Private George Turret Alderic (Jimmy) Melanson

Joseph Turret Alderic Melanson, known as Jimmy, was born at Atholville, New Brunswick, on 8 July 1921, the son of Ulric and Catherine Melanson. He completed Grade VIII and worked in farming, lumber camps and sawmills, including employment with W.H. Miller & Co. at Campbellton. He spoke French and English and enjoyed dancing, swimming, boxing and baseball. His family later explained that he used Jimmy because people found Alderic difficult to pronounce.

After joining the 2nd Battalion, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in August 1940, he enlisted for active service at Campbellton on 27 December 1940, number G-3332. He initially trained as a Gunner in the Royal Canadian Artillery at Petawawa. In August 1941 he transferred to the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps as a Private, training at London and Barriefield as a motor and motorcycle mechanic and driver.

He sailed for Britain in December 1942 and served with ordnance reinforcement, vehicle reception and base depot units before joining No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot. Although qualified as a mechanic, Army requirements led to his principal employment as a driver, including more than a year driving forty-ton tank transporters. His service included Britain, France and Belgium; he crossed to France in September 1944 and returned to Britain in December.

He married Elsie Florence Gregory on 31 May 1944. Their daughter Jacqueline Avril Mary and Elsie travelled to Canada in June 1945, before his own return that September. Release records also list a son. Melanson was discharged at Fredericton on 26 October 1945, with normal demobilization and a fit medical assessment. His medal records include the France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45; an August 1945 entry also records the 1939–45 Star. He received War Service Badge number 432170.

After service he moved to Valleyfield, Quebec, and belonged to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62. Melanson died on 11 December 2003 and was buried in Valleyfield (Ste. Cecile De Valleyfield) Cemetery.

1921-07-08 — Born at Atholville, son of Ulric and Catherine Melanson. Service documents name him Joseph Turret Alderic; later known as Jimmy; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1935 — Completed Grade VIII at Atholville and left school at 14; spoke and wrote French and English; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1936 to 1940 — Worked in farming and for W.H. Miller & Co., Campbellton: lumber camps, winter logging, summer sawmill labour, truck driving, mill work and fireman duties. Source durations and weekly wages vary; Atholville and Campbellton, New Brunswick.
1940-08-10 — Attested in 2 nd Battalion, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, NPAM, at Campbellton, number G421679; C Company. Roman Catholic, mother Catherine next of kin; medically category A; Campbellton, New Brunswick.
1940-12-27 — Enlisted in Canadian Army Active Force at Campbellton, G-3332, as Gunner, RCA; No.7 Recruit/District Depot, Fredericton. Prior NPAM North Shore service acknowledged; militia SOS recorded 30 December; Campbellton and Fredericton, New Brunswick.
1940-12-27 — Entry medical: height 67 inches, 125 pounds, chest 36 inches fully expanded, expansion 3 inches; category A. Brown eyes, medium-brown hair, ruddy dark complexion, scars over left kneecap, right elbow and left back of neck; Campbellton, New Brunswick.
1941-01-03 to 1941-01-04 — Initial dental examination, good oral hygiene and prophylaxis required; inoculations began. Family declaration: single, parents Ulric and Catherine living at Atholville, no other dependants and no insurance; initial pay assignment to mother; No.7 District Depot, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
1941-01-09 to 1941-01-10 — Struck off depot to Royal Canadian Artillery Training Centre, Petawawa, 9 January; taken on strength 10 January for artillery training; Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-02-10 — Transferred to C Battery at artillery training centre; Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-03-24 — Sick report: mild catarrhal conjunctivitis while on duty at RCATC; Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-04-07 to 1941-05-09 — Petawawa Military Hospital for infected lower-left third molar with secondary jaw/parotid infection. Extraction and drainage, including aspiration 28 April; improved and returned to duty 9 May; Petawawa Military Hospital, Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-05-16 — Transferred to E Battery, RCATC; Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-06-16 — Mandible X-ray showed recent lower-left third-molar extraction and no demonstrable bone disease; Petawawa Military Hospital, Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-06-30 to 1941-07-13 — Furlough granted; Petawawa, Ontario.
1941-08-19 to 1941-08-20 — Transferred from artillery training to Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, Mechanical Training Centre, London. Taken on strength 20 August as Private; London, Ontario.
1941-08-20 to 1941-11-26 — Motor-mechanic course, MTC London, about 86%; Motor Mechanic Group B classification 22/26 November in copies; Mechanical Training Centre, London, Ontario.
1941-11-08 to 1941-11-11 — Dental examination and amalgam/cement restorations; London, Ontario.
1941-11-26 to 1941-11-27 — Transferred to RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, advanced training; taken on strength 27 November as Private; Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-01-17 to 1942-01-27 — Passed Drivers' Standing Orders third class, excluding motorcycles, 17 January. Driver I/C course 20–27 January, about 83%, Class III; RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-02-13 to 1942-02-25 — Lower-right third molar extracted, postoperative care and further restoration/prophylaxis; Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-03-09 to 1942-04-18 — Advanced motorcycle-mechanics course at A21; qualified Motorcycle Mechanic B.I., tested 18 April, about 84%; A21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-04-29 to 1942-05-01 — Transferred from Barriefield to motor-transport establishment, London. Service statement gives TOS 30 April; pay/strength copy 1 May. Later designated S15 Mechanical Transport School; London, Ontario.
1942-07-08 — Further dental restorations and prophylaxis recorded; London, Ontario.
1942-07-20 to 1942-08-02 — Furlough with pay; London, Ontario.
1942-09-30 to 1942-10-06 — Admitted Westminster Hospital with subacute tonsillitis and bleeding tonsil. Improved with treatment; discharged 6 October, tonsil removal recommended after four to six weeks; no completed tonsillectomy established; Westminster Hospital, London, Ontario.
1942-10-02 — Driver I/C Class III, motorcycle only, qualification entered separately from earlier general driver course; A21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-10-09 to 1942-10-14 — Ceased London attachment and returned to A21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield; copies give 9/10/14 October and one inconsistent November date; London and Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-10-22 to 1942-11-05 — Barriefield Camp Hospital for painful left axillary furunculosis; incision and drainage 24 October, second boil subsequently drained. Cured; clinical discharge 5 November, with 4/6 November in other records; Barriefield Camp Hospital, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-11-02 — Motorcycle Mechanic Group B, Grade I qualification entered; practical course/test had already been completed 18 April; A21 RCOC Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-11-06 to 1942-11-17 — Embarkation leave; category A retained at November re-examination; Barriefield, Ontario.
1942-12-08 to 1942-12-19 — Left training centre for special overseas duty 8 December, embarked Canada 12 December, overseas administrative strength from 13 December, disembarked Britain 18 December and attached No.1 Canadian Ordnance Reinforcement Unit 19 December; Canada; Britain.
1943-01-06 — Personnel interview: bilingual, Grade VIII, lumber/farm and driving experience, wanted motorcycle-mechanic training. Enjoyed dancing, swimming, boxing and baseball; seven brothers and four sisters, fourth in family; No.1 Canadian Ordnance Reinforcement Unit, Britain.
1943-01-28 to 1943-01-29 — Transferred from No.1 CORU. Movement copies identify No.1 Motor Transport Vehicle Reception Depot; other copies show No.1 CBOD, No.4 Sub Depot, as parent/receiving designation; Britain.
1943-02-03 — Qualified Driver I/C in Britain; No.1 Motor Transport Vehicle Reception Depot, Britain.
1943-03-04 to 1943-03-08 — On command: service copies read Stratford/Manchester; master copy reads Mansfield with uncertain Stafford notation. Place readings retained as alternatives; Britain: Manchester / Mansfield / Stratford / Stafford readings.
1943-04-02 — Amalgam dental restoration, unit recorded as No.1 CORU on dental sheet; Britain.
1943-04-13 to 1943-04-15 — Temporary duty at Manchester; Manchester, England, United Kingdom.
1943-04-22 to 1943-05-05 — Privilege leave; master gives 14 days through 5 May, duplicate gives nine days from 22/23 April; Britain.
1943-06-09 to 1943-06-10 — Transferred from No.1 MTVRD to No.1 Canadian Base Ordnance Depot, No.4 Sub Depot, effective 10 June after SOS 9 June; No.1 Canadian Base Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1943-06-13 — First Good Conduct Badge awarded; No.1 Canadian Base Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1943-07-21 to 1943-07-30 — Privilege leave, nine days with ration allowance as recorded; Britain.
1943-10-19 to 1943-10-23 — No.1 Canadian Medical Centre admission for tonsillitis and otitis; discharged to unit with seven days light duty, ear drops and ENT follow-up at No.2 Canadian General Hospital on 29 October. One strength copy gives 11 October admission; No.1 Canadian Medical Centre, Britain.
1943-10-26 to 1943-11-03 — Privilege leave, nine days with ration allowance; Britain.
1944-01-15 — CVSM and clasp entitlement recorded in master; other copy has uncertain trade-grading wording; Britain.
1944-01-28 to 1944-01-29 — Transferred from No.1 CBOD to No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Vehicle Company; later clinical sheet names Convoy Section; No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1944-02-03 to 1944-02-11 — Privilege leave, nine days with ration allowance; Britain.
1944-03-07 to 1944-04-19 — Applied to marry Elsie Gregory of Southend-on-Sea; negative premarital serology, medically fit to marry 20 March. CO approved 28 March; higher authority 19 April authorized marriage on/after 29 May. Copied March permission dates conflict; Britain; Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, United Kingdom.
1944-04-16 — Daughter Jacqueline Avril Mary born at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, according to continuation card; other copies have obscured birth dates; Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom.
1944-05-21 to 1944-05-23 — Temporary duty at Bristol, 0750 on 21 May to 2215 on 23 May; Bristol, England, United Kingdom.
1944-05-29 to 1944-06-02 — Five days privilege leave, covering marriage; Britain.
1944-05-31 — Married Elsie Florence Gregory with permission at St. John the Baptist Church, Trowbridge, Wiltshire; one master copy reads Stourbridge, Worcestershire, preserved as conflicting locality. Wife became next of kin; Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom.
1944-06-27 — Next of kin changed to wife Elsie Florence Melanson, 127 Southville Gardens, Bradford-on-Avon; 127 Southville Gardens, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom.
1944-07-01 — Wife assigned pay $23 monthly in amended record; later pay record gives an apparent November effective date. Earlier $20 assignment to mother had cancellation effective 1 July 1942; Britain; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1944-07-10 — Dental treatment and prophylaxis; Convoy Section, No.1 ordnance depot; Britain.
1944-08-15 to 1944-08-21 — Absent without leave for six days thirty minutes. Awarded fourteen days field detention/punishment on 21 August. Original total pay forfeiture 21 days was corrected 5 October to 20 days to remove an overlapping day; No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1944-08-28 — ENT consultation for intermittent discharge from both ears, beginning about a year earlier; eczematoid external-canal inflammation, drops prescribed and follow-up requested; Britain.
1944-09-15 to 1944-09-28 — Posted to overseas detachment, No.1 CCOD, under 21 Army Group. Copies give Britain–France passage 16–18, 24–25 or 26–28 September; exact physical travel days remain conflicting; Britain; France.
1944-12-05 — Wife's address changed to Little Wakering, Essex. Later immigration correspondence gives Ivy Bower, Barling Road; Little Wakering, Essex, England, United Kingdom.
1944-12-06 to 1944-12-07 — Returned from Northwest Europe to Britain, embarkation 6 December and disembarkation 7 December in detailed movement extract; another copy gives 20 December; Northwest Europe; Britain.
1944-12-28 to 1944-12-29 — Transferred from overseas detachment to No.1 CCOD in Britain, posted Headquarters from 29 December; one copy gives SOS 25 December; No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1945-01-16 to 1945-01-24 — Nine days paid ration entitlement, associated with leave; duplicate leave entry dated 28 January has unclear ending; Britain.
1945-04-18 — Immigration authorities approved wife Elsie and child travelling to mother-in-law Mrs. Ulric Melanson at Atholville; accommodation described as crowded; Little Wakering, Essex, England, United Kingdom; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1945-04-23 to 1945-05-01 — Privilege leave, seven days plus 48 hours, nine days ration allowance; Britain.
1945-05-10 to 1945-05-13 — Absent without leave 0830 on 10 May to 2230 on 13 May, three days fourteen hours. Awarded seven days pay forfeiture plus four absence days, total eleven; award entered 21/24 May, gratuity uses 24 May; No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1945-06-08 — Wife Elsie and daughter Jacqueline arrived Canada from overseas, ex W871, destined to his mother at Atholville. Earlier May address change was not their actual arrival; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1945-06-15 to 1945-06-18 — Four days privilege leave; one master copy reads May rather than June, retained as date variant; Britain.
1945-07-16 to 1945-07-24 — Privilege leave, seven days plus 48 hours, nine days ration allowance; Britain.
1945-08-03 — Vocational counselling: qualified motor/motorcycle mechanic but mainly employed as driver; interested in machinist or tool-and-die work, referred for mathematics study. Brother offered wholesale-business work in Montreal; wife and child already Canada; No.1 Canadian Central Ordnance Depot, Britain.
1945-08-09 to 1945-08-10 — Transferred to 308 Canadian Depot, Military District 7 repatriation draft, from No.1 CCOD. Copies instead give 1/2 August; not treated as separate transfers; Britain.
1945-08-17 — Order records 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star and Defence Medal; the 1939–45 Star is absent from later medal/replacement lists, so this authority is retained explicitly; Britain.
1945-09-01 to 1945-09-11 — SOS overseas 1 September and Canadian strength from 2 September, No.7 District Depot. Master has repatriation 9 September and Canada landing 11 September; administrative dates do not prove physical arrival 1/2 September; Britain; Canada; No.7 District Depot, New Brunswick.
1945-09-17 to 1945-10-17 — Disembarkation leave in No.7 District Depot strength record; No.7 District Depot, Moncton, New Brunswick.
1945-10-04 to 1945-10-24 — Release medical proceedings: abdominal cramp, back discomfort, hay fever, chest colds and recurrent ear symptoms investigated. No disabling abnormality; chest X-ray doubtful from increased markings, consultant found fit, no treatment required, PULHEMS 1111111 approved 24 October; Fredericton, New Brunswick.
1945-10-09 to 1945-10-19 — Pay record adds a son for dependants allowance; application forwarded 19 October, effective day apparently 9 October. No name or secure birth date supplied; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1945-10-25 — Release counselling: wanted CNR work, alternatively heavy transport driving; drove forty-ton tank transporters for over a year. Referred National Employment Service, Campbellton; wife and two children supported; No.7 District Depot, Fredericton, New Brunswick; Campbellton, New Brunswick.
1945-10-26 — Discharged as Private at Fredericton to civil life on demobilization, CARO1029(5)(c)(i). Certificate, signed gratuity application and formal notification agree; one gratuity notice gives 25 October. Received War Service Badge 432170 and acknowledged final pay/clothing; No.7 District Depot, Fredericton, New Brunswick.
1945-11-14 to 1945-11-30 — War service gratuity $832.17, deductions nil: $427.50 qualifying-service component, $240.75 overseas component, $163.92 supplement. 1,734 qualifying days, 963 qualifying overseas days after 31 nonqualifying; seven stated instalments $118.88; Atholville, New Brunswick.
1946-01-03 — Address change from Atholville to 28 Whittaker Street, Bellerive, Valleyfield, care of Mrs. Aurele Melanson. Letter's written year resembles 1945, but January 1946 receipt stamps support post-discharge timing; 28 Whittaker Street, Bellerive, Valleyfield, Quebec.
1950-01-16 — Medal-card date entered, purpose not explicit. Later medal mailing request gives 15 Whittaker, Bellerive, Valleyfield; 15 Whittaker Street, Bellerive, Valleyfield, Quebec.
1981-12-11 to 1982-02-03 — Replacement medals correspondence via Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62, Valleyfield: France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, CVSM/clasp and War Medal; $6 prepayment required. Card stamped 3 February 1982. Home 447 Boulevarddu Havre; 447 Boulevard du Havre, Valleyfield, Quebec.
1988-02-09 to 1988-02-18 — Veterans Services requested proof of service for War Veterans Allowance under name Melancon, J.T.Alderic; records reply confirmed service under Joseph Turret Alderic Melanson; Montreal, Quebec.
2003-12-11 — Died; buried in Valleyfield (Ste. Cecile De Valleyfield) Cemetery, as recorded by CWVMP; Valleyfield, Quebec.