Gerald Thomas Ozon Steward HMCS Valleyfield, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Number: V/399 Date of Birth: September 26, 1923, Place of Birth: North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Enlistment: December 20, 1941 (Halifax) Date of Death: May 7, 1944 Age: 20 Memorial: Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia Reference: Panel 13 Commemorated on Page 410 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 1 Gerald was the son of Charles Albert Ozon (1884-1959) and Ellen Jane Moulton Ozon (1885-1954). His siblings were Ruby Caroline Ozon (1906-1910), Nina Pearl Ozon (1908-1976, Cecil Armstrong Ozon (1910-1967), Harry Albert Ozon (1912-1974), Ethel Gertrude Ozon ((1914-1993), James Melvin Ozon (1915–1979), Edith Letitia Ozon (1917-1997), Elizabeth Jean Ozon Myers ((1921-1999), and Mary Lillian Ozon (1927-1986). His grandfather was Captain Charles Armstrong Ozon (1857-1930), and his great grandfather Jean Julian Ozon (1800- 1860) was born in Granville, Manche, in Normandy, France. His brother Harold and James also served during the Second World War, in the Canadian Army. Gerald completed Grade 8 at school and at age 16 he was employed as a Messman at the RCAF Depot in Halifax, NS. Ships served in and postings: January 22, 1942 Commenced Active Service as a Probationary Steward, RCNVR January 22, 1942 Drafted to HMCS Stadacona, shore establishment, Halifax, NS January 31, 1942 Drafted to Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC), Montréal March 31, 1942 HMCS Stadacona April 14, 1942 Drafted to HMCS Kings, RCN Officer training establishment. October 22, 1943 Rated Steward, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve January 2, 1942 Drafted to HMCS Stadacona January 9, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Grandmere (K157), Flower‑class corvette. April 28, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Stadacona May 5, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Arrowhead (K145), Flower‑class corvette. May 26, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Stadacona June 1, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Protector I, shore establishment, Sydney, Cape Breton, NS December 29, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Stadacona December 30, 1943 Drafted to HMCS Valleyfield (K3292), River-class frigate. On May 7, 1944, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate HMCS Valleyfield was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-548 approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. While returning to St. John's as a convoy escort, the ship was struck in the port-side boiler room by a GNAT acoustic torpedo, causing it to break in two and sink in just 4 minutes. Because the vessel went down so rapidly, no distress signal was sent, which tragically delayed rescue efforts by the HMCS Giffard. The sinking resulted in the deaths of 125 crew members, making Valleyfield the only River-class frigate lost by the RCN during the Second World War. Although 43 men were initially pulled from the frigid North Atlantic waters, five later succumbed to hypothermia, leaving only 38 survivors. Having died at sea with no known grave, Steward Gerald Thomas Ozon is remembered on Panel 13 of the Halifax Memorial within the grounds of Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, NS. The lost crew members are also honoured at a dedicated monument in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. HMCS Valleyfield Service File: Gerald Thomas Ozon