Private George Turret Alderic (Jimmy) Melanson

Moved to Valleyfield after his military service
Took the name Jimmy because others had trouble pronouncing Alderic (from family)
Listed dancing, swimming, boxing and baseball as hobbies
Spoke French and English fluently
Education to grade 8 (age 14)
Had pneumonia at age 14. Late summer hay fever annually.
Smokes 20 cigarettes/day
As occupation on enlistment described himself as a general service man in a lumber camp, truck driving, mill work, fireman. Had been working 3 years, 1937 to enlistment
He worked as a farm labourer for two years. For two years he worked for a lumber company (W.H. Miller, Cambelton, New Brunswick) working in the woods cutting logs in the winter and as a general labourer in a sawmill in the summer.

His vocational appraisal during his exit interview (3 August 1945)
APPRAISAL:
This soldier left school at 14, reaching grade VIII, and worked in sawmills, truck driving and 2 yrs as a farm laborer. In the Army he has qualified as Motor Mech B and MC mechanic but has been employed mostly as a Dvr due to army requirements. His UK wife and child are now living in Can. At the present time this soldier finds it difficult to make a decision as to employment due to lack of experience in civil life. His real interest is in a trade as above, which he appears to have the ability to accomplish if given the opportunity. Melanson is a desireable type and responds favorably to counselling. He will easily re-establish himself in suitable employment.
DISCUSSION OF PLAN:
His ideas of employment were pointed out as unsatisfactory because of his utter lack of experience and during the interview, his real interest was discovered. He was then advised to consider vocational trg as a quick way to solve his problem. Melanson revealed most interest in In-job trg as a machinist. He was referred to Educational Officer with regard to a course in mathematics.
Further counselling on vocational training will be necessary.

On January 3rd 1945 gave his address as 28 Whittaker St., Bellerive, Valleyfield, Quebec
Was a member of the Valleyfield Legion/Branch 62

Active Miltia - Infantry (North Shore Regiment- New Brunswick, 2nd Battalion August 10 to December 28th 1940)
Enlisted int Military District 7 Depot Battalion 27 Dec 1940
Sent to Petawawa for basic training 9 January 1941Admitted to Petawawa Military Hospital 7 April 1941 for an abscessed molar/tooth extraction (left lower 3rd Molar), discharged 9 May 1941
Granted 2 week furlough 30 Jun 1941, then transferred to London, Ontario for training
Transferred to Barriefield, Ontario 30 April 1942
Granted furlough 20 July 1942 to 2 August 1942
Admitted to hospital, Westminister, London, Ontario with tonsillitis
Admitted to Barriefield Camp Hospital 22 Oct 1942, tonsillitis, discharged 4 November 1942
Arrived England 12 Dec 1942
Applied to marry Elsie Gregory on March 7 1944 who he had known for 1 year. Permission granted 28 March 1944
On 31 May 1944 Granted permission to marry Elsie Gregory at St. John the Baptist Church, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England
Changed Next of Kin to Elsie Florence Melanson (wife) 127 Southville Gardens, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England
Daughter Jacqueline Avril Mary at Wiltshire, England
Was AWL for 6 days 30 minutes in August 1944. Awarded 14 days Field Punishment and forfeited total 21 days pay
Embarked for France 26 Sept 1944 arriving 28 Sept 1944
Returned to England 7 Dec 1944
was AWL 3 days 14 hours in May 1945
Wife and child sent to Atholville, New Brunswick 21 May 1945
Returned to Canada 1 Sept 1945

Service Summary:
Enlisted 27 Dec 40. Basic and Advanced Training in Artillery. Transferred to Ordnance. Overseas Dec 1942. Qualified Motorcycle mechanic "B" and Driver I/C Class III. Served as Driver and drove forty ton tank transporters for over a year. Served in U.K., France and Belgium. Returned to Canada September 1945.

Service Summary 1734 days in Canada, 963 Overseas
Served in Canada, England, France, Germany

Married Elsie Florence Gregory Born 09/01/1922 Great Wakering, Essex, England, Died 24/11/2004 • Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. Elsie was serving with the Auxiliary Territorial Service in England when they married and proceeded her husband to Canada with other war brides at the end of the war.
Marriage 31 May 1944 Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England

Father: Ulric Melanson, Labourer, Atholville, New Brunswick
Mother: Catherine Melanson, Atholville, New Brunswick