GRANDFATHER
Emigrated from Bristol, England in 1888
Retirement party at home, Dec.31st, 1985/went
to work the next morning from 8am to 12 noon to get full pension.
CAWLEY, WILLIAM A. (KING)
RCAF AC1 WWll
Born: 12th, October, 1923
Died: 06th, October, 1992
"You Are Always With Me"
I lost more than a father the day he died, he was also my closest friend. He had walked about two miles from St. Jopseh's Hospital that morning after having some blood work done, and arrived at Tim Horton's Donuts in our neighborhood. I was at my brothers putting a new roof on his house, when he came home at 12.15 to tell me of our fathers death. He had a heart attack, he went quickly the doctors told us, never knew what hit him, which was a blessing for he had a low tolerance to pain.
I believe god caught him cheating on his diabetic diet in the donut shop and decided to bring him home, or he was upset with the price of the coffee and donut. Thinking about it 15 years later, we are wondering that if he paid for the coffee and donut and he din't get to eat or drink then maybe we are owed a free coffee and donut eh. Me brother Dick and I hoped he was in heaven a good half hour before the devil knew he was dead.
He had a zest for life and touched many as he had a talent for kindness. The man never had an enemy that we(his family) knew of.
This pic was done by our local Police sketch artist on his retirement. He was drawn wearing a Black Hawk jersey bearing the H for the start of Bobby Hulls name and the number 9 and Bobby Hull autographed it in October, 98. He would be proud. Mr. Hull said "I hope your father isn't upset with me defacing his print with my signature" and I thought that the only thing that would upset my father at this time was the fact he never got to meet his favorite hockey player. I relayed the fact that my father was no longer with us. Mr. Hull replied "I am sorry" and I said "not as sorry as he is, he never got to meet you". He along with some of his friends formed the North End Little League, being the avid sports enthusiast and active in sports as a young man. Baseball, Hockey and Golf were his favorite pasttimes.
He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and retired from active service in 1945. He was a tail gunner (an American term) in the Lancaster Bomber. He never talked of the war.
Upon his retirement from the RCAF he was employed by the City of Saint John Fire Department where he served for 33 years and retired with the rank of Captain.
He was Past President of the North End Little League, the Jervis Bay Memorial Branch No. 53, Royal Canadian Legion and the International Association of FireFighters, Local 771 in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Not too bad for a man with a grade 8 education, he was self taught and read continuously about many things that caught his interest. He always kept a dictionary in the bathroom for the longest time. Read and study a word a day he would say.
He would often reiterate when going on the night shift, "well I am off to work, good night, a 100,000 people will sleep better tonight knowing I'm on the job". When asked by an out of town firefighter, "how well do you fellows do your job Bill", and father replied, "let's see, Oh Yes, we have never lost a foundation."
Friends of mine from high school went on to become firefighters with assistance from my father and most would like to have been in his group. They often said that the "KING" would let you fight the fire and would send nobody where he wouldn't go himself, first. The nickname "KING" came as a result of being caught on the throne several times during station alarms."L".
One time he and his group during the wee hours of the morning left the North End Station for the west side of the city. Upon arriving at the scene there was no fire and the "KING", well he radio'd Central for an address confirmation of the fire. Central was somewhat surprised, as they hadn't dispatched anybody, "KING, what the hell are you doing in West Saint John" central asked responding to his query. A little embarrassing to say the least, it was found out later that day that the "KING" had dreamnt there was a fire and an alarm, talk about taking your work to bed with you."L"
A few months had gone by when the "KING" received an anonymous envelope from Florida. Inside was a comic strip cut from a newspaper in Florida, it said, "He can remember every daily double and triactor but can't remember the last time he dreamnt of a false alarm. It fit, he was an avid fan of harness racing and somebody out there knew he had a sense of humor.
I miss him at breakfast, something we did once a week, I miss our arguing, we never agreed on much and yet we never parted angry.
Wherever you are "KING", tis surely a better place with you in it.
Oh father look out the "QUEEN" is on her way, me mother passed away at 12 minutes to 4 in the morning of April 25th, 2007, with hon and myself along with me sister and her husband Bill at her side. She is on her way to be with "The King" and bringing her feline companion "Buster".
I can't help thinking, that in 1949 she witnessed me first breath and on Wednesday morning, I witnessed her last breath, peacefully.
To our mother we say, 'GOODBYE, GODSPEED, AND GODBLESS'
I would like to thank "Mustang" for the picture of the Lancaster Bomber. Please visit Mustang in Florida by clicking on the P51 image.
