In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Joseph Austin Valdron

 

Chief Petty Officer,  Anti-Submarine Artificer 3rd Class,

 

V25538, RCNVR

 

Born: 23 Mar 1919

 

Died: 07 Aug 2015, Dalhousie, New Brunswick

 

VALDRON, Joseph Austin - Passed away peacefully at the Dalhousie Nursing Home on August 7, 2015 at the age of 96, Joseph Austin Valdron of Dalhousie and husband of (late) Gemma (Poirier) Valdron, was the last surviving child of the late Joseph Valdron and Margaret Ward. Austin was a loving husband and father of three children, Linda Currie (Ted), Harold (Dawn-Marie), and Douglas (Connie). He adored his four grandchildren Tyler, Jared, Amelea, and Claire. Austin was a veteran of the Second World War having served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1940 to 1945 rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. During this time he served onboard the destroyer HMCS ST CLAIR which took part in the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war he completed his degree in Electrical Engineering from UNB and pursued a successful career in the pulp and paper industry until his retirement. Austin was an avid fisherman and led an active life and was often seen skiing, skating, and curling well into his later years. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and actively served for many years at Dalhousie Branch No. 17. The funeral mass will be held at the St. John Baptist Church in Dalhousie on Wednesday at 11:00 am. Visitations at Maher's Funeral Home, 421 Victoria Street, Dalhousie, Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm, 7pm to 9pm and Wednesday from 10:00 am until time of funeral. Legion members of Dalhousie branch # 17 and all members of the Royal Canadian Legion are asked to meet at Maher's Funeral Home on Tuesday evening at 7:30pm for Legion Service. Donations to the Lung Association or the Dalhousie Nursing Home would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Dalhousie.

 

Joseph Austin Valdon - Second World War Memoirs

 

Ships served in:

HMCS ST CLAIR

 

JAV01

JAV02

JAV03

JAV4

JAV05

(JAV01-JAV03) Austin Valdron early in his time in the Navy

(JAV04) PO Austin Valdron

(JAV05) Certificate of Discharge 21 Aug 1945 for Anti-Submarine Artificer 3rd Class Joseph A. Valdron

 

JAV06

JAV07

JAV08

JAV09

(JAV06) CPO Austin Valdon

(JAV07-JAV09) Austin Valdon sailing in a dory summer 1944 in Nova Scotia

 


 

JAV10

(JAV10) HMCS ST CLAIR alongside - location unknown

 

JAV11

JAV12

JAV13

JAV14

JAV15

(JAV11-JAV15) HMCS ST CLAIR in heavy seas

(JAV15) HMCS ST CLAIR takes a heavy roll to port and the seas wash over her upper deck

 

JAV16

JAV17

JAV18

JAV19

JAV20

(JAV16-JAV20) HMCS ST CLAIR in heavy seas

 

JAV21

JAV22

JAV23

JAV24

(JAV21-JAV24) HMCS ST CLAIR in heavy seas

(JAV24) Unknown sailor hold on to what appears to be a gun barrel on HMCS ST CLAIR in heavy seas

 

JAV25

JAV26

JAV27

JAV28

JAV29

(JAV25) Fo'c's'le of HMCS ST CLAIR covered in ice

(JAV26) Merchant ship in convoy seen over the ice-up depth charge rails of HMCS ST CLAIR during a North Atlantic winter convoy

(JAV27) Merchant ship seen though the ice up guard rails of HMCS ST CLAIR during a North Atlantic winter convoy

(JAV28) Unknown sailor on the ice covered quarterdeck of HMCS ST CLAIR

(JAV29) The depth charge rails of HMCS ST CLAIR completely covered in ice

 

JAV30

JAV31

JAV32

JAV33

(JAV30) The depth charge rails of HMCS ST CLAIR completely covered in ice

(JAV31) Unknown warship on the horizon

(JAV32) A calm day on the North Atlantic

(JAV33) the sun setting over the depth charge rails on HMCS ST CLAIR

 

JAV34

JAV35

JAV36

JAV37

JAV38

(JAV34) Austin Valdron in his bunk on HMCS ST CLAIR

(JAV35) Mess deck on HMCS ST CLAIR

(JAV36) Austin Valdon in a boxing pose on HMCS ST CLAIR (webmaster's note: its hard to take him serious with those big fuzzy socks on)

(JAV37-JAV38) Unknown sailors on HMCS ST CLAIR

 

JAV39

JAV40

JAV41

JAV42

(JAV039) Unknown CPO on HMCS ST CLAIR

(JAV040) HMCS ST CLAIR sailors ashore

(JAV041) Group of sailors on HMCS ST CLAIR

(JAV042) Unknown CPO & PO on HMCS ST CLAIR

 

JAV43

JAV44

JAV45

(JAV43-JAV45) Believed to be photos of the rescue of survivors of HMS MASHONA, sunk by the Luftwaffe after the sinking of the Bismarck

 


 

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