U, V - Royal Canadian Navy World War II


              OBE - CVSM - 39/45 War Medal - EIIR Coronation.

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                                  ' V '



VAILLANCOURT, John Anthony Roland, Chief Petty Officer Steward (40420)
 - British Empire Medal (BEM)
 - RCN - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 5 January 1946
 and London Gazette of 1 January 1946.
  Home:  Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  Served from 1935 to 1970, including HMCS Saguenay, HMCS Skeena, HMS Peregrine,
 HMS Puncher, HMCS Warrior, HMCS Magnificent and at Stadacona, Naval HQ, Donnacona.
  He retired as a Lieutenant (S).
  He was active in the Navy League, the HMCS Sackville restoration
 from 1982 to 1986 and the reunion.
He died on 2 January 1988, age 71, in Ottawa where he had just moved from Halifax.
VAILLANCOURT. John Anthony Roland, 0-74792, CPO/Stwd, 40420, RCN
BEM~[5.1.46] A/Cd/Ct [1.10.50] RCN,  HMCS MAGNIFICENT(21) CVL, (9.3.51-?)

      "This Rating's exemplary conduct, cheerfulness, bearing and devotion
      to duty have been a continued inspiration to his subordinates.  His energy
      and zeal to promote an efficient smooth-running organization have been of the
      highest order at all times."

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VAN DE WIEL, Viola Gertrude, Nursing Sister (Mrs)  -  Associate - Royal Red Cross (ARRC)
 - RCN (Temp) / RCN Hospitals in Halifax and Sydney
 - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 15 June 1946 and London Gazette of 14 June 1946.
   Home:  Toronto, Ontario.  Her maiden name was Miss Viola Gertrude COPP.

      "For outstanding service as a Nursing Sister in the Royal Canadian Navy
      Hospitals in Halifax and Sydney.  In the organization of a highly efficient course
      of practical nursing for Sick Berth Staff, she has contributed a high degree of
      professional ability and superlative leadership."

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VANDERHAEGAN, George Charles, Chief Petty Officer (3154) - Distinguished Service Medal
 (DSM) - RCN / HMCS Assiniboine - Awarded as per London Gazette of 14 June 1945. 
VANDERHAEGAN. George Charles, 3154, CPO, RCN, DSM~[14.6.45]
HMCS ATHABASKAN(219) DD, CPO 2, BEM~[6.2.54]

     "Chief Petty Officer Vanderhaegan was Director Layer
     in HMCS Assiniboine when U-210 was sunk."

The action in which HMCS Assiniboine (River Class Destroyer - D118) sank
U-210 on 6 August 1942 in the North Atlantic while protecting Convoy SC-94 is
described in Chapter 14 of "The Canadian Naval Chronicle 1939-1945".


Awarded British Empire Medal (BEM) as per Canada Gazette of 6 February 1954
as Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class for service in HMCS Athabaskan (II) in Korea.

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VEINOT, Frank, Acting Chief Shipwright (V25798) - British Empire Medal (BEM)
 - RCNVR / Steel Repairs to Sea-Going Ships - Awarded as per Canada Gazette
 of 16 June 1945 and London Gazette of 14 June 1945.
  Home:  Halifax, Nova Scotia.
VEINOT. Frank, V-25798, A/CPO / Shipw, RCNVR,  BEM~[16.6.45]

        "During the past two and a half years, this Rating has given valuable
 service in supervising the steel repairs to sea-going ships of all types,
 under difficult operating conditions, thus rendering considerable assistance
 to the maintenance of North Atlantic patrols.  He has, throughout his period
 of service, displayed the utmost zeal and cheerfulness, and has consistently
 proven to be an example to his fellow workers."
  
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VET, Jan, Chief Engine Room Artificer (M) (A4266) - Mention in Despatches
 - RCNR  Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 9 January 1943
 and London Gazette of 1 January 1943.
VET. Jan, 0-75140, CPO/ERA(M) A-4266, RCNR
MID~[9.1.43]
A/Wt(E)(Temp) [1.5.43] RCNR,
HMCS NORTON (W31)  462t tug, stand by (12.10.43-?)
HMCS BEAVERTON (W23) tug, stand by, (15.1.43-?)
HMCS BIRCHTON (W35) 462t, tug, stand by, (11.4.44-?)  Demobilzed [12.12.45]

     "Chief Engine Room Artificer Vet, while serving at sea in charge of
     machinery in one of His Majesty's Canadian Yachts, displayed initiative and
     resourcefulness of a very high order in effecting engine repairs under very
     strenuous conditions."

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VINCENT, James Wesley, Yeoman of Signals (V7601) - Mention in Despatches
 - RCNVR / HMCS Napanee  Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 6 January 1945
 and London Gazette of 1 January 1945.
Home:  Toronto, Ontario.
HMCS Napanee was a Flower Class Corvette (K118).
VINCENT. James Wesley, V-7601, Ymn, RCNVR, MID~[6.1.45]

      "Throughout a total of thirty-two months service at sea during which
      period he was a survivor from HMCS Charlottetown, he has continually received
      excellent recommendations for good service and devotion to duty.  His loyalty
      and zeal during his service in HMCS Napanee contributed in a high degree to the
      efficiency of this department and he has been a fine example to the Ship's Company
      as a whole."

HMCS Charlottetown (Revised Flower Class Corvette - K244) was sunk by U-517
on 11 September 1942 in the St. Lawrence River.

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VIRTUE, Reid Howard, Acting Able Seaman (V65076) - Mention in Despatches - RCNVR
  Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 21 April 1945 and London Gazette of 20 March 1945.
Home:  Bowmanville, Ontario.
VIRTUE. Reid Howard, V-65076, A/AB, RCNVR,  MID~[21.4.45]

      "For outstanding skill, courage and zeal in Anti-U-Boat operations
      while serving in H.M. Canadian Ships Annan and Saint John."
          (London Gazette has HMCS St. John)

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VLACHOS, Theodore Harry, Telegraphist (SO) (V54941) - British Empire Medal (BEM)
 - RCNVR / Harbour Grace Special Wireless Telegraphy Station
 - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 5 January 1946 and London Gazette of 1 January 1946.
Home:  Caledonia, Ontario.
               While at high school in Caledonia, Ontario Ted was taught wireless by the Army.
This training greatly assisted him after joining the Navy in 1942 at HMCS Star
 in Hamilton, Ontario and once transferred to Naval Head Quarters in Ottawa
 where they were learning to track German subs.

His course was 2 weeks behind and he was unable to go to the wireless station based in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland as scheduled. He was most fortunate because the ship taking the forces there was sunk by a German sub and 132 people were lost.

Ted went to the Gander Airport in Newfoundland to help keep track of the bombers going to England who were getting lost. They monitored subs in their spare time. He eventually was transferred to Harbour Grace and spent the next two years helping "catch and sink subs faster than the Germans could build them". This was a crucial posting that resulted in useful information being provided to the Navy and armed forces leading to the successful locating and destroying of numerous enemy submarines.

He returned home in the spring of 1945 to operate the family restaurant business for his ill father while he recuperated. The Germans surrendered in May 1945 followed by the Japanese and Ted was discharged. He returned to Newfoundland and married his sweetheart Grace Anita Parsons.

Ted had a long work history involving initially the restaurant and candy making business. He and his family including children Harry and Valerie moved to Guelph, Ontario where he operated a variety store. He moved on to have a successful sales career with Sears Canada and later managed a Home Hardware store in Brantford, Ontario. He retired in 1992 from Roots Home Hardware in Guelph. Ted and his wife relocated to the Niagara Falls, Ontario area where they still reside.

Ted is very proud of his two children. Valerie is an Office Manager living in Burlington, Ontario and Harry is a Business Consultant who resides with his wife Sheila in Peterborough, Ontario. Ted has one granddaughter Brooke who is a graduate of the Food and Hospitality Program at the University of Guelph.

Ted Vlachos remains a loyal Canadian who served his country with dedication, determination and honour. He sincerely appreciates the special recognition including the British Empire Medal bestowed upon him at the conclusion of the war.