Celebrating Captain Bill
Family, friends and members of Calgary’s naval and military community gathered at HMCS Tecumseh on Monday, August 10, 2026, to celebrate the life of Captain(N) William Hargen “Captain Bill” Wilson (Ret’d).
Captain Bill died in Calgary on July 27, 2026, at the age of 101. His was a life defined by service: in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, in Canada’s Naval Reserve, and in the preservation of naval history for generations to come.
The ceremony
Major Kenneth Nettleton served as padre. Commodore (Ret’d) Laraine Orthlieb delivered the eulogy, with tributes offered by Rear-Admiral Michael A. Hopper, Fred Mannix and Scott Wilson.
The service included “Heart of Oak,” “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” and the 23rd Psalm. The program closed with the traditional naval farewell: “Fair winds and following seas.”
A lifetime of naval service
Born in Winnipeg on November 5, 1924, Captain Bill joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. Serving aboard HMCS Ottawa, he witnessed the Allied armada on D-Day and served during the Battle of the Atlantic.
He continued his service in the Naval Reserve after the war and later became a leading force behind the creation of the Naval Museum of Alberta. His determination and ability to bring people together also helped establish the tri-service museum complex now known as The Military Museums.
Captain Bill’s honours included appointment as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit, membership in the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Ceremony details
Monday, August 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
HMCS Tecumseh
1820 24 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta
Learn more about Captain Bill through Alberta’s Order of Excellence, the Governor General of Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada and For Posterity’s Sake.
Last updated August 22, 2026 · Calgary Salutes Coordinating Committee