Telegraphist (Special Operator) Robert Edwin Wallar

Robert Edwin Wallar was born at Trenton, New Jersey, on 1 May 1923. His family home was in London, Ontario, where he completed Grade 13 at Central Collegiate Institute. After a pre-science year at the University of Western Ontario, he studied chemical engineering at Queen's University in Kingston. He trained with the Canadian Officers' Training Corps before joining the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMCS Cataraqui on 19 October 1943, service number V-73492. He initially served in the University Naval Training Division and began active service on 29 April 1944. Following training at HMCS Cornwallis and the signal school at St. Hyacinthe, he qualified in wireless telegraphy as a Special Operator. He joined HMCS Sussexvale in December 1944 and served in the Atlantic, advancing to Telegraphist in April 1945. His service also took him to Bermuda and Britain. In May 1945 he was hospitalized at Haslar with severe tonsillitis, then recovered on convalescent leave. He returned to Canada in June and was honourably discharged at HMCS Prevost, London, on 14 August 1945. His awards were the Atlantic Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45. With veterans' educational assistance he returned to Queen's and graduated in 1947. By March 1948 he was working in Production Control (Engineering) for Imperial Oil in Sarnia. He later lived in Huntingdon and applied to join the Royal Canadian Legion in 1985. He married Dorothy Stevenson. Wallar died at Powerscourt on 15 September 1997 and was buried in Huntingdon Protestant Cemetery.

1923-05-01 — Born at Trenton, New Jersey, USA; parents were American-born
1941 — Completed Grade 13 at Central Collegiate Institute; London, Ontario.
1941 to 1942 — One-year pre-science course at University of Western Ontario; also reported one year of Western COTC and one year of cadet-corps service, without precise dates; London, Ontario.
1942 to 1944 — Completed two years of chemical engineering at Queen's University before interrupting studies for active naval service; Kingston, Ontario.
1942-10-01 — Enlisted as COTC cadet, C479584, Queen's University Contingent, Canadian Militia; Science student, home 2 Glenray Place, London, local address 532 Albert Street, Kingston; waived pay; Kingston, Ontario.
1943 — Queen's COTC record bears a Camp 1943 annotation, apparently indicating attendance at that year's training camp; camp location not stated.
1943-10-14 — Naval-entry medical and dental examinations at Kingston: fit despite underweight; wore glasses; 72.25 inches, 152.5 pounds, chest 35 maximum/32 minimum/33.5 mean. Duplicate height readings differ; Kingston, Ontario.
1943-10-18 — Discharged from Queen's COTC to University Naval Training Division; Army Reserve service credited as one year and 18 days; Kingston, Ontario.
1943-10-19 — Enrolled RCNVR, UNTD at HMCS Cataraqui, Ordinary Seaman W/T, V-73492, hostilities only; American nationality, domiciled in Canada, United Church, single student. Home 2 Glenray Place, London; Kingston, Ontario.
1943-11-05 — Enrolment approved effective 19 October; prior Army Reserve service credited toward good-service eligibility, not proof of badge award; Kingston Division, Kingston, Ontario.
1943-11-15 — Naval kit issued at HMCS Cataraqui; Kingston, Ontario.
1944-04-27 — Naval medical recheck at HMCS Cataraqui before active service; Kingston, Ontario.
1944-04-29 — Commenced active service at HMCS Cataraqui after UNTD divisional service through 28 April; service certificate has a 29/30 April amendment; Kingston, Ontario.
1944-05-01 — Entered HMCS Cornwallis from Cataraqui for naval training; service-certificate/conduct/medical entries support 1 May, versus 30 April in typed history; Deep Brook, Nova Scotia.
1944-05-13 — Medical Research Unit vision, colour-vision and night-vision testing at HMCS Cornwallis; Deep Brook, Nova Scotia.
1944-06-02 to 1944-06-10 — Hospitalized with acute pharyngitis, treated and discharged in good condition after eight days; one week excused duty with attendance at classes allowed; Royal Canadian Naval Hospital, Cornwallis, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia.
1944-06-30 — Examination/qualification notation TR entered; abbreviation not expanded in source; HMCS Cornwallis, Deep Brook, Nova Scotia.
1944-07-05 — Entered HMCS St. Hyacinthe for wireless training after Cornwallis service through 4 July; typed history gives 4 July, certificate/conduct record 5 July. Later counselling records five-month telegraphist course; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-07-12 to 1944-07-18 — Dental scaling and treatment for apparent gingivitis by No. 50 Dental Company; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-08-26 to 1944-08-28 — Slack in falling in for duty-watch muster at 1130 on 26 August; five days No. 16 punishment awarded 28 August. Lines cross entry, but no explicit cancellation stated; HMCS St. Hyacinthe, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-10-06 — Advanced to Ordinary Telegraphist (Special Operator), backdated service-certificate entry; HMCS St. Hyacinthe, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-10-23 to 1944-10-25 — Fell on right elbow and scraped right leg; X-rays requested for possible olecranon fracture, but 25 October report found no bony injury; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-10-25 — Named father Ralph Chester Wallar, 2 Glenray Place, London, as nearest relative; St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-11-02 to 1944-12-06 — United States Selective Service requested confirmation of Canadian naval enlistment; Naval Headquarters confirmed his service on 6 December. Inquiry's April date differs from formal October 1943 enrolment; Ottawa, Ontario; Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
1944-12-01 to 1944-12-06 — Qualified Telegraphist (S.O.) according to December entries, which differ between 1 and 6 December; qualification distinguished from paid advancement in April 1945; HMCS St. Hyacinthe, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-12-14 — Fourteen days annual leave recorded from this date; following postings overlap the stated leave period; HMCS St. Hyacinthe, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
1944-12-19 — Entered HMCS Peregrine, certificate/conduct date 19 December versus typed history 20 December; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-12-22 — Posted to HMCS Sussexvale; medal verification credits 142 days in Atlantic area through 12 May. Conduct sheet uses Somers Isles, and cancelled certificate postings differ; Atlantic Ocean.
1944-12-31 — Character very good and efficiency satisfactory; no good-conduct badge recorded; HMCS Sussexvale, Atlantic Ocean.
1945-01-26 to 1945-01-29 — Transferred from HMCS Swansea to HMCS Somers Isle with bilateral jaw dislocation after seasickness/vomiting; reduced under anaesthesia, strapped, fluid diet, discharged to barracks 29 January to await ship. Later ship-return date is internally inconsistent; Bermuda.
1945-04-29 — Advanced to Telegraphist (Special Operator); corrected history, pay account and October amendment support 29 April over apparent 20 April in one copy; HMCS Sussexvale, Atlantic Ocean.
1945-05-13 — Taken on strength HMCS Niobe after Sussexvale service through 12 May; British shore establishment, with treatment at Haslar from same day; Greenock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1945-05-13 to 1945-05-28 — Admitted Royal Naval Hospital Haslar from Sussexvale with very severe streptococcal tonsillitis; sulphonamides and penicillin, transient clinical anaemia. Discharged to duty 28 May with recommendation for 14 days sick leave; Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom.
1945-05-30 — Medical board at Niobe sick bay diagnosed subsiding acute tonsillitis and authorized nine days convalescent leave, written 31 May–9 June; also treated abdominal cramps/diarrhoea in sick bay; HMCS Niobe, United Kingdom.
1945-05-31 to 1945-06-09 — Convalescent leave; address c/o Mrs. H. W. Constable, 241 Victoria Road, Alexandra Park, London N22; allowance paid 31 May–8 June. Faint return entry differs; London, England, United Kingdom.
1945-06-15 — Recategorized Category A at Niobe after recovery; throat normal, no cervical nodes, satisfactory recovery from exercise; HMCS Niobe, United Kingdom.
1945-06-20 — Overseas service terminated; gratuity computation credits 181 overseas days covering Sussexvale/Niobe from 22 December. Certificate separately credits 142 high-seas and 38 overseas days; arrival port/transport not supplied; United Kingdom to Canada.
1945-06-21 — Entered HMCS Peregrine on return from overseas, through 18 July; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-05 — Discharge chest X-ray negative at RCN Hospital Halifax; duplicate report day appears 15 July; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-16 — Discharge medical examination: normal findings with corrected vision, no disability claimed; recheck approved 14 August; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-17 — Discharge dental examination at HMCS Peregrine identified ten restorations and prophylaxis required; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-19 — Drafted to HMCS Prevost; account records physical appearance 20 July, rather than 1 June ledger accounting date; London, Ontario.
1945-07-21 to 1945-08-13 — Twenty-four days leave allowance paid at 50 cents daily; no leave destination specified; HMCS Prevost, London, Ontario.
1945-08-14 — Honourably discharged to shore for demobilization, Telegraphist (Special Operator); War Service Badge General Service class 271025 received, rehabilitation grant $60 and plain-clothes gratuity $100 paid; will requested home to 2 Glenray Place; HMCS Prevost, London, Ontario.
1945-08-16 to 1945-08-31 — Prevost reported demobilization and forwarded discharge documents; some forms retained Ordinary Telegraphist heading despite corrected final Telegraphist rating; London, Ontario.
1945-09-07 to 1945-09-12 — Counselling and District Rehabilitation Board approved return to Queen's for third-year Chemical Engineering, Benefit 5 at $60 monthly, effective 2 October; London, Ontario; Kingston, Ontario.
1945-09-08 — War Service Gratuity application acknowledged; letter year apparently 1945; 2 Glenray Place, London, Ontario.
1945-09-18 to 1945-09-22 — War Service Gratuity calculated $180.25, with 473 qualifying and 181 overseas days; two recorded instalments $90.12, apparently 2 October and 1 November, total one cent below stated award; 2 Glenray Place, London, Ontario.
1945-10-02 — Returned to Queen's University for third-year Applied Science/Chemical Engineering under veterans' training assistance; Kingston, Ontario.
1945-10-04 to 1945-10-09 — Service certificate referred for amendment of Telegraphist (S.O.) advancement effective 29 April; necessary action recorded 9 October; Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-02-03 to 1946-02-06 — Requested replacement for lost discharge button; reply required sworn circumstances and waiting at least two months after loss. Address 153 Collingwood Avenue; Kingston, Ontario.
1946-04-11 — Naval Service sent $25.20 refund of payments on 8th Victory Bonds; 2 Glenray Place, London, Ontario.
1946-04-29 — Post-service bilateral temporomandibular dislocation reduced under anaesthesia at Sarnia General Hospital; discharged home same day, address 334 Cromwell Street; Sarnia, Ontario.
1946-10-01 to 1946-10-11 — University-training allowance suspension lifted effective 1 October for fourth-year Science at Queen's; authorization amended to 15.5 months; Kingston, Ontario.
1947-04-26 — Veterans' training allowance ceased after completion of final-year Science and graduation; 16 April authorization, $60 monthly, 59 6/7 weeks current allowance, 13 29/30 months total assisted training in follow-up; Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
1948-03-16 — Follow-up found training satisfactory and completed; Production Control (Engineering), Imperial Oil Ltd., address 282 North Brock Street, considered re-established; Sarnia, Ontario.
1950-01-27 — Atlantic Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal dispatched; medal request address 292 Devine Street; Sarnia, Ontario.
1985-11-15 — Requested replacement service records to support recent Royal Canadian Legion application, having lost discharge papers; P.O. Box 819, Huntingdon J0S 1H0; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1985-12-04 — Official service statement confirmed enrolment 19 October 1943, active service from 29 April 1944, service in Canada/high seas/Britain and honourable discharge 14 August 1945; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1997-09-15 — Died at Powerscourt and buried in Huntingdon Protestant Cemetery, as recorded by CWVMP; Powerscourt; Huntingdon, Quebec.