John Wallace Thomas

John Wallace Thomas CBE (1888–1965) was a Newfoundland merchant mariner who served with distinction in the First and Second World Wars.

[1] At the age of 20, Thomas left his hometown of Rose Blanche-Harbour le Cou for British Columbia to become a captain.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his handling of the ship during an attack by the Luftwaffe off the coast of Ireland on November 9, 1940.

Captain Thomas was the only member of the Canadian Merchant Marine to receive the CBE during the war.

[1] He is one of fourteen figures from Canada's military history to be commemorated at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario.

Statue of John Wallace Thomas in Ottawa .
Blue Ensign flown by merchant vessels under the command of officers in the Royal Naval Reserve.