's column appears every Tuesday in the Truro Daily News. If you have a story idea, contact him at 673-2857.
