By Ray Hann

In the Virgin’s Cove on Merasheen Island, NL, brothers Anthony, and William Wilson along with their best pal Vincent Fulford were cooking supper after a long day cutting wood and snaring rabbits. It was snug and cozy in the little Tilt, a roaring fire, a swallow of Home Brew and a pot of Rabbit stew simmering on the bogie. It was the last night of the trip for the boys, tomorrow was Christmas Eve, they would launch the dory first thing in the morning and row home to Little Merasheen to spend Christmas with their families.

Out of the Blue Billy said, “Boys, I am going home.” Anthony replied, “Billy boy, it is getting on in the day, we are all going home in the morning.” Billy was intractable, and in short order he was off like “the lamplighter” across the meadow, heading for the Hill that would take him up to the Barren’s and home to Little Merasheen.

The following morning Anthony and Vincent shoved off the dory at first light and headed for the Little Harbour about five miles away. On arriving, Anthony rushed home immediately. As he entered the kitchen, he asked his mother, “is Billy home?” She replied, “no, isn’t he with you?” Anthony replied, “well, he is lost then, because he left the Virgin’s Cove yesterday evening to walk home.”

A search party was organized immediately and every able body man in the Harbour joined the search for young Billy Wilson. In the afternoon on Christmas Eve, Billy’s body was found by neighbour and cousin Johnny Wilson. Apparently, he became disoriented, turned left instead of keeping right when he got to the top of the Hill. When found, he was lying under a tree with his arms outstretched as if he were having a nap. He was buried on Boxing Day, his twenty fifth birthday.

Billy was a member of the Canadian Merchant Navy, home on leave. He had tried to join the active forces in NFLD but was turned down because his eyesight was so poor. Before going on their trip to the Virgin’s Cove, he had given his eyeglasses to his sister Julia for safekeeping.

While serving in the CMM Navy, the ship Billy served on was involved in the Convoys going across the Atlantic. Later during the war his ship was torpedoed, and all hands were lost. On hearing that news, his father George took great comfort from the fact, “he knew where he was.”

At the time, Mrs. Cecily Wilson was pregnant with Sr. Alice who was born three weeks later on Jan15, 1944. Because  she was so far along, Paul and Jane Wilson insisted Billy be taken to their place, where he was waked on Christmas Day.

The picture from left includes Vince Fulford, Anthony Wilson and Billy Wilson.