Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Lieutenant-Commander E. Francois, Royal Canadian Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Decoration, E. II.R. (LCdr J. E. Francois) mounted as worn, very fine and better (5) £150-200

John Eugene Francois entered the Royal Canadian Navy on 6 September 1939. He trained at Naden until promoted to Lieutenant on 6 September 1941. Served on H.M.C.S. Wetaskiwin, September 1941-January 1942 as Executive Officer; and H.M.C.S. Saguenay, May-November 1942. Listed as being ‘in command’ on H.M.C.S. Stadacona (Noranda), January 1943-September 1944. He was subsequently posted as Lieutenant (Commanding Officer) of H.M.C.S. Thorlock in November 1944 and in July 1945 was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Commander. The Thorlock completed five trans-Atlantic crossings on convoy escort duty, and on her last return trip she, in company with H.M.C.S. Victoriaville, accepted the surrender of the German submarine U.190 on 11 May 1945. The two ships escorted the captured U-Boat into Bull’s Bay, Newfoundland.

Lieutenant-Commander Francois was discharged on 28 August 1945. He rejoined the Royal Canadian Navy at Esquimault on 27 October 1947 and served until his retirement on 28 February 1956.

With copied service papers; deck log book extracts from H.M.C.S. Thorlock detailing the boarding of the German submarine; deck log book extracts from H.M.C. Ships Wetaskiwin and Saguenay; Canadian National Archive photographs of H.M.C.S. Thorlock, her crew and the captured submarine.