{"product_id":"original-canadian-wwii-navy-d-day-hmcs-wasaga-leading-torpedo-operator-painted-mk-ii-helmet-uniform-grouping-with-rare-gunner-s-jerkin-painted-seabag-john-jack-dewhirst","title":"Original Canadian WWII Navy D-Day HMCS Wasaga Leading Torpedo Operator Painted Mk. II Helmet \u0026 Uniform Grouping with Rare Gunner’s Jerkin, Painted Seabag - John “Jack” Dewhirst","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is an outstanding Canadian Navy Sailor’s painted Mark II helmet \u0026amp; uniform grouping identified to\u003cstrong\u003e Leading Torpedo Operator John “Jack” Dewhirst,\u003c\/strong\u003e who served aboard the Escort Minesweeper \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Wasaga\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Destroyer \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Columbia,\u003c\/strong\u003e and the Frigate-Corvette \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Lévis. \u003c\/strong\u003eOne of the gems of the group is an outstanding and rare Gunner’s leather jerkin \/ smock which is pieced together from several pieces of scrap leather and fabric with a three-snap closure and an anchor drawn on the back. \u003cstrong\u003eThe uniform jumper in this group is made more significant as we found a photograph online of Dewhirst wearing this exact uniform, down to the ribbon and insignia placement, what a rarity!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn January 1944, Wasaga transferred to Sydney Force, the local escort and patrol force operating out of Sydney, Nova Scotia and remained with them for a month before sailing to Europe in February. Upon arrival at Plymouth in March, \u003cstrong\u003eWasaga was assigned to 32nd Minesweeping Flotilla for minesweeping duties associated with the invasion of Normandy\u003c\/strong\u003e. The minesweeper later transferred to the all-Canadian 31st Minesweeping Flotilla. During the invasion, Wasaga and her fellow minesweepers swept and marked channels through the German minefields leading into the invasion beaches in the American sector. The 31st Minesweeping Flotilla swept channel 3 on 6 June, completing the task unmolested by the Germans. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis outstanding group consists of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Canadian WWII MkII Brodie Steel Helmet by the Canadian Motorlamp Company, painted in a Navy white, gray, and blue camouflage pattern with the front painted with crossed torpedos between two stars, the rank insignia of a leading torpedo operator. The helmet shell is stamped\u003cstrong\u003e C. L. \/ C 1942 \u003c\/strong\u003eover \u003cstrong\u003e60.\u003c\/strong\u003e The side of the helmet is painted with the initials \u003cstrong\u003eJ.J.D\u003c\/strong\u003e. for John Jack Dewhirst.\u003cbr\u003e- Outstanding and rare WWII Canadian Gunner’s Jerkin \/ smock which is a depot-pieced example made up of several different scraps of leather and fabric stitched together. The back is inscribed with an anchor as shown, and the interior has a maker’s tag for I.O.D.E. of Canada. The left breast is inscribed \u003cstrong\u003eF. COUZELIS.\u003c\/strong\u003e The smock has a three snap closure in good order, but many of the strips of leather\/fabric have lost their stitching and are a bit loose. These depot-made examples NEVER survive due to their fragility. \u003cbr\u003e- Dewhirst’s Canadian Navy Jumper with a Torpedo Operator rate on the right sleeve and a chevron under an anchor on the left sleeve for Leading Seaman with 3-8 years of good conduct. On the left shoulder is a CANADA rocker. The left breast has a two-place ribbon bar with the WW2 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal \u0026amp; 1939-35 Star. The medal ribbon for the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal also has the Maple Leaf Citation for overseas service. Jumper has a zipper at the side and retains the small tie at the bottom of the “V”. \u003cbr\u003e- Matching Navy trousers with butt flap. Flap is missing one button. \u003cbr\u003e- G.E.C. JACKET LIFE LIGHT Floating Torch with wiring and pack, heavily damaged. Rare piece to find. Issued by the RAF.\u003cbr\u003e- Large painted Canadian Navy duffel bag, painted with the coat of arms or insignia for the ship HMCS Levis. Also marked R.C.N.V. Windsor, Ontario. The other side is painted with a ship sinking and stenciled with Dewhirst’s name.\u003cbr\u003e- H.M.C.S. Canadian Navy flat cap with H.M.C.S. tally, leather sweatband and chinstrap are retained.\u003cbr\u003e- There are also some printed pages of research including a couple photos of Dewhirst on ship and eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Joseph “Jack” Dewhirst was born October 12th, 1920 in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Canadian Royal Navy during World War II and served as leading torpedo operator aboard the Escort Minesweeper \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Wasaga\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Destroyer \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Columbia\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the Frigate-Corvette \u003cstrong\u003eHMCS Lévis.\u003c\/strong\u003e He served during the D-Day Normandy Invasion and saw heavy combat through the war. After the war ended, Dewhirst eventually moved to the United States around 1949, settling in Detroit, Michigan, where he passed away on July 26th, 2009 at the age of 88.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaken together, the \u003cstrong\u003enamed and painted Mk. II helmet, Torpedo Operator uniform, matching trousers, H.M.C.S. cap, rare depot-made gunner’s jerkin, personalized seabag, survival light, and period photograph showing Dewhirst in the corresponding uniform \u003c\/strong\u003emake this a particularly significant Royal Canadian Navy grouping. More importantly, the material remains associated with a sailor whose service aboard HMCS Wasaga placed him within the 31st Canadian Minesweeping Flotilla during one of the most important naval operations of WWII, giving the grouping both strong personal provenance and direct D-Day historical relevance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Measurements:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollar to shoulder: 8.5\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to sleeve: 22\"\u003cbr\u003eShoulder to shoulder: 16\"\u003cbr\u003eChest width: 16.5\"\u003cbr\u003eWaist: 16\"\u003cbr\u003eHip: 18\"\u003cbr\u003eFront length: 25.5\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaist: 15\"\u003cbr\u003eRise: 15\"\u003cbr\u003eInseam: 28\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46028487163973,"sku":"ONJR26SEM079","price":2195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/6BB08897-E6F0-43BF-806B-7566BB9449BA.jpg?v=1792178124","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-canadian-wwii-navy-d-day-hmcs-wasaga-leading-torpedo-operator-painted-mk-ii-helmet-uniform-grouping-with-rare-gunner-s-jerkin-painted-seabag-john-jack-dewhirst","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}