Hillcoat, Horace Brougham

• Main Author: Clifton, Brett
• Other Authors: University of Lethbridge Library
• Format: Still Image
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hillcoat; Horace Brougham; 1913-1944; Lethbridge (Alta.) - History; Military - 20th Century; Soldiers - Alberta - Lethbridge > Biography; Alta; Canada; Maude; Memorial Cross; Yellowknife
• Online Access: http://digitallibrary.uleth.ca/cdm/ref/collection/cenotaph/id/323

Horace (Pat) Hillcoat was born on March 17, 1913 in Amherst, Nova Scotia to parents Harry and Maude Hillcoat. He received his education in Amherst, but being the adventurous sort, he moved west as a young adult. Pat worked for a variety of employers, including the Bank of Montreal, Noranda Mines, Consolidated Mining in Yellowknife, NWT, and as an agent for Confederation Life. Although Pat was not married upon enlistment, this would change when he met his future wife, Verna Brown while training with the RCAF in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The couple had two daughters, Beverly and Patricia. On August 18, 1940, Pat Hillcoat enlisted for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In June 1942, he received his pilot’s flying badge and was considered to be an accomplished pilot. Flight Lieutenant Hillcoat was stationed at several air force bases in Canada and the United Kingdom. He trained other pilots and flew numerous missions across North America, moving cargo from base to base. Flight Lieutenant Hillcoat also flew mail routes from Canada to the United Kingdom and on to Gibraltar. It was during one of these flights that his Fortress aircraft collided with another unidentified aircraft. He was somehow able to bring his badly damaged plane to a safe landing in the United Kingdom. For his acts of skill and courage, Flight Lieutenant Hillcoat was awarded the Air Force Medal and Air Force Cross. Sadly, the Air Force Cross was awarded posthumously, and as his wife was expecting their second child and unable to travel, his grieving mother made the trip to Ottawa to proudly accept it on his behalf. On December 15, 1944, while on a mail run, Flight Lieutenant Hillcoat’s aircraft was reported missing somewhere between Morocco and the Azores. As his remains were never recovered or identified, he is remembered along with his crew on the Ottawa Memorial. In addition to the Air Force Medal and Air Force Cross, Pat was awarded the 1939/45 Star, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. His wife, Verna received the Memorial Cross in honour of her husband.