Jan de Vries (Canadian Army soldier)
Jan de Vries | |
---|---|
Born | Scarborough, Canada | 24 January 1924
Allegiance | Canada |
Service/ | Canadian Army |
Years of service | 1943–1945 |
Rank | Paratrooper |
Unit | 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Order of Canada Legion of Honour |
Jan de Vries, CM (24 January 1924 – 27 May 2012) was a Dutch-born Canadian World War II paratrooper and veteran's advocate.[1][2] His work as a board member of the Juno Beach Centre contributed to its creation.
Military service
de Vries served with the
Philanthropy
de Vries was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 40 years. He served as a President of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association for 12 years. Under his leadership, the Association installed memorial plaques in Europe to commemorate their fallen comrades.
Additionally, de Vries served on the Advisory Board of the
de Vries was also Honorary Chairman of the Corporal Fred Topham Victoria Cross fundraising project, which resulted in all of Topham's medals being displayed at the Canadian War Museum, including his Victoria Cross. He was a Patron of the Victoria Cross Trust and a memorial page can be found on their website.
Honours
In June 2004, de Vries was named a Chevalier of the French
de Vries died in 2012 at
References
- ^ Ted Barris (6 June 2012). "A D-Day survivor's lifetime of service". National Post. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ Matt Gurney (6 June 2012). "My morning with the angry D-Day veteran and his shocked audience". National Post. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Biography - Veterans Affairs Canada". Veterans.gc.ca. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "La Légion d'Honneur à des vétérans canadiens - La France au Canada/France in Canada". Ambafrance-ca.org. Archived from the original on 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Governor General to invest 41 recipients into the Order of Canada". Archive.gg.ca. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Baseball great, fiddler receive Order of Canada - Canada - CBC News". Cbc.ca. 2007-05-04. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Pickering war hero appointed to Order of Canada". DurhamRegion Article. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Decorated war vet to carry Olympic torch in Pickering". DurhamRegion Article. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Death of Pickering war veteran mourned". DurhamRegion Article. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ "Jan de VRIES C.M. Obituary". Toronto Star. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.