One real story behind the poppy: My grandfather’s Second World War journey

The Ontario government announced today that is introducing the Honouring Veterans Act, a move designed to expand recognition to living veterans and condemn acts of stolen valour — those false claims of military service that cheapen the sacrifices of real heroes.

It brought the memory of my grandfather, Joe Hart, who sacrificed so much of his life as a signalman in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals during the Second World War to the front of my mind this morning. The idea that someone could claim, falsely, to have served their country is pretty low behaviour and worthy of sanction. As Nov. 11 approaches, if you’ll indulge me, I’ll share his story — one I’ve always found remarkable and one he always brushed off as “doing what had to be done. Nothing more.”

He turned 20 aboard the Queen Elizabeth, sailing to England in 1942 among thousands of young soldiers. He returned home four years later, at the age of 24. The years he spent navigating the uncertainties of war, sleeping in the muck and fighting back the Nazis I spent immersed in university life — a contrast that never escapes me. (And also one he thoroughly enjoyed. “I did it so you wouldn’t have to,” he would say.)

My grandfather wasn’t one to dwell on the past. Like many veterans, he was reluctant to talk about his wartime experiences. It was only through the innocent curiosity of a child that he began to share his stories with me, much to the surprise of my mother and aunt, who had rarely heard him speak of those days.

His anecdotes were almost always tinged with humour. He recounted how, lacking fishing gear in the mountains of Italy, they used a Thompson submachine gun to create a concussion in the water, stunning the fish. “You didn’t have to hit them,” he’d say with a grin. “Just shoot near them.”

Then there was the incident outside the Italian town of Ortona. While shaving, he placed his helmet on a truck wheel. A mishap with a makeshift stove used to make a cup of tea caused the truck’s camouflage netting to catch fire. In the chaos, the driver accidentally ran over his helmet. “Flattened it like a pancake,” he laughed. He spent the rest of the war without a proper helmet, a fact he recounted with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Not all memories were lighthearted. On his third day in Sicily, his unit came under attack from enemy aircraft. “We had about five or six killed and 15 to 20 wounded out of 60 guys,” he told me during an interview for an article I wrote about him for the daily newspaper I was working for at the time. “They got the vehicle in front of mine and the one behind it. I was just lucky.” Moments like these revealed the gravity of his experiences. I asked him if there were stories he felt uncomfortable sharing. He nodded, and asked me to move to the next question.

One of his notable contributions was helping to deceive the German forces. When the First Canadian Division left Italy to prepare for D-Day, he stayed behind to send fake radio messages, masking the troop movements. It was a silent operation, but one that played a role in the broader strategy.

After the war, he returned to Holland for the 50th anniversary of its liberation. The gratitude of the Dutch people left a deep impression on him. Visiting Groesbeek Cemetery, where 2,338 Canadian soldiers are buried, he was moved by the care given to the grounds. “They look after those graves better than a lot of people look after their lawns here,” he observed.

My other grandfather, Gerald Humber, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the same war. Although he never left Canadian soil, his service was an essential part of the collective effort. He followed orders and supported the war from home. He passed away when I was young, leaving me with only glimpses of his life and service.

On Remembrance Day, I’m reminded of the sacrifices made by individuals like my grandfathers. The everyday stresses and complaints that swirl around me seem trivial when weighed against the challenges they faced. They lived through times that demanded resilience and commitment I can’t even conjure up, allowing future generations the freedoms we often take for granted.

Ontario’s Honouring Veterans Act is a step toward acknowledging the contributions of those who served and ensuring their stories are not overshadowed. It’s important that we remember — not just in ceremony, but in understanding the personal histories that have shaped our world.

This Remembrance Day, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the stories within your own family or community. If you can attend the ceremony at your local cenotaph, do so. Have some extra cash tucked in your wallet? Drop it in the poppy box.