Bob Darlington Remembered

by Cdr (Retd) Colin Darlington (son)

Robert (Bob) Darlington was born in Winnipeg and grew up there. His father was wounded in September 1916 at the Second Battle of the Somme so it was natural for Bob to want to join the Army Cadets in September 1941. At the McGregor Street Barracks, the Winnipeg Light Infantry Sergeant-Major could not find the keys to the recruiting office and told him to come back in a week. Someone at school then told Bob about the Sea Cadets and the following night he was an Ordinary Cadet in the John Travers Cornwall VC Corps under the wonderful leadership of Lieutenant-Commander Tommy Baird, an ex-US Marine. Bob reflected that it is often the little things that determine life's direction, and he blesses the Sergeant-Major for losing the keys of the recruiting office.

Bob remained a Sea Cadet and progressed through the Cadet ranks until he was the XO as a Cadet Sub-Lieutenant in 1947. He was already then two years into his time as a UNTD Ordinary Seaman (Officer Candidate). Parading one night a week into the Wardroom and another night into the Seamen's Mess did not do his studying much good! He opted for the UNTD because by then he knew he wanted to make the RCN his career.

Bob was commissioned into the RCN(R) in 1948 and shortly thereafter was transferred to the RCN. He was discharged in 1983 as the senior Captain(N) logistics officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, much beloved by all who knew him, and remarkable for his ability to know so many and truly care for them.