Born in Halifax NS, Jack and his parents William and Barbara Waldron moved to Victoria when Jack was six years old. He grew up in Esquimalt with his brother Bill and sister Betty and attended Lampson St School. In 1937, at the age of 17 he joined the RCN as a boy seaman. Jack proudly served on many destroyers during WW2, advancing to the rank of CPO at the age of 23. He then carried on his career as the Chief PTI at Stadacona and Naden, A tremendous athlete and avid soccer player, he was one of the few "A" squash players on the Pacific Coast. Jack retired from the RCN in 1962 after 25 years of service.