John(Jack)Silvester B-4814      Sergeant

John (Jack) Silvester was born on March 12, 1910, in Sheffield, England. His family emigrated to Canada 17 months later, and settled in Toronto, Ontario. At the age of 21 he married Mildred Dennison, and then worked for the York Township (Toronto) Police Force. He was a member of the force’s revolver shooting team. He also served six years as a member of the Governor General’s Horse Guards at that time. 

He enlisted in the Canadian Army on January 10, 1942, at Camp Borden. Six weeks later he was deployed to the United Kingdom as a gunner – Operator “C” and acted as a Gunnery Instructor at Castlemartin Armoured Fighting Vehicles Range, on the very southwest coastal part of Wales.  John left behind his wife and three young children, aged 8, 6, and 4. (Two more children followed once he was reunited with his family.) He remained there until his discharge in 1944 for medical reasons. He was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, Defence Medal, and War Medal.

Once back with his family in Toronto, John returned to the police force for a year. At that time, he was appointed Family Counsellor with the Ontario Juvenile and Family Court. In 1952 he became the Commissioner of Welfare for York Township. He was known as one of the kindest welfare officers in Toronto. On many occasions, he took food from his own home to help needy families get through weekends or holidays when the banks were closed. 

John was very active in the Anglican Church, a life member of the Lions Club and an avid woodworker and gardener in his free time. 

We thank him for his service.

We will remember them.