Obituary for Royston George Mesure
On Monday, April 15th, Royston George Mesure passed away peacefully at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre at the age of 97. Roy is now reunited with his life-long love of 72 years, Doreen Mesure (Thoms).
Cherished father of Debbie Mesure (Kilmer), Christine Mesure, Michael Mesure, and father-in-law of Ann Santaguida.
Proud Grandfather of Christopher Kilmer, (Jennelle), Jennifer Brown (Alasdair), Brittany Buck-Gasko, (Curtis), Joshua Buck (Alyssa), Brandon Buck (Ricki-Ann), Jeremy and Julianna Santaguida.
Loving Great Grandfather of Atlyn, Weston and Ryker Kilmer, Evan and Lillian Brown, William Buck and Madelynn Gasko.
At the age of 16, Roy volunteered as a cadet in the British Royal Navy where he earned his radio telegraphy certification (Tel TO). Soon after, he joined the ranks of active service on the HMS Brocklesby (hunt class destroyer). This vessel escorted coastal convoys, patrolled shores and fisheries, and neutralized sea mines throughout the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. (1940-1944)
Roy was a decorated World War II Veteran. His operational services include: the Dieppe Raid (1942), defending the English Channel during the Battle of Britain (1942), the British Raid on St. Nazaire (1942), the Battle of the Atlantic (1943), the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy (1943), the Salerno landings (1943), Operation Corkscrew at Pantelleria (1943), and the Adriatic campaign (1943-44). Roy was later awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest French Order of Merit, (the liberation of France). At the age of 20, Roy was demobbed from his services on the HMS. Brocklesby (November 1946). He met Doreen on the same day.
Three years later, Roy and Doreen were married (May 7, 1949). One later, they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with only $35.00 in their pockets on the Middlesborough, and arrived in Canada (May 1950). Joining his parents in Langstaff, Ontario, the newlyweds began their new life. Roy was soon hired as a tool and die maker. He later became a joint-entrepreneur with his wife Doreen.
Subsequently, Roy attended night school to complete his Ontario Secondary School Diploma and he then earned a Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Toronto (1971). Upon graduation, Roy was hired by the Etobicoke Board of Education as a secondary school teacher where he taught for twenty years until his retirement. Roy and Doreen enjoyed many happy years as snowbirds in Florida until 2015. Together, they had a remarkable life!
The Mesure Family wish to extend their deepest gratitude to Roy’s friend and confidant, Bart Mindstzenthy, and the staff and health care providers (in particular Fátima and Paul) at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre who cared for Roy during the final period of his life. Roy will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Rest in Peace Papa; “lest we forget”.
HMS Brocklesby (L 42) of the Royal Navy - British Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net
Cherished father of Debbie Mesure (Kilmer), Christine Mesure, Michael Mesure, and father-in-law of Ann Santaguida.
Proud Grandfather of Christopher Kilmer, (Jennelle), Jennifer Brown (Alasdair), Brittany Buck-Gasko, (Curtis), Joshua Buck (Alyssa), Brandon Buck (Ricki-Ann), Jeremy and Julianna Santaguida.
Loving Great Grandfather of Atlyn, Weston and Ryker Kilmer, Evan and Lillian Brown, William Buck and Madelynn Gasko.
At the age of 16, Roy volunteered as a cadet in the British Royal Navy where he earned his radio telegraphy certification (Tel TO). Soon after, he joined the ranks of active service on the HMS Brocklesby (hunt class destroyer). This vessel escorted coastal convoys, patrolled shores and fisheries, and neutralized sea mines throughout the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. (1940-1944)
Roy was a decorated World War II Veteran. His operational services include: the Dieppe Raid (1942), defending the English Channel during the Battle of Britain (1942), the British Raid on St. Nazaire (1942), the Battle of the Atlantic (1943), the Allied landings in Sicily and Italy (1943), the Salerno landings (1943), Operation Corkscrew at Pantelleria (1943), and the Adriatic campaign (1943-44). Roy was later awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the highest French Order of Merit, (the liberation of France). At the age of 20, Roy was demobbed from his services on the HMS. Brocklesby (November 1946). He met Doreen on the same day.
Three years later, Roy and Doreen were married (May 7, 1949). One later, they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with only $35.00 in their pockets on the Middlesborough, and arrived in Canada (May 1950). Joining his parents in Langstaff, Ontario, the newlyweds began their new life. Roy was soon hired as a tool and die maker. He later became a joint-entrepreneur with his wife Doreen.
Subsequently, Roy attended night school to complete his Ontario Secondary School Diploma and he then earned a Bachelor of Education Degree at the University of Toronto (1971). Upon graduation, Roy was hired by the Etobicoke Board of Education as a secondary school teacher where he taught for twenty years until his retirement. Roy and Doreen enjoyed many happy years as snowbirds in Florida until 2015. Together, they had a remarkable life!
The Mesure Family wish to extend their deepest gratitude to Roy’s friend and confidant, Bart Mindstzenthy, and the staff and health care providers (in particular Fátima and Paul) at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre who cared for Roy during the final period of his life. Roy will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Rest in Peace Papa; “lest we forget”.
HMS Brocklesby (L 42) of the Royal Navy - British Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net