Bill Duncan was born September 23, 1940 in Waterloo, Quebec. He grew up in and around Montreal and when he was 17 he decided to join the Royal Canadian Navy. Training took place at HMCS Cornwallis, and in short order he was assigned to HMCS La Hulloise, a frigate. Bill worked in the engine room, where he took on the role of stoker. He expected to continue in that position on HMCS Bonaventure, an aircraft carrier in Canada’s 1960s fleet, but instead he came to be involved in all types of flight deck operations. Bill spent just over a year on the carrier, after which came his final ship, the frigate HMCS Lauzon. After that Bill left the navy and returned to Montreal, later heading to the Greater Toronto area, where he lived in Burlington and Oakville. While there he became involved in the Halton Naval Veterans Association, where he has maintained his connection to the navy and become involved in community activities centred around commemoration. Bill Duncan was interviewed by Scott Masters at Legion Branch 60 in Burlington, Ontario, courtesy of the Burl-Oak Naval Veterans.
