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Twelve Canadian Armed Forces veterans received investitures Monday in the Order of St. George for their service in the Second World War and the Korean War. The ceremony was held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.
The order was founded in Canada in 2003, inspired by the 680-year-old Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George. As a charity, the order contributes money to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
Maurice Bilodeau, 89, waits to be invested into the Order of St George during a ceremony held at the Perley.
1. Maurice Bilodeau (Resident), Age 89
Born and raised in the Lebreton Flats area of Ottawa in a family of 16 children, Maurice Bilodeau enlisted in 1943 at age 18.5. During the war years, he served in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He was a runner with the Regiment de la Maisonneuve, a crucial job in wartime.
Maurice calls himself a “lucky boy” who was shot at five times but has no scars. He remembers asking the nurses for extra gauze so he could add protection to his steel helmet. Once a bullet hit his helmet on the first field dressing and it bounced on the stomach of his friend. Fortunately the bullet was sideways and spent when it hit him.
For 25 years, Maurice was a Perley Rideau volunteer and helping residents, whatever their handicap, to make wooden objects, pottery and other handicrafts in the Creative Arts Studio. Maurice received the Mayor’s City Builder Award and the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. Maurice received 4 medals including a Star and the Thank You Canada Medal (50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland).
2. Hilda Bowley (Resident), Age 95
Born and raised in Liverpool, England, Hilda Bowley enlisted when she was 23 years old with the Women’s Auxiliary of the Royal Air Force (WAAF). She was working in the office of Bomber Command when she met her husband Leslie Bowley.
Hilda recalled vividly the time when the Bomber Command building was hit and the WAAFs just had time to excape to the boardwalk before the building collapsed.
After the war Hilda came to Canada as a War Bride and traded city life for farm life. That’s when she realized she was terrified of cows.
Hilda was awarded two war medals and the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge.
Leslie Bowley, 97, plays with his great granddaughter Mallory, 6 months old, after he is invested into the Order of St. George during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. His wife Hilda Bowley (L) was also invested into the order. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
3. Leslie Bowley (Resident), Age 97
Born and raised in Hamilton, Leslie Bowley enlisted in 1939. During the war years he served in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS).
Leslie always wanted to stay busy so he often helped in the kitchen. One day, an officer asked him if he was a signalman or a cook. When he replied he was not sure, the officer ordered him to bake a cake. The task was not easy because most ingredients for a cake were not available. Leslie managed to bake a green cake with pink icing made of beet juices. Leslie remembers the war years and the time he met his wife of 69 years and said “We had a great life, but it was crazy time!”
Leslie was awarded five war medals.
Frank Cauley, 94, smiles while he is invested into the Order of St. George during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
4. Frank Cauley (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 94
Born and raised in Ottawa, Frank Cauley enlisted in 1940. During the war years he served in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and Coastal Command as a Navigator. His rank upon retirement was Flying Officer.
Frank was the navigator in a Whitley “flying coffin” bomber when it crashed into the Bay of Biscay. Frank was the only crew member who made it into an inflatable dinghy tied to the plane. He cut the rope just before the bomber disappeared below the waves with all crew members trapped inside. During the three long days he spent bobbing in the ocean, he vowed to live his life for others if it was spared.
This RCAF navigator is also famous for the plight of his aircrew after sinking the German submarine A-625 near Northern Ireland. His Short Sunderland flying boat depth-charged the U-boat into oblivion, but not before his plane was shot full of holes. Forced to land on water the 11-man crew each chewed the five sticks of Wrigley’s spearmint gum they were assigned and used it to plug the bullet holes below the waterline. They landed on the water with bated breath, delighted to find out that their low-tech ingenuity had paid off.
Frank has dedicated his postwar life to community service. For both his military and community efforts, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, among many other honours.
Former Ottawa Rough Rider Tony Golab, 95, is welcomed into the Order of St. George by Joe Varner, (L) Grand Chancellor, during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
5. Anthony Charles Golab, O.C. (Resident), Age 95
During WWII, Tony Golab flew tactical reconnaissance over war-torn landscapes in Egypt, North Africa and Italy for 4 years. One day, flying at 5,000 feet taking photos of German troops on the move in Egypt, a plane slid in behind Tony’s Spitfire. The pilot lit up the Spitfire with his guns and Tony had to quickly bail out and hit the silk. He cursed aloud when he saw his plane had been shot down by an inexperienced and confused American pilot.
Tony was flying tactical reconnaissance in Italy later in the war when his plane was hit by German ground fire and exploded just behind the cockpit. He was forced once again to bail out, this time taking shrapnel in his right knee. Tony was reported Missing In Action as he was receiving quiet care from the Italian resistance movement.
When his war years ended, Tony “Golden Boy” Golab enjoyed his dual career as an RCAF pilot and Ottawa Rough Rider and retired from CFL action in 1950. He worked with the RCAF in Ottawa and Hamilton as he made his way up through the air force chain of command. By 1958, Tony was Chief Administrative Officer at RCAF 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia. In 1960, he became Chief Administrative Officer at the advance flying school in Saskatoon and was named Commanding Officer just two years later. By 1966, Wing Commander Tony Golab joined the planning staff for the Western NORAD Region at McChord Air Force Base in Washington State and Hamilton Air Force Base in California as Battle Wing Commander.
In 1964, he was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 1975, he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In 1985 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 1997, he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
6. Robert E. Hanley (Tenant, Commissionnaires Ottawa Place), age 94
Born and raised in Harris, SK on a farm, Bob Hanley enlisted in 1940 in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and then again in 1953. During WWII, he served overseas for 3 years and 8 months.
After two years working with the RAF night fighter command, Bob was posted to the 2nd Tactical Airforce HQ in Gatwick, England. He was an engineering officer that managed ground crew who maintained the Spitfire aircraft that gave low level air support to the armies. On D plus “six”, their wing became the first of many to land in Normandy and later pressed through France, Belgium, Holland and as far as Hamburg in Germany.
Bob recalls the time he was stationed in Grave (Northern Holland) when the enemy destroyed the dykes and flooded the area. They were told at about 6 p.m. that they had to move out by daylight the next morning. Most got no sleep that night, rushing to load trucks, find personal equipment and haul the trucks out of the muddy river bed and make sure the aircraft were ready to support the armies.
Post WWII, Bob served as engineer on a number of air force bases. During that time, Bob recalls with great delight of being involved in the building of two curling clubs. Later, Bob used his engineering skills to build six private airplanes for his Flying Club. Bob was also Senior Marshal at the Upper Canada Golf Club and a member of the Cornwall Curling Club.
Medal number is 6 including two tars and the Normandy Campaign Medal issued by the Normandy Veterans Association.
7. Mervin Jon (Resident), Age 91
Gatineau-born Mervin Jones enlisted in the army in May 1941 and went to England in 1942 with a Canadian artillery unit assigned to coastal defence. As the unit’s dispatch rider, his job was to collect from headquarters the identification codes for Allied aircraft and distribute them to coastal batteries to help them sort out returning bombers from enemy planes. Late in 1943, while recuperating from an injury, he saw a notice soliciting French-speaking soldiers for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and decided to apply. Mervin was among the first Canadian soldiers on French soil in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Jones, then 21, parachuted into occupied France, behind Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall at 1 a.m. as part of a contingent of 500 Canadian paratroopers attached to the 6th British Airborne Division, which was tasked with protecting the eastern flank of the Allied invasion force then steaming across the English Channel toward Normandy.
Merv’s war ended in August 1944 when he aggravated an injury incurred in a training jump. He returned to Canada the following year. Jones later served in the Korean War. He retired in 1973 with the rank of Master Warrant Officer and was able to focus on his volunteer work. Merv made scouting a family affair with all his children involved. He volunteered with Scouts Canada for almost 50 years.
Merv was awarded 16 medals including 2 stars during his period in the service.
8. Philippe Lepage (Volunteer, Perley Rideau), age 81
Born and raised in Timiskaming County, Ont., Philippe Lepage enlisted in 1953 in the Korean War. During the war years, he served in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA), first in active duty and then as a peacekeeper.
Corporal Philippe Lepage was a truck driver transporting goods and men from the front to Seoul three times a week during both his active and peacekeeping duties. Today, Philippe is the Liaison Representative of the Korean War Veterans Association (KVA) at the Perley Rideau.
His medals are the Canadian Korea Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the The United Nations: Korea Medal.
9. Edward John Mastronardi (Resident), Age 89
Born in Toronto, Ed Mastronardi received a BA degree from the University of Toronto in 1950. From 1944 to 1945, he served in the Royal Canadian Navy and survived the crucial battle of the Atlantic. Ed was one of those brave Canadians who faced the danger of enemy torpedoes and the freezing waters of the North Atlantic to help ensure that badly needed supplies reached the Allies in the United Kingdom and Europe.
From 1950 to 1953, Ed served as an officer in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps during the Korean War and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for conspicuous gallantry. On his 26th birthday, Ed and 28 members of his small platoon were 600 metres beyond the front line for a period of eight hours on the night of Nov. 2-3, 1951, whilst under full scale Chinese attack. When the battle was over, the small group that withstood two overwhelming attacks suffered 50 per cent casualties, but only one killed. Ed takes pride in the fact that they brought out all of their wounded.
His rank upon retirement was Flight Lieutenant. Over his career, Ed served with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) 1944-45, the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1950-53) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (1953-62). Later, Ed joined the De Havilland Aircraft Company and held the senior executive position of Assistant Secretary to the Treasury Board of the Canadian Public Service. His medals number 9.
10. Dalton J. Mcintyre (Volunteer, Perley Rideau), Age 93
Born in Ottawa, Dalton grew up in the west end, attended St. George’s School, St. Patrick’s College for High School and two years of college before attending Queen’s University which he put on hold to serve his country.
Dalton served on the minesweeper the Nipigon, the escort carrier HMS Nabob, and the destroyer the Restigouche, first as a stoker, and finally as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA). He recently received the Arctic Star medal because the Nabob was in arctic waters north of Norway when it was torpedoed. His rank upon retirement was Chief Petty Officer (Engineer Branch).
After the war, Dalton was finally able to complete his Mechanical Engineering degree at Queen’s on a Veteran’s allowance. His work experience was in the field of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration in sales, contracting and consulting. Since retirement, Dalton is keeping activeand still plays tennis, cycles, and skis cross country. He received his 10-year pin as a volunteer visitor at the Perley Rideau in 2014.
Jack Watts, 95, is welcomed by Joe Varner, Grand Chancellor, as the Order of St. George Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames was held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Assignment – 118823 // Photo taken at 16:01 on November 3, 2014.
11. Jack V. Watts (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 95
On the 1st of July 1940, Jack joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Hamilton as an aircrew trainee, graduating early in the New Year as a Pilot Officer Observer. After a hectic Atlantic crossing and a few days at the London Reception Depot, he was assigned to the operational training unit at Abingdon in Bedsforshire where he was converted to the Armstrong Witworth Whitley, a pre-war twin-engine bomber and conditioned to fly in the wartime in blacked-out conditions.
He was transferred to RAF Leeming in Yorkshire to join 10 Squadron where he was assigned to be the navigator, bomb-aimer, front gunner in a new crew with an RAF pilot, a Scottish co-pilot, a Canadian wireless-operator and a Canadian tail-gunner. Their combined age - 21. It was the onset of a storied career in Bomber Command which encompassed most of four years, serving in four different squadrons over Europe and Africa, qualifying as Captain of his aircraft and completing 106 operations, meriting the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar and qualifying for the Pathfinder Badge, the Caterpillar Club, the Winged Goldfish Club and the Winged Boot Club.
He continued his service in the RCAF because he believed that war with the Soviets was inevitable. When NATO was organized, he attended NATO Defence College in Paris and served on the operational staff of Allied Air Forces Central Europe at Fontainbleau in France. With the success of NATO in discouraging Soviet aggression, service in Air Defence Command and diplomatic assignments overseas followed with a further four ears of overseas assignments with the Canadian Commercial Corporation and External Affairs to complete almost 40 years of service to King, Queen and Country. He retired as a Brigadier-General in 1975.
Jack recently was awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
Norma Zelia Watts, 93, waits to receive her medal as the Order of St. George Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames was held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Assignment – 118823 // Photo taken at 16:03 on November 3, 2014. (Wayne Cuddington/Ottawa Citizen)
12. Norma Zelia Watts (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 93
Following the devastating bombing raid on Coventry in early 1941, Norma joined the RAF Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She trained to serve in Flying Control and was transferred to Biggin Hill where she served during the Battle of Britain and the German attacks on Fighter Command airfields.
After the pressure eased on the fighter fields, she was transferred to Bomber Command which was in the process of expanding. Her first assignment in Bomber Command was on the Flying Control Staff of Upper Heyford where a Bomber Command Operational Unit was converting newly trained aircrew to Hampden Bombers. From there, she was transferred to Little Staughton, a new base in the Pathfinder Group of Bomber Command from which a Lancaster squadron and a Mosquito squadron were to operate.
It was at Little Staughton where she met her future husband who was serving on the Mosquito squadron. They married in 1944 in Coventry, and she was released in 1945 to come to Canada as a war bride on HMS Cynthia.
In the post-war era, Norma continued to serve her now, new country as her husband remained to serve with the RCAF. Besides being a mother to three, she performed outside of the home in service with her husband, particularly on such assignments as in France on NATO staff, in Sea Island as the Commanding Officer and in India, Ghana and Kenya on diplomatic duties. Hers, like her husband, was a lifetime of service to her King, Queen and country.
Norma and Jack Watts celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Oct. 24, 2014.
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The order was founded in Canada in 2003, inspired by the 680-year-old Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George. As a charity, the order contributes money to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
Maurice Bilodeau, 89, waits to be invested into the Order of St George during a ceremony held at the Perley.
1. Maurice Bilodeau (Resident), Age 89
Born and raised in the Lebreton Flats area of Ottawa in a family of 16 children, Maurice Bilodeau enlisted in 1943 at age 18.5. During the war years, he served in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He was a runner with the Regiment de la Maisonneuve, a crucial job in wartime.
Maurice calls himself a “lucky boy” who was shot at five times but has no scars. He remembers asking the nurses for extra gauze so he could add protection to his steel helmet. Once a bullet hit his helmet on the first field dressing and it bounced on the stomach of his friend. Fortunately the bullet was sideways and spent when it hit him.
For 25 years, Maurice was a Perley Rideau volunteer and helping residents, whatever their handicap, to make wooden objects, pottery and other handicrafts in the Creative Arts Studio. Maurice received the Mayor’s City Builder Award and the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award. Maurice received 4 medals including a Star and the Thank You Canada Medal (50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland).
2. Hilda Bowley (Resident), Age 95
Born and raised in Liverpool, England, Hilda Bowley enlisted when she was 23 years old with the Women’s Auxiliary of the Royal Air Force (WAAF). She was working in the office of Bomber Command when she met her husband Leslie Bowley.
Hilda recalled vividly the time when the Bomber Command building was hit and the WAAFs just had time to excape to the boardwalk before the building collapsed.
After the war Hilda came to Canada as a War Bride and traded city life for farm life. That’s when she realized she was terrified of cows.
Hilda was awarded two war medals and the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge.
Leslie Bowley, 97, plays with his great granddaughter Mallory, 6 months old, after he is invested into the Order of St. George during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. His wife Hilda Bowley (L) was also invested into the order. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
3. Leslie Bowley (Resident), Age 97
Born and raised in Hamilton, Leslie Bowley enlisted in 1939. During the war years he served in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS).
Leslie always wanted to stay busy so he often helped in the kitchen. One day, an officer asked him if he was a signalman or a cook. When he replied he was not sure, the officer ordered him to bake a cake. The task was not easy because most ingredients for a cake were not available. Leslie managed to bake a green cake with pink icing made of beet juices. Leslie remembers the war years and the time he met his wife of 69 years and said “We had a great life, but it was crazy time!”
Leslie was awarded five war medals.
Frank Cauley, 94, smiles while he is invested into the Order of St. George during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
4. Frank Cauley (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 94
Born and raised in Ottawa, Frank Cauley enlisted in 1940. During the war years he served in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command and Coastal Command as a Navigator. His rank upon retirement was Flying Officer.
Frank was the navigator in a Whitley “flying coffin” bomber when it crashed into the Bay of Biscay. Frank was the only crew member who made it into an inflatable dinghy tied to the plane. He cut the rope just before the bomber disappeared below the waves with all crew members trapped inside. During the three long days he spent bobbing in the ocean, he vowed to live his life for others if it was spared.
This RCAF navigator is also famous for the plight of his aircrew after sinking the German submarine A-625 near Northern Ireland. His Short Sunderland flying boat depth-charged the U-boat into oblivion, but not before his plane was shot full of holes. Forced to land on water the 11-man crew each chewed the five sticks of Wrigley’s spearmint gum they were assigned and used it to plug the bullet holes below the waterline. They landed on the water with bated breath, delighted to find out that their low-tech ingenuity had paid off.
Frank has dedicated his postwar life to community service. For both his military and community efforts, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, among many other honours.
Former Ottawa Rough Rider Tony Golab, 95, is welcomed into the Order of St. George by Joe Varner, (L) Grand Chancellor, during the Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
5. Anthony Charles Golab, O.C. (Resident), Age 95
During WWII, Tony Golab flew tactical reconnaissance over war-torn landscapes in Egypt, North Africa and Italy for 4 years. One day, flying at 5,000 feet taking photos of German troops on the move in Egypt, a plane slid in behind Tony’s Spitfire. The pilot lit up the Spitfire with his guns and Tony had to quickly bail out and hit the silk. He cursed aloud when he saw his plane had been shot down by an inexperienced and confused American pilot.
Tony was flying tactical reconnaissance in Italy later in the war when his plane was hit by German ground fire and exploded just behind the cockpit. He was forced once again to bail out, this time taking shrapnel in his right knee. Tony was reported Missing In Action as he was receiving quiet care from the Italian resistance movement.
When his war years ended, Tony “Golden Boy” Golab enjoyed his dual career as an RCAF pilot and Ottawa Rough Rider and retired from CFL action in 1950. He worked with the RCAF in Ottawa and Hamilton as he made his way up through the air force chain of command. By 1958, Tony was Chief Administrative Officer at RCAF 14 Wing Greenwood in Nova Scotia. In 1960, he became Chief Administrative Officer at the advance flying school in Saskatoon and was named Commanding Officer just two years later. By 1966, Wing Commander Tony Golab joined the planning staff for the Western NORAD Region at McChord Air Force Base in Washington State and Hamilton Air Force Base in California as Battle Wing Commander.
In 1964, he was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. In 1975, he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In 1985 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 1997, he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
6. Robert E. Hanley (Tenant, Commissionnaires Ottawa Place), age 94
Born and raised in Harris, SK on a farm, Bob Hanley enlisted in 1940 in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and then again in 1953. During WWII, he served overseas for 3 years and 8 months.
After two years working with the RAF night fighter command, Bob was posted to the 2nd Tactical Airforce HQ in Gatwick, England. He was an engineering officer that managed ground crew who maintained the Spitfire aircraft that gave low level air support to the armies. On D plus “six”, their wing became the first of many to land in Normandy and later pressed through France, Belgium, Holland and as far as Hamburg in Germany.
Bob recalls the time he was stationed in Grave (Northern Holland) when the enemy destroyed the dykes and flooded the area. They were told at about 6 p.m. that they had to move out by daylight the next morning. Most got no sleep that night, rushing to load trucks, find personal equipment and haul the trucks out of the muddy river bed and make sure the aircraft were ready to support the armies.
Post WWII, Bob served as engineer on a number of air force bases. During that time, Bob recalls with great delight of being involved in the building of two curling clubs. Later, Bob used his engineering skills to build six private airplanes for his Flying Club. Bob was also Senior Marshal at the Upper Canada Golf Club and a member of the Cornwall Curling Club.
Medal number is 6 including two tars and the Normandy Campaign Medal issued by the Normandy Veterans Association.
7. Mervin Jon (Resident), Age 91
Gatineau-born Mervin Jones enlisted in the army in May 1941 and went to England in 1942 with a Canadian artillery unit assigned to coastal defence. As the unit’s dispatch rider, his job was to collect from headquarters the identification codes for Allied aircraft and distribute them to coastal batteries to help them sort out returning bombers from enemy planes. Late in 1943, while recuperating from an injury, he saw a notice soliciting French-speaking soldiers for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and decided to apply. Mervin was among the first Canadian soldiers on French soil in the early hours of June 6, 1944. Jones, then 21, parachuted into occupied France, behind Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall at 1 a.m. as part of a contingent of 500 Canadian paratroopers attached to the 6th British Airborne Division, which was tasked with protecting the eastern flank of the Allied invasion force then steaming across the English Channel toward Normandy.
Merv’s war ended in August 1944 when he aggravated an injury incurred in a training jump. He returned to Canada the following year. Jones later served in the Korean War. He retired in 1973 with the rank of Master Warrant Officer and was able to focus on his volunteer work. Merv made scouting a family affair with all his children involved. He volunteered with Scouts Canada for almost 50 years.
Merv was awarded 16 medals including 2 stars during his period in the service.
8. Philippe Lepage (Volunteer, Perley Rideau), age 81
Born and raised in Timiskaming County, Ont., Philippe Lepage enlisted in 1953 in the Korean War. During the war years, he served in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA), first in active duty and then as a peacekeeper.
Corporal Philippe Lepage was a truck driver transporting goods and men from the front to Seoul three times a week during both his active and peacekeeping duties. Today, Philippe is the Liaison Representative of the Korean War Veterans Association (KVA) at the Perley Rideau.
His medals are the Canadian Korea Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal and the The United Nations: Korea Medal.
9. Edward John Mastronardi (Resident), Age 89
Born in Toronto, Ed Mastronardi received a BA degree from the University of Toronto in 1950. From 1944 to 1945, he served in the Royal Canadian Navy and survived the crucial battle of the Atlantic. Ed was one of those brave Canadians who faced the danger of enemy torpedoes and the freezing waters of the North Atlantic to help ensure that badly needed supplies reached the Allies in the United Kingdom and Europe.
From 1950 to 1953, Ed served as an officer in the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps during the Korean War and was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for conspicuous gallantry. On his 26th birthday, Ed and 28 members of his small platoon were 600 metres beyond the front line for a period of eight hours on the night of Nov. 2-3, 1951, whilst under full scale Chinese attack. When the battle was over, the small group that withstood two overwhelming attacks suffered 50 per cent casualties, but only one killed. Ed takes pride in the fact that they brought out all of their wounded.
His rank upon retirement was Flight Lieutenant. Over his career, Ed served with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) 1944-45, the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (1950-53) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (1953-62). Later, Ed joined the De Havilland Aircraft Company and held the senior executive position of Assistant Secretary to the Treasury Board of the Canadian Public Service. His medals number 9.
10. Dalton J. Mcintyre (Volunteer, Perley Rideau), Age 93
Born in Ottawa, Dalton grew up in the west end, attended St. George’s School, St. Patrick’s College for High School and two years of college before attending Queen’s University which he put on hold to serve his country.
Dalton served on the minesweeper the Nipigon, the escort carrier HMS Nabob, and the destroyer the Restigouche, first as a stoker, and finally as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA). He recently received the Arctic Star medal because the Nabob was in arctic waters north of Norway when it was torpedoed. His rank upon retirement was Chief Petty Officer (Engineer Branch).
After the war, Dalton was finally able to complete his Mechanical Engineering degree at Queen’s on a Veteran’s allowance. His work experience was in the field of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration in sales, contracting and consulting. Since retirement, Dalton is keeping activeand still plays tennis, cycles, and skis cross country. He received his 10-year pin as a volunteer visitor at the Perley Rideau in 2014.
Jack Watts, 95, is welcomed by Joe Varner, Grand Chancellor, as the Order of St. George Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames was held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Assignment – 118823 // Photo taken at 16:01 on November 3, 2014.
11. Jack V. Watts (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 95
On the 1st of July 1940, Jack joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Hamilton as an aircrew trainee, graduating early in the New Year as a Pilot Officer Observer. After a hectic Atlantic crossing and a few days at the London Reception Depot, he was assigned to the operational training unit at Abingdon in Bedsforshire where he was converted to the Armstrong Witworth Whitley, a pre-war twin-engine bomber and conditioned to fly in the wartime in blacked-out conditions.
He was transferred to RAF Leeming in Yorkshire to join 10 Squadron where he was assigned to be the navigator, bomb-aimer, front gunner in a new crew with an RAF pilot, a Scottish co-pilot, a Canadian wireless-operator and a Canadian tail-gunner. Their combined age - 21. It was the onset of a storied career in Bomber Command which encompassed most of four years, serving in four different squadrons over Europe and Africa, qualifying as Captain of his aircraft and completing 106 operations, meriting the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar and qualifying for the Pathfinder Badge, the Caterpillar Club, the Winged Goldfish Club and the Winged Boot Club.
He continued his service in the RCAF because he believed that war with the Soviets was inevitable. When NATO was organized, he attended NATO Defence College in Paris and served on the operational staff of Allied Air Forces Central Europe at Fontainbleau in France. With the success of NATO in discouraging Soviet aggression, service in Air Defence Command and diplomatic assignments overseas followed with a further four ears of overseas assignments with the Canadian Commercial Corporation and External Affairs to complete almost 40 years of service to King, Queen and Country. He retired as a Brigadier-General in 1975.
Jack recently was awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
Norma Zelia Watts, 93, waits to receive her medal as the Order of St. George Investiture Ceremony for Field Knights and Field Dames was held at The Perley and Rideau Veterans‚ Health Centre honouring a group of twelve veterans. The Order of St. George was inspired by the Fraternal Society of Knighthood of St. George founded 680 years ago and was established in Canada in March 2003. The most important charitable function of the Order is contributing funds to support the families of fallen or wounded Canadian Armed Forces personnel. Assignment – 118823 // Photo taken at 16:03 on November 3, 2014. (Wayne Cuddington/Ottawa Citizen)
12. Norma Zelia Watts (Tenant, Commissionaires Ottawa Place), Age 93
Following the devastating bombing raid on Coventry in early 1941, Norma joined the RAF Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She trained to serve in Flying Control and was transferred to Biggin Hill where she served during the Battle of Britain and the German attacks on Fighter Command airfields.
After the pressure eased on the fighter fields, she was transferred to Bomber Command which was in the process of expanding. Her first assignment in Bomber Command was on the Flying Control Staff of Upper Heyford where a Bomber Command Operational Unit was converting newly trained aircrew to Hampden Bombers. From there, she was transferred to Little Staughton, a new base in the Pathfinder Group of Bomber Command from which a Lancaster squadron and a Mosquito squadron were to operate.
It was at Little Staughton where she met her future husband who was serving on the Mosquito squadron. They married in 1944 in Coventry, and she was released in 1945 to come to Canada as a war bride on HMS Cynthia.
In the post-war era, Norma continued to serve her now, new country as her husband remained to serve with the RCAF. Besides being a mother to three, she performed outside of the home in service with her husband, particularly on such assignments as in France on NATO staff, in Sea Island as the Commanding Officer and in India, Ghana and Kenya on diplomatic duties. Hers, like her husband, was a lifetime of service to her King, Queen and country.
Norma and Jack Watts celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Oct. 24, 2014.
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