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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Submitted by Johnny's daughter:
Johnny Gosling (from Lockeport, NS) and Vic Cooper (from Quebec) both joined HMCS HESPELER in Feb 1944 until she was paid-off and became the best of friends. Vic served as Johnny's best man at Johnny and May Wilson's wedding Apr 20, 1945, in Lockeport, NS.
There were some sailors on HESPELER (from the bowels of the ship who rarely saw daylight when at sea) who were not allowed to go ashore. They were told, you can go ashore as long as you go with Johnny Gosling (who rarely drank and was of very good character). His girlfriend, May Wilson, of Prince George, BC, would have to find a girl for the other guy. Several of the women told May to be careful of Johnny because of the "quality" of his friends as all they talked about was getting drunk. May told Johnny about this and Johnny explained that he felt very sorry for these guys as they were stuck onboard and if he did not accept responsibility for them, they would not be allowed to go ashore.
Mom was in the RCAF (WD) in the Signal Corps and went with a friend from the base to her home in Lockeport, NS. When Mom tried to get on the bus to go back to the base, she was told it was full. Oh boy, Mom asked the driver to please give her a note or something so she could show her Sargeant - the Driver wrote FULL on the back of her ticket. Well Mom and her Lockeport friend went out with a few others from Lockeport and she was squeezed in the back with this Sailor. She was able to return to base the next day. A few days later, somebody told Mom that a Sailor was asking for her, Mom said "but I don't know any Sailors" - well guess who it was, Johnny Gosling with whom she was squeezed in the back seat. And there began their love affair that lasted long after Dad passed.
Mom and Dad married Apr 20, 1945, and after VE day, all the guys on the ship with re-signing to go to the Pacific - Dad did it as well - Mom was shocked and said "and you couldn't talk with me first?" - Dad said "but everybody was doing it, I couldn't be the only one who didn't". They both got demobbed in Vancouver in 1945 - then visited with my Mom's family in Prince George, BC, then returned to Lockeport, NS to live until Mar, 1949, when Dad realized there was not much chance for advancement - so they came to BC for career opportunities. For the last 8 years of his life, Dad would save loonies all year and would travel back to Lockeport every summer. Because of the Navy, he could get a 20 min catnap which would be worth the same as 5 hours for anybody else - would sleep during the day and travel at night.
Ships served in:
Johnny Gosling (left) and Vic Cooper on HMCS HESPELER during the coast transfer from Halifax to Esquimalt after V.E. Day
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