Tribute to a Friend

For several years it has been my desire to write some tribute to Flying Officer, Hubert  Miller. His happy manner, frank and free way in conversation, keen interest in many worthwhile things drew him steadily into the lives of others and won for him a large number of friends.

After High School he thought of studying medicine.  In College his interest developed more, in History and Economics in which he did his major work and took an M.A. degree at the University of  Toronto. He was his class historian for the graduation exercises at Acadia.  Because of his ability in drawing and sketching some friends thought he could make Art a life work.  It remained a hobby which he enjoyed and did well.  Many illustrations in the 1930 Acadia Year Book, including a copy of a photograph of the Administration Building, were done by him. On walks in the country he often made sketches.  One of an old wind-swept pine tree by the lake in St. Croix and since blown down, hangs to-day in a room in his parents' home.  For Christmas one year he had printed his own sketch of Hart House in Toronto and another year one of the old chapel at Kings' College in Windsor.

Not outstanding in athletics, he enjoyed watching games and participated in some of them.  He was fond of long walks in the country or by the sea-shore and liked an occasional day's fishing.  Nature's beauties and wonders delighted him.  The pleasant scenes and associations of his boyhood home in Brooklyn, (born there in 1910) drew him back on frequent visits.  In honour of a grandmother who came directly from Ireland he wore a green tie on the seventeenth of March.  At a Maritime Intercollegiate Model Assembly of the League of Nations he was pleased to represent Ireland and did so capably.

His seven years of teaching were well spent.  He was very alert to the opportunities, the problems and the latent talents of youth.  Their school work, their recreation and their vocational plans won his interest and enthusiastic encouragement.

With no liking for war as such he felt a distinct challenge in the battle against the Nazis.  The work of a navigator was interesting to him as were his associations in the Air Force.  The training as a whole seemed exacting at first but stimulating and he advanced well.  He was almost at the age limit for air crew.  The service made him think about what more could be done in youth training in the future.  The hospitality of several homes in Canada and Great Britain came to him, including with other service men an afternoon at Windsor Castle, when the Royal family was there and entertained them for tea.

Less than two years after he enlisted, Hubert's plane was engaged in heavy battle when the large German battleships sailed out of hiding into a clouded drizzle over the English Channel, Feb. 11, 1942.  The plane did not return.  Two bodies were recovered and identified.  Hubert's and the other's were not.  Like the 20,456 Commonwealth Airmen with no known grave, they are honoured in the memorial unveiled on the plains of Runnymede, England, in October of this year.  They are honoured also in the hearts of those who knew them and who are glad they did.