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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
THOMAS, John Clement Dean - John joined the RCNVR on 11 Sep 1941and served on HMCS Bayfield and HMCS Bellechasse. He was demobilized on 10 Oct 1945. After the war, he got married and went back to work for the Bank or Montreal - first in the role of Assistant Accountant and then as Bank Manager. Transferred to many towns over the years, mostly in Saskatchewan. John married Mary (also a bank employee) in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - together they had 7 kids - Patricia, Robert, Margaret, Donald, Kenneth, Catherine and Richard. John ended up back in Winnipeg, where he retired in 1978.
Citation for Distinguished Service Medal (DSM):
John Clement Dean Thomas, Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), RCNVR, HMCS Bayfield - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 30 March 1946 and London Gazette of 11 December 1945
"For distinguished service during the war in Europe."
Letter from Commanding officer recommending the DSM: "It is respectfully requested that the following rating may receive recognition and honorable mention for his devotion to duty and hard labour over and above the normal requirements of his rating. The above mentioned qualities in this man were observed by me during the working up programme, preparation for, and the actual execution of Operation Neptune and the subsequent minesweeping, and in my opinion, this ratings, by his efforts, accomplished a major part of the preparation for the assault in this ship." Letter is signed by Lieutenant F.A. Cunningham, Commanding Officer of HMCS Bayfield.
Awards and campaign medals for John Thomas: Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), The 1945 Star, The Atlantic Star w/France and Germany bar, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and the War Medal
Ships served in: HMCS UNICORN - Enlisted 11 Sep 1941 * Commenced Active Service 30 Sep 1941 as an Ordinary Coder, RCNVR HMCS ST HYACINTHE - Drafted to ST HYACINTHE 01 Jan 1942 HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 24 Feb 1942 HMCS BELLECHASSE - Drafted to BELLECHASSE 28 Feb 1942 * Rated Coder, RCNVR 30 Sep 1942 HMCS GIVENCHY - Drafted to GIVENCHY 20 Feb 1943 HMCS BAYFIELD - Drafted to BAYFIELD 16 Mar 1943 HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 21 Jul 1945 HMCS PEREGRINE - Drafted to PEREGRINE 12 Aug 1945 HMCS CHIPPAWA - Drafted to CHIPPAWA 23 Aug 1945 * Demobilized 10 Oct 1945
(JCDT001) Portrait of Seaman Thomas
(JCDT002) Training and Active Service record (JCDT003) Verification form for Campaign Stars, Defence Medal, War Medal, CVSM and Clasp (JCDT004) Letter to HMCS UNICORN informing them of the award of the DSM to L/Coder Thomas (JCDT005) Letter to HMCS UNICORN with instructions for the awarding of the DSM of L/Coder Thomas (JCDT006) Letter from HMCS UNICORN to Naval Service HQ informing them that John Thomas has been invested with the DSM. Courtesy of Rick Thomas
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