#4146, James Roy William HIDER

The following is written by his daughter Maureen when she was considering her father's epitaph for his stone in the Trust's Virtual Memorial Wall:  

"First of all my dad was very proud to be a part of the Cobbold Family Trust.  So it seems fitting that he has a stone on the virtual wall.  I am sorry I did not know about this sooner.  With this weekend being Father's Day [15th June 2025 - Ed] the timing is perfect!

How do you find the right words to sum up a man in 48 characters?  The answer is you don't and especially not if you ask for suggestions from your siblings and children!

Anthony Cobbold came up with, "The most inspirational and sensitive Officer."  It is pretty darn good but he was much much more than a sldier.

Dad was a father, a husband, a Grandad and a friend.  He was a gentleman.  He was spiritual and valued how different people celebrated their religions.  He was a life-long learner, a polymath, someone who had extensive knowlrdge about many different subjects.

Some of his hobbies such as photography, bird watching, Purple Martin bird banding, master gardening or the pursuit of good health sent him on a mission to learn all that he could.  He was passionate about his hobbies.  He was very inquisitive.  He was also a prople person.  My eldest brother tells me dad was well known for his fabulous baby portraits.  I didn't realize that but I was aware of his great collection of bird slides that he took himself.

His love for more health information lead him to write several editions of Health Tips for Health Nuts.  He loved "preaching" about health tips to all who would listen.  One of his wife Ann's siblings suggested he put his monet where his mouth was.  So a small store in Grand Bend opened to sell books, supplements, and be a safe place for other enthusiasts to shop.  Ann even sold makeup out of the store.  Dad became known as the Health Nut!

As a young man dad was a good tennis player!  He took up golf after he retired.  He lived to travel.

I keep thinking back to when we lived in Montreal.  I was 11 years old.  Out family had passes to the World'a Fair Expo 67.  We went numerous times.  Dad would round us up when he wasready to leave.  He would pound on his chest and let out an enormous Tarzan Yell and we would all come running!  Sort of a strange memory but a fond one!

So dad is unique.  He was inspirational, Holistic, Spiritual, gentle, fun and he loved people.  He will be truly missed!"

The Trust writes:

  Roy's parents returned to Canada after World War I ended in 1919. He grew up in Toronto and joined the Canadian Army as a 'boy soldier'. He followed in his father's footsteps as he had also made the Army his career. Roy had been inspired by a book entitled 'No Arms, No Legs', which told of the author's experiences in the armed forces from boyhood to the rank of Major. Roy achieved this rank also after 34 years of distinguished service.

Major Hider served in World War II and the Korean War. He was severely wounded in both. What is most impressive is the humanity Roy brought to his military career. Each of his superior officers in confidential reports said such things as 'his kinfdly attitude to those in difficulty gained him the respect and efficiency he received from all those under his command.' 'He stressed the welfare of his men....he was an inspiration to the officers and men by his own example.'

This trait was no doubt inherited from his great grandfather as portrayed in his later years while living in New Zealand by Sandra Berry in 'The Cobbold Elliston Affair' (2007). Major Hider, being both personable and pleasant was an excellent leader. He also has a beautiful and sensitive side and is the author of a small book entitled 'Unconditional Love.'

After his retirement from the Army he became superintendant of the McCormack Home for the Aged in London, Ontario. He later retired to Grand Bend, Ontario. Here he enjoyed his hobbies of bird watching and world travel. He opened a boutique called 'The Health Nut' where he researched and wrote 'Health Tips for Health Nuts' which has sold to many parts of the world.

Roy was 91 on 2nd May 2009. He lives in Parkwood Veterans Hospital, London, Ontario where he is completing his memoirs and actively involved in research which he hopes will make this a better world.

Peg Keeler (his cousin) 2009

Roy died at the Parkwood Veterans Hospital on 3rd October 2011.

The Cobbold Family History Trust is privileged to posses a copy of the service sheet for Roy's Celebration on 6th October and copies of tributes given by his daughter, Maureen, his granddaughter, Jacqueline and one of his closest friends Tony Nother. The Trust is also fortunate to have copies of 'More health Tips for Health Nuts', 'Unconditional Love' and 'When the Dust Settled'

One cannot sum up a life - particularly a life as enormous as Roy's - in one or two sentences, but one can try to impart a few valuable impressions.

Roy was large in Mind, Body and Soul. Thinking things through; working things out and communicating the results were, for him, always a pleasure and never a labour. You only have to read his writings for confirmation. Physically Roy was extremely large - ask his grandchildren about his size 15 feet - and he tested his Body to its limits throughout his military career and even when the enemy tried to blow it to pieces he recovered. But he cared for it well and devoted much time to helping others do likewise. Roy's Soul was manifest in 2 of the most important things in his life - his Family and his Faith. Talk to his family and read his writings for confirmation. Roy's was a long and bountiful life - one we would do well to emulate.

Anthony Cobbold November, 2011

Roy enrolled in the Royal Canadian Dragoons as a Boy Soldier in 1934; remustered as a Private May 1936; transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps June 1937; transferred to the Canadian Army Active Sept. 1939; promoted Sergeant Sept. 1939; promoted Staff Sergeant July 1941; Promoted Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant May 1942; reverted to Staff Sergeant Feb. 1943; appointed Officer Cadet Feb. 1943; commissioned 2nd Lt. May 1943; promoted Lt. July 1943; transferred to the Canadian Infantry Corps Sept. 1944; transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Feb. 1946; transferred to the Canadian Army Regular Oct. 1946; promoted Capt. Feb. 1951; promoted Major Nov. 1960. Honourably released to retirement 1968 having served in the Second World War and the Korean War.