In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Gerald Gary (Gerry) Zaphe, M.I.D.

 

Submarine Detector, RCNVR

 

Lieutenant, RCNVR

 

Lieutenant, RCN(R)

 

Born: 29 Sep 1913          Died: 06 Feb 1992

 

ZAPHE, Gerald Gray (Gerry) - aged 78 years, resident of Brown Street, passed away in McKellar Hospital on Thursday, February 6th, 1992. Born in Outlook, Saskatchewan, son of Mabel and the late William Zaphe, he was raised and educated in Brandon, Manitoba. He married the former Wilma Kendall in 1939. Gerald enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy for 5 years and he had been employed with Safeways Limited as store manager in Saskatoon, then Ship-Easy in thunder Bay before becoming sales supervisor for Western Groceries, retiring in 1973. His main interests were his home and family, and he enjoyed travelling and fishing. Surviving are his mother Mabel Zaphe in Calgary, his wife Wilma at home; son James Zaphe of Regina (here), daughter Wendy Vaillant and husband Clifford of Thunder Bay; 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; brother Lloyd Zaphe of Thunder Bay and Graydon Zaphe of Calgary; sister Arlene George of BC. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service for the late Mr. Gerald Zaphe will be held on Sunday at 3 pm in the Jenkens Funeral Home with Rev. Turner officiating and service complete in the chapel. Interment will follow later in Stanley Hill Cemetery

 


 

Citation for Mentioned in Despatches:

 

ZAPHE, Gerald Gray, Lieutenant, Mention in Despatches, RCNVR, HMCS ROSTHERN - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 16 June 1945 and London Gazette of 14 June 1945.

 

"Lieutenant Zaphe has served at sea for a considerable period during the present war, both as a rating and as an officer. Whilst serving in HMCS ROSTHERN, he was, by his constant devotion to duty and unceasing efforts in maintaining the Asdic equipment, largely responsible for enabling his ship to drive off from three to five U - Boats, probably destroying one of them."

 


 

Ships served in:

HMCS SPIKENARD

HMCS LEASIDE - Appointed to LEASIDE 12 Jul 1944 as Lt, RCNVR

HMCS ROSTHERN

HMCS GRANBY - Served in GRANBY in 1944 as a Lt, RCNVR

HMCS HUMBERSTONE

HMCS GRIFFON

 

GZ01

GZ02

GZ03

GZ04

GZ05

(GZ01) Newspaper article on Lt Gerald Zaphe awarded M.I.D

(GZ02) Gerry and Wilma in Halifax - 1941

(GZ03) Gerry in front of Union Station, Halifax - 1941

(GZ04) Gerry - 1940

(GZ05) Gerry, Halifax - 1941

 

GZ06

GZ07

GZ08

GZ09

GZ10

(GZ06) Wilma

(GZ07) Gerry and Wilma

(GZ08) Gerry and ??, Saskatoon, 1941

(GZ09) Gerry (left) and friend, Saskatoon - 1941

(GZ10) Gerry (right) and friend, Saskatoon - 1941

 

GZ11

GZ12

(GZ11) Gerry, Halifax - 1941

(GZ12) Wilma, Halifax - 1941

 


 

HMCS SPIKENARD K198

 

GZ13

GZ14

GZ15

GZ16

(GZ13) Gerry Zaphe (left) and shipmate on HMCS SPIKENARD

(GZ14) Unknown sailor - friend of Gerry Zaphe (from photo GZ13) - on HMCS SPIKENARD

(GZ15) Gerry Zaphe on HMCS SPIKENARD

(GZ16) Unknown sailor on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SPIKENARD

 


 

HMCS LEASIDE K492

 

GZ17

GS18

GZ19

GZ20

GZ21

(GZ17) HMCS LEASIDE K492 on her commissioning day

(GZ18) Newspaper article on the commissioning of HMCS LEASIDE K492. Officers mentioned in the article: Lt G.G.K. Holder, CO; Lt T.H. Burdon, 1st Lt (XO); Lt G.A. Southee, Navo

(GZ19) HMCS LEASIDE - Dedication pamphlet (cover)

(GZ20) Two officers by ship's badge in the wardroom of HMCS LEASIDE K492

GZ21) Sing-a-long in the Wardroom on HMCS LEASIDE K492

 

  

GZ22

(GZ22) HMCS LEASIDE Christmas Card - 1944

 


 

HMCS ROSTHERN K169

 

GZ23

GZ24

GZ25

GZ26

GZ27

(GZ23) HMCS ROSTHERN half way across in Spring 1943. I was officer of the watch and these are some of the off duty officers.  That's Gordon Holder seated in the Centre. The two men in ski hats are signalmen. This is the type of clothes you wear at sea

(GZ24) HMCS ROSTHERN 1942 - What a beautiful day. It could be interrupted at any moment. Convoy in the background

(GZ25) HMCS ROSTHERN - These are the two stern depth charge rails. The charges were rolled out the stern. Spare charges on the deck

(GZ26) HMCS ROSTHERN 1942 - Note the two depth charge "throwers" all set to fire the first pattern. The spares are on the rails in between

(GZ27) HMCS ROSTHERN 1942 - Manning the Oerlikon gun during an air raid  

 

GZ28

GZ29

GZ30

GZ31

GZ32

(GZ28) HMCS ROSTHERN Winter 1942 - How's this for ice. Newfie Winter 1942. That is our main gun shield I'm (Gerry Zaphe) leaning on. the whole ship is covered in ice - the greatest danger is that it could roll over from the weight

(GZ29) HMCS ROSTHERN - Newfie - 1942 - More ice just the the entrance to the Seamen's Mess - Notice life lines for hanging on in rough weather. That's me (Gerry Zaphe) in the picture

(GZ30-GZ31) HMCS ROSTHERN 1942 - Taking on fuel from a tanker half way across. This was necessary cause we sure burned a lot of oil chasing U-boats all night long at full speed. We did this about 3 or 4 times a trip so we were always at "Full Ready"

(GZ32) This is our forward gun. It was built by the Massey Harris Farm Implement Co. in Ontario - so says a brass plate on it. We call it "The Massey Harris" 

 


 

HMCS GRANBY J264

 

GZ33

(GZ33) Lt Zaphe by the signal lamp as officer of the watch on HMCS Granby J264 - 1944

 


 

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