Trenton native and Consecon resident Joe Reid served this County in the Battle of the Atlantic from 1941 to 1945, toiling in the engine rooms of naval ships that escorted merchant vessels back and forth between Great Britain and North America.

“He was so unassuming and modest about his service to our country and such a great story teller,” Councillor and Consecon Legion Member Janice Maynard said. “We are going to miss the way he made us laugh and all the memories he had to share.”

Mr. Reid retired to the County in 2008. He was born in a farmhouse in Adolphustown in 1920, the sixth of seven children. In 1928 the family moved to Trenton, where he went to high school and even played touch football with Al Purdy, the famed Ameliasburgh poet. 

At 16, Mr. Reid was forced to leave school to go to work to help support his mother and younger brother after his father was disabled. Yet he was still able to strap on his skates on occasion. He was one of the best players on the Quinte Macs, a junior hockey club based in Trenton. The Macs competed in the Quinte Junior Hockey League against Picton, Belleville and Napanee.

In his late teens, Joe enlisted in the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment’s reserves in Belleville. When WWII broke out in 1939, he did not enlist in active service as he was still supporting his mother, brother, and disabled father.

Hearing the Call

But by 1941, the call to help the Dominion beat back Axis powers became too strong. Joe and two friends decided to enlist. The trio tried the Air Force Base in Trenton, but the RCAF was not recruiting. They then hitchhiked to Picton, but the Regiment’s recruiting officer was out for lunch. That left thumbing it to Kingston, where they joined the Royal Canadian Navy.

From 1941 to 1945, Joe served on destroyers and frigates as a Master Stoker. He also spent time on a Corvette and trained on a submarine. His outfits escorted the merchant ships criss-crossing the Atlantic as supplies travelled back and forth from North America to England.

Joe spent time in many ports, including Glasgow, Londonderry, Belfast, London, New York City, Boston, St. John’s and Halifax.

After the war, Mr. Reid worked with CP Rail from 1946 until his retirement from his position as Train Engineer, shuttling the cars at the General Motors yard in Oshawa, in 1982.

Councillor Maynard said it was an inspiring sight to watch a spry Mr. Reid lay a memorial wreath at the 2024 Remembrance Day ceremonies in Consecon. A handful of active female Canadian Forces service members noted how fetching Mr. Reid looked in his Royal Canadian Navy uniform, featured on the banners marking the day in the village. Ms. Maynard told them that if they wanted to meet the “handsome sailor,” he would be inside the Legion Hall following the service.

“I walked in afterwards and Joe was there, surrounded by these service members, telling stories and with the biggest smile on his face. That’s how I’ll always remember him.”