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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
GILBROOK, Ronald John (Jack) - Born on October 13, 1922 in London, Ontario, to JFL Gilbrook and Hester Milligan. John was the oldest of three children. He attended Aberdeen Public School and HB Beal Technical School. In his late-teens, he worked as a delivery driver for Siegel's Wholesale Fruit out of London.
In 1940, he answered the call to service and joined the RCN. He travelled to British Columbia with other recruits from London and trained as a stoker. He was assigned to the HMCS MOOSE JAW and saw action on its initial operation in the Battle of the Atlantic. He often spoke of the sinking of a U-boat off the coast of Greenland. On February 9/42 his ship rescued French sailors off the "Alysse" which had been torpedoed by a U-boat. Sometime later in 1942 he joined the ships company on the HMCS SOREL. He also spent time on the HMCS WETASKIWIN. While on loan to the Royal Navy, he saw action in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Sicily. He also served on the following LCI (L): RCN 271, RN 281 and 121.
Sometime during 1944 he suffered a broken neck while serving on a LCI(L) and was later moved to the Canadian Hospital Ship "Letitia".
At the conclusion of the war John served on HMCS WARRIOR.
He was a recipient of the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star (with France and Germany Bar), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with clasp) and the War Medal 1939-45.
Ships served in: LCI(L) 281 (Royal Navy)
(RJG001) Jack Gilbrook on an unknown corvette (RJG002) Menu from the Hospital Ship LETITIA with autographs - New Years Day, January 1st, 1945 (RJG003) Obituary for Jack Gilbrook
Course Photos
(RJG006) Stokers "A" Class, HMCS NADEN III, Comox, BC - 1941 (RJG007) MTE Class M.19 at HMCS STADACONA, Halifax, NS (RJG008) Marine Diesel Engine Operators Course, 30 Apr 1943, US Naval Training School Detroit, Michigan, USA
HMCS MOOSE JAW
(RJG009) Higgins on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 (RJG010) Unknown sailor wearing a jacket with HMCS MOOSE JAW on it along with various phrases written on it
(RJG011) Album page 1 - HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 - 1941 (RJG012) ERA Purser, Sto 1/c Kiggins, unknown Sto 1c, Coxswain MacDonald on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 (RJG013) Purser, Galager, Kiggins. Coxswain MacDonald on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 (RJG014) AB Long and Downy on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164
(RJG015) Album page 2 - HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 crew (RJG016) Jack Gilbrook on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 "Just gazing & Wishing" (RJG017) Keenlieside and Galeger on HMCS MOOSE JAW K164 (RJG018) Jack Gilbrook and Anger painting HMCS MOOSE JAW K164
(RJG019 - RJG020) Free French Corvette ALYSSE after being torpedoed by U654 on 09 Feb 1942 (RJG021) Survivors from the ALYSSE onboard HMCS MOOSE JAW K164
HMCS SOREL
(RJG022) Album page 3 - HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG023) (left) Chief Thomas, Frank Gunn and Sarge (right) Wilson, Pop Gray, Towers by the ship's boat on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG024) Jack Gilbrook and Bush by the gunshield art on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG025) Richard's in the after gun tub on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG026) Marcue and Drury onboard HMCS SOREL K153
(RJG027) Album page 4 - HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG028) "Well" on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG029) "Action Stations" Unknown sailors by a depth charge launcher on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG030) Jack Gilbrook and Scott by the gunshield art on HMCS SOREL K153 (RJG031) Bush and Jack Gilbrook sitting on the ship's boat on HMCS SOREL K153
(RJG032) HMCS HEPATICA - Photo taken from an unknown ship
(RJG033) Album page 5 - Onboard an Unknown Corvette - Either MOOSE JAW, SOREL or WETASKIWIN (RJG034) "Horizontal - Arbour" (RJG035) Rear of Bridge (RJG036) Front of Bridge (RJG037) "Manning, Cambell, Scott, Morris"
(RJG038) Album page 6 - Sailors ashore (RJG039) Lowe's Criterion and F.W. Woolworth on Broadway, New York, NY, USA (RJG040) Towers, Martin, Hughs and Romson ashore in front of a restaurant advertising Spaghetti 25¢ - believed to be taken in New York City. (RJG041) Morrison (right) with unknown friend/shipmate - location unknown (RJG042) Morrison (left) and Jack Gilbrook - location unknown
(RJG043) Album page 7 - HMCS WARRIOR (RJG044) HMCS WARRIOR
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