Visual Signalman Thomas Allan Wilson

Thomas Allan Wilson, the younger brother of Art Wilson, was born on November 16, 1921. Like his older brother, he was an avid hockey player, but his position was goaltender. Tom enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) in June, 1942. After taking basic training in Hamilton, he was sent to Ste Hyacinthe, Quebec for training in visual signalling.

The RCNVR was a Canadian military reserve force established in 1923 to supplement the Royal Canadian Navy. Composed largely of amateur sailors and citizens, the RCNVR grew to become the backbone of the Canadian Navy during World War II, contributing to a massive expansion and playing a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic. The force was distinguished by wavy stripes on its officers' uniforms, earning it the nickname "Wavy Navy". The RCNVR became the primary source of personnel for the RCN during the war. By the end of the conflict, the majority of the nearly 100,000 personnel in Canada's navy were RCNVR members. The volunteers were critical in manning ships and participating in the Battle of the Atlantic, helping to secure vital supply lines to Europe. The RCNVR was instrumental in the rapid growth of the Canadian Navy, which, by the end of the war, was the third-largest in the world. 

Following the war, Tom followed his love of hockey, playing for the Indianapolis Capitals and Detroit Red Wings. He worked as an accountant for the Western Electric Company in Indianapolis for 29 years. He and his wife Barbara moved to Scottsdale, Arizona after retirement. Tom passed away in 1988 and is buried in Scottsdale.