Ivy Rose Tuffin enlisted in Britain's Royal Air Force in 1939 and served until her discharge in 1945. George Arthur Hall joined the British Navy the same year and served in England and France until his release in 1945. After the war, the two made a home together at 217 McDonald Blvd. in Acton.
Their story is collected by Homes of Heroes, a project that gathers the stories of veterans who live or lived in Halton Hills. Each year, ahead of Remembrance Day, it puts up signs in front of veterans' former and current homes.
Ivy was born in Wandsworth, in England, on Nov. 24, 1920, to Frederick and Annie Tuffin. George was born in England on May 26, 1913. They married in the U.K. in the spring of 1945, as the war was ending, and later immigrated to Canada.
The couple lived in Acton for many years. The 1957 Canadian voters' registration lists them on McDonald Blvd., with George working as a wool sorter. Both belonged to the Royal Canadian Legion's Acton Branch 197, the local chapter of the national veterans' organization. George also sang with the choralier singing group that went to Expo in 1967, the world's fair in Montreal.
George died on May 18, 1982, after years as an Acton resident. Ivy died on March 17, 1998, and her funeral was held at St. Alban's Church. She is buried with George at Fairview Cemetery.
Remembrance Day ceremonies on Wednesday, Nov. 11 are at the Acton cenotaph, organized by the same Branch 197 the couple belonged to, and at Remembrance Park in Georgetown. Mill Street East (Highway 7) in Acton and James Street in Georgetown are closed from 10:45 a.m. to noon.
Homes of Heroes is looking for more stories of people who served in the Canadian military or, like Ivy and George, with one of Canada's allies. Anyone who knows a veteran who lives or lived in Halton Hills can write to [email protected].
