We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer John “Jack” Hathaway Miles, CD (Ret’d), peacefully, on Sunday 11 February 2018 at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa, ON in his 88th year. Jack served with Mapping and Charting Establishment (MCE) in Ottawa for 27 years in virtually all the positions open to a Topographic Surveyor. He retired from the Canadian Forces in 1981 as a Warrant Officer.
Jack was born in St John, NB in 1931 and graduated from Moncton High School in 1949. He served in the Air Cadets in Moncton (1943-49) and in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Aircraftsman 2 (1945-50). He was then a Blacksmith’s Apprentice at the Canadian National Railways shops in Moncton for six months in 1950 and then became, successively, a labourer at the roundhouse, a brakeman and a locomotive fireman…. all the while serving as a Gunner in the Militia. Jack then enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1954 and, after completing his Corps training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering, he decided on a career in survey and was transferred to Mapping And Charting Establishment in 1955 .
Jack’s work on Field Surveys in MCE was extensive: Portage LaPrairie and Lakehead (1956), Dease Lake and Kenora (1957), Churchill and Flat River (1958), Picton (1961), London, (1962), St Lawrence (1963) , Halifax (1966), Bute Inlet (1970), Petawawa (1970 & 71), St John’s (1973 ), Baffin Is and Calgary (1976), Sault Ste Marie, Tracadie, Bagotville, and Winnipeg (1977 ) , St John (1978 ), Charlottetown (1979 ), Windsor and Whitehorse (1980 ).
After his retirement from the Canadian Forces Jack served 10 years with the Public Service in the Department of National Defence in the MCE Revision and Digitial Editing Sections.
Over the years Jack’s diverse interests kept him busy in such capacities as President, Chief Instructor and Lifetime Member of the CF Sub-Aqua Club; YMCA Lifesaver (1960); Swimming Instructor for handicapped adults (1964-75); CF Underwater Sports Instructor (1967); Instructor for the National Association of Underwater Instructors (1964). He received a Citation from the Red Cross in Water Safety in Feb 72; was Commodore of the CF Marina (1979-82 ) and built his own boat to do it. Jack was Mappers Club Chairman (1985);and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Manotick Legion (1989-90).
Friends may attend a visitation at the Kars Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes at 1610 Roger Stevens Dr., Kars on Wednesday, 21 February 2018, from 11 a.m. until time of memorial service at 1 p.m. followed by a reception. In memory of Jack, donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences, donations or tributes may be made at the funeral home.
