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Under Orders: Sid Halley's Journey from the Halifax Shipyards to the Battlefields of World War II

Justin Bell

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Published in Under Orders (Sid Halley 4)

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Sid Halley was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1921. He grew up in a working-class family and attended school in the city's north end. After graduating, he found work as a welder in the Halifax Shipyards.

Under Orders (Sid Halley series Book 4)

by Dick Francis

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1047 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	332 pages

In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and World War II began. Sid Halley, like many other young Canadians, felt a sense of duty to his country. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1940 and was assigned to HMCS Ottawa, a destroyer escort.

HMCS Ottawa was part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet, which was responsible for protecting convoys of merchant ships from German U-boats. Sid Halley served on the Ottawa for two years, participating in numerous convoy escort missions. In 1942, the Ottawa was transferred to the RCN and assigned to the escort group for the Arctic convoys.

The Arctic convoys were a vital lifeline for the Soviet Union, which was fighting against Germany on the Eastern Front. The convoys sailed from Halifax to Murmansk, a port in northern Russia. The journey was extremely dangerous, as the convoys were often attacked by German U-boats and aircraft.

Sid Halley served on the Ottawa for three Arctic convoy missions. On one of these missions, the Ottawa was torpedoed by a German U-boat. The ship sank, but Sid Halley and the rest of the crew were rescued.

After the sinking of the Ottawa, Sid Halley was assigned to HMCS Haida, a destroyer. The Haida was part of the RCN's 10th Destroyer Flotilla, which was known as the "Fighting Tenth". The Fighting Tenth participated in numerous convoy escort missions and also took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy.

Sid Halley served on the Haida for the rest of the war. He participated in the liberation of France, the Netherlands, and Norway. He was also present at the surrender of Germany in May 1945.

After the war, Sid Halley returned to Halifax and resumed his work as a welder in the Halifax Shipyards. He married and raised a family. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 87.

Sid Halley's story is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who served in the Canadian Navy during World War II. He is an example of the best of Canada, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Legacy

Sid Halley's legacy lives on in the many ways that he contributed to his community and country. He was a dedicated and skilled welder, and he helped to build some of the ships that fought in World War II. He was also a brave and selfless sailor, and he risked his life to protect his shipmates and his country.

After the war, Sid Halley returned to Halifax and became a leader in his community. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian War Museum. He also spoke to schoolchildren about his experiences in the war, and he helped to keep the memory of those who served alive.

Sid Halley was a true Canadian hero, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Under Orders (Sid Halley series Book 4)

by Dick Francis

4.4 out of 5