Description
Bolduc was one of thousands of RCAF servicemen who served with the RAF in the Second World War. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, “After training, he joined the RAF’s No. 15 Squadron in Bomber Command. When Bolduc arrived at No. 15 Squadron, it was based at RAF Station Bourn, 11 kilometres west of Cambridge.” He participated in several bombing raids in Europe and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts. He received his medal from King George VI at Bourn in July 1944. He described the ceremony in a letter to his mother: “We had a full parade and I had to march out by myself in front of everyone and the King shook hands with me and pinned on the medal.” After the parade, the King and Queen joined Bolduc and the other medal recipients for a chicken dinner. Bolduc noted, “Before dinner we all had a drink of Scotch in the anteroom with [the King], so now I can say I had a drink of Scotch with the King of England!” At the end of his letter he admitted “I was really scared stiff. I could hardly talk and my knees were knocking and everything else. I guess you can say your crazy son is really getting around, eh Mom?” He was repatriated to Canada in November 1944.
Bibliographic sources
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/willard-bolduc