Born in Tilbury East the son of Mr. Garnet Hornick of Tilbury East, brother of Lydia (Cushnie) Blanche (Osborne), Marjorie, James and Douglas. He grew up in Tilbury and attended Tilbury High School before moving to Windsor, ON. His date of enlistment was 1936.  Jack, the husband of Helen Verge were married 17 Dec., 1939 the father of Garnet Leigh, born 21 Feb. 1940 and Wayne Russell born 12 Oct. 1943.

Born in Tilbury East the son of Mr. Garnet Hornick of Tilbury East, brother of Lydia (Cushnie) Blanche (Osborne), Marjorie (James) and Douglas. He grew up in Tilbury and attended Tilbury High School before moving to Windsor, ON. Jack, the husband of Helen Verge were married 17 Dec.,1939 , the father of Garnet Leigh, born 16/07/40 (DD 21/02/16)   and Wayne Russell born 12 Oct. 1943 (DD8/03/63)

Jack was stationed in Ottawa when he was given a weeks furlough to visit his family in Tilbury. TT 24/04/41. Jack and Elizabeth  would later have a son Leigh and two daughters Elizabeth (Fraser) and Edythe (Seward) 

John received his wings at Brandon, Manitoba. In April of 1941 Jack, has wife and son Garnet Lee were stationed in Ottawa when he was given a weeks furlough to visit his family in Tilbury. TT 24/04/41. In June in 1942 Sgt. Major Hornick who had been stationed at No.1 RCAF Manning Depot in Toronto. It was reported that John would be taking up duties at RCAF Sydney, NS. CDN9/06/42  

Jack was stationed in Ottawa when he was given a weeks furlough to visit his family in Tilbury. TT 24/04/41. Jack and Elizabeth  would later have a son Leigh and two daughters Elizabeth (Fraser) and Edythe (Seward).

John received his wings at Brandon, Manitoba. In April of 1941 Jack, has wife and son Garnet Lee were stationed in Ottawa when he was given a weeks furlough to visit his family in Tilbury.  Jack and Elizabeth would later have a son Leigh and two daughters Elizabeth (Fraser) and Edythe (Seward).   TT 24/04/41. In June in 1942 Sgt. Major Hornick who had been stationed at No.1 RCAF Manning Depot in Toronto. It was reported that John would be taking up duties at RCAF Sydney, NS. CDN9/06/42  

In June in 1942 Sgt. Major Hornick who had been stationed at No.1 RCAF Manning Depot in Toronto. It was reported that John would be taking up duties at RCAF Sydney, NS. CDN9/06/42. In May 1943 Jack was married and had a son Lee, stationed at Glace Bay, NS.

He and his family were visiting relatives in the Tilbury area. 

His rank was AC2 and thereafter was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer First Class, then in 1944 he received his wings and his commission to Pilot Officer.  He left the service with the Eastern Air Command twice and in the Central Command.  He served on Military Selection Boards, Trade Boards and was an Armament Expert.

His most dangerous and frightening Wartime experience occurred when he was a crew member of antisubmarine patrol flying boat (Canso) based at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. They patrolled over the Atlantic Shipping Lance approaches to the East Coast. In a bad storm the ship was forced down in heavy seas and high winds. It bobbed like a cork in the rough seas and was constantly in danger of having a wing catch a wave and flipping over sending it to the bottom. To try to prevent that, an airman was sent onto the wing to counterbalance any tipping caused by wave action. The job was rotated every few minutes as it was both frightening and dangerous. That action and bailing kept the plane afloat. An S.O.S. signal had been sent; received by Dartmouth and relayed to ships in the area.

Several hours later, a Greek ship arrived that was bound for Halifax, N.S. Fortunately, all crewmen were able to board the vessel in spite of the distance between the two caused by the high seas. The Greek ship was torpedoed with the loss of all men on the return voyage to England. The six crewmen were forever saddened for her loss.

He was honourably discharged in 1946.

After the war John would farm in the Tilbury area. In 1953 Jack and family moved from Tilbury to Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

It was reported that Jack passed away 21/08/1975 at 79 years and is buried at Rosedale Cemetery, Tilbury East, ON.  Helen passed away in 1978. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

TT (21-08-1975), TT (06-05-1943), TT (24-04-1941), Rita Lubzun Collection, CDN (30/10/41), CDN (1/01/42), CDN (6/05/43), CDN (7/03/42), family information thanks to:- Sheryl Iangille.

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