A Royal Canadian Navy Long Service Medal Grouping To Chief Petty Officer Roger W. Unwin

1939-1945 Star; Africa Star, 1 Clasp - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43; Burma Star, 1 Clasp - PACIFIC; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; and Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, George VI (CPO 1/c R.W. UNWIN RCN 51968-E). Naming is officially impressed on the RNLSGCM, the others are un-named. Court-mounted, original ribbons, very dark patina on the RNLSGCM, oxidation spot on the DM, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Winnipeg Light Infantry Attestation Paper, Naval Service Records, Record on Conviction, War Service Gratuity Computation of Service Form, Application for the Canadian Forces' Decoration and Death Certificate.

Footnote: Roger William Unwin was born on June 5, 1914, in Winnipeg, Manitoba (although his Death Certificate states his birth date as June 4th). He attained a Grade 12 education and worked for three years thereafter. Unwin signed his Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada Attestation Paper as a Private (734) with the Winnipeg Light Infantry, on June 2, 1932 in Winnipeg, three days shy of his eighteenth birthday, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Bertram John Unwin, stating that he had been a Sergeant in the St. Luke's Guards, his nationality as British, that he was Single, that he had no trade. He completed annual training with the Winnipeg Light Infantry throughout the years 1933 to 1936. Unwin went to Britain in late 1936 and enlisted with the Royal Navy for twelve years' service on October 7, 1936, naming his next-of-kin as his father and stating his trade as that of Machine Hand. Initially posted to HMS Drake in the rank of Stoker 2nd Class, he was transferred to the battleship HMS Royal Oak in October 1937, where he was named Stoker 1st Class on October 8th. He returned to HMS Drake on May 17, 1939, just before the start of the Second World War in September and six months before HMS Royal Oak was sunk by U-47 at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands off Scotland on October 14th. He was transferred to HMS Victory in Portsmouth three days later, before being posted to HMS Daedalus in October 1939, where he achieved the rank of Air Mechanic (A) in December. After a short stint with HMS Medina at the end of December 1939, he was posted to the battleship HMS Warspite on December 24th, achieving the rank of Air Mechanic (A) 1st Class in April 1940 and trained to be a Leading Air Mechanic, which he achieved in February 1942 after his transfer to HMS Grebe in June 1941. He was transferred for six months to HMS Daedalus in June 1942, followed by a posting to the heavy cruiser HMS London in December 1942, where he was promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Air Mechanic (A) in April 1943. Unwin was posted for seven days to HMS Waxwing, a shore base on the Clyde used by Royal Navy personnel, in June 1944, then transferred to HMS Saker on June 17th, to HMS Gannet in mid-November 1944, then to HMS Colossus in February 1945, where he was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer Air Mechanic (A) on April 1, 1945. Near the end of the war, he was posted to HMS Wheroa in October 1945, then transferred to HMS Bambara in January 1946, finishing his career with postings to HMS Daedalus in July 1947, where he was granted twenty-eight days' end of war leave on August 19th, HMS Gamecock in early November 1947, HMS Heron in late November 1947, HMS Seahawk in January 1948 and HMS Daedalus in October 1948. He completed his twelve years' service with the Royal Navy on October 6, 1948, having seen service in Britain, North Africa, Burma and the Pacific Region. For his Second World War service, Unwin was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star with North Africa 1942-43 clasp, the Burma Star with Pacific clasp, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. Unwin had a desire to return to Canada and sought a transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy upon completing his term of engagement with the Royal Navy. He officially transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy (51968E) enlisting on October 12, 1948, at Esquimalt, British Columbia, having put in his name for the transfer as early as May 13, 1948. Between October 1948 and October 1963, Unwin saw postings with HMCS Niobe, Stadacona, Naden, Shearwater, Bytown, Magnificent and York. Beginning with HMCS Niobe on October 12, 1948, in the rank of Air Mechanic (A) 1st Class, he was named Chief Petty Officer Air Mechanic (A) the following day. He was married to Despina Unwin (whom he later divorced) and had one son, Peter John Unwin, his trade stated as Machine Operator. After postings with HMCS Stadacona and HMCS Naden, he returned to HMCS Stadacona and HMCS Shearwater, where he was designated ABFM1, then C2FM3 in October 1948. This was followed by a posting to HMCS Bytown in April 1951, where he was named C1FM3 in January 1951. He returned to HMCS Shearwater in December 1951 and was named C1AR3, later seeing service with HMCS Magnificent in February 1953, HMCS York in February 1956, then returning to HMCS Shearwater in March 1957, where he was named C1PC3 in June 1958 and C1AT3 in April 1960. Unwin is on record as having re-engaged for five year terms of service on October 12, 1953 and on October 12, 1958. Chief Petty Officer Unwin was awarded the George VI Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for fifteen years' long service in 1949, combining his Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy service at the time. He initially balked at taking a Plane Technician Course due to his age, length of service and the unlikelihood that he would be employed as a Plane Technician. However, facing non re-engagement for service, as he had not qualified as a Plane Technician as required, he took measures to rectify the situation. He completed the Plane Technician Conversion, Trade Group Three Course on June 20, 1958. While posted to HMCS Shearwater, Unwin was arrested on April 25, 1960 by Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Police, as he had been involved in a car accident. He was convicted in Nova Scotia Provincial Court, for leaving the scene of an accident, in which he was fined $56.00. In addition, under the Criminal Code, he was convicted for "unlawfully, with intent to mislead, cause a peace officer to enter upon an investigation by reporting that an offence had been committed when it had not been committed", in which he was issued a suspended sentence for a period of one year. Upon his convictions, the Captain at HMCS Shearwater added to Unwin's misery, when he denied Chief Petty Officer Unwin the use of the Chief Petty Officer's Mess for 90 days. He was separated from Despina Unwin, when he ceased support payments to his ex-wife and son in the amount of $100 in June 1961, as his son had reached the age of 19. Unwin was honourably released from active service to pension, on October 11, 1963, at the age of 49, after having completed fifteen years' service in the Royal Canadian Navy. Upon discharge, he applied for and received the Canadian Forces' Decoration, in October 1963. His hobby was that of furniture making, which he had done for many years and planned to do that in his retirement years. Unwin did re-marry, taking Dorothy Unwin (nee Holland) as his bride, the couple eventually retiring to Grand Bend, Ontario. He died on January 6, 1978 at the age of 63, at University Hospital in London, Ontario and was then cremated at Woodland Crematorium in London.