Allegiance Canada Service number V-46636 | Rank Able seaman Name Thomas Simpson | |
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Born November 6, 1921 (age 102) ( 1921-11-06 ) Awards Distinguished Service Medal
[Italy Star] | ||
Battles/wars Battle of the Atlantic Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic Service/branch Royal Canadian Navy | ||
Thomas joseph simpson tribute
Thomas Joseph Simpson (November 6, 1921 – January 28, 2017) was one of only 114 Canadians to receive the Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M) for World War II service.
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Simpson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy at HMCS HUNTER in Windsor, Ontario, as a radar operator during the Second World War in 1942. He trained as a radar operator in Esquimalt, British Columbia, and later Halifax, Nova Scotia, before serving on HMCS Shawnigan (K136), HMCS Toronto (K538), and HMCS La Hulloise (K668).
Simpson joined the Royal Canadian Navy and trained as a radar operator on three ships during the Battle of the Atlantic. The ships he served on were HMCS Shawinigan (K136), HMCS Toronto, and the HMCS La Hulloise (K668). He died on January 28, 2017.
Awards
On March 7, 1945, La Hulloise along with two other Canadian River class frigates, Strathadam and Thetford Mines, sank German submarine U-1302 (originally thought to be German submarine U-775) in the St George's Channel. In August the event was recognised by the awarding of medals to a number of the officers and men of the three frigates, Simpson included.