Naval officer, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. Born May 19, 1917, in Mellis, Suffolk, England. Died Sept. 23, 2011, in Victoria of natural causes, aged 94.
Jim Green was a good man, a good man who loved public service and his family. A lifelong supporter of social democratic politics, his gentle spirit brought out the best in everyone around him.
He always thought to thank others first – in his final letter to his children, David and Nicki, he wrote: "My profound thanks for all the love, care and kindness you have shown me over the years."
Jim was the son of railway clerk Albert Green and his wife, Annie, who died when Jim was about 14. Her death brought Jim and his sister Joan together in a lifelong bond.
Railway clerks were not well paid during the Depression, and Jim was heartbroken at being forced to drop out of school at 15 – despite earning a scholarship – because his family could not afford the cost of the uniform.
He enlisted in the Fleet Air Arm shortly before the Second World War in hopes of seeing the world. Originally, he was turned down because of bad teeth – so he had his teeth pulled and replaced by dentures. He served as a navigator (observer) in 819 Squadron Swordfish.
Jim took part in the raid on Taranto, Italy, in 1940 and survived crash landings in Greece and Madagascar (what a way to see the world). But survive is the wrong word. He came out of the war with his self-deprecating sense of humour always at hand, his optimism undented, his caring and kindness intact. He met Jane Booth at the armistice party the night the war ended, and set about building a new life, immigrating to Canada a few years later.
Jim and Jane married in 1947. Jim enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy, rising to the rank of commander and serving as a NATO attaché in Paris, London, Ottawa and Washington.
After his retirement from the Navy in 1965, Jim became an appeals officer with the Public Service Commission of Canada in Ottawa. When my mother and I emigrated from England in 1967, we lived with Uncle Jim and his family for a year. He would take me to my hockey games – outdoors, in Ottawa, at night – and stand in the bitter cold waiting to watch me the one or two times I was on the ice.
Jim retired in British Columbia, where he and Jane were happy to golf, travel and see their five grandchildren grow. Always athletic, Jim stayed fit his entire life. At 87, he hurt his elbow and had to give up golf. I asked him if he missed it and he said: "I've had a good innings, David."
It was true of more than just golf. In his public service, generosity and his love, Jim had a very good innings indeed. His last note continues on to say: "Stay close, love one another, help one another. Be good citizens." Uncle Jim, we'll do our best – and we'll remember your smile when we do.
By David Miller, Jim's nephew.