John Mason

John William Mason - Able Seaman
John William Mason was born in Montreal in 1924. He attended Sir Malcolm Campbell Elementary School, then West Hill High School. In 1942 he enlisted in the RCNVR and was immediately sent to HMCS Cornwallis for basic training. From there he went to Sydney, N.S., where he spent about one year on harbour crafts and on the examination vessel called HMCS Moose that had belonged to Elizabeth Arden and was known as the S.S. Cleopatra, in American circles. Bill was then transferred to Digby, N.S. to take a gunnery course. He was transferred to the Nene in the spring of 1944 as one of the first gunnery crew. As a QR3, his assignment was the after ammunition magazine, when action stations were called. After discharge, in the fall of 1945, Bill joined the CPR as a brakeman and worked up in northern Quebec freight lines and in the lumber camps. He resigned from the CPR in 1952 and commenced work with Bell Canada as a telephone installer. He met his bride to be, Audrey Midley, who also worked at Bell and they were married the same year. They have two children, a daughter Cheryl Ann and a son David Cyril. The Masons have two grandsons. Bill and Audrey both retired from Bell Canada in 1982 and recently moved from Montreal to Ottawa. They travel frequently and Bill does volunteer work at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and delivers Meals on Wheels.

MASON, John W. "Bill"

Passed away in Ottawa, on July 9, 2011 at the
age of eighty-seven. Beloved husband of
Audrey Mason. He will also be missed by his
children David Mason (Sandra) and Cheryl
Hutchins, his grandchildren John Mason and
Corey Hutchins, his great-grandchildren Cole
Mason and Bryna, his sister Adele Wells and
his brother Ronald Mason (Melba).
Visitation at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White,
5610 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal,
514-483-1870, www.dignitequebec.com , on
Wednesday, July 13 starting at 12 p.m.,
followed by funeral service at 1:30 p.m., in the
chapel of the funeral home.
Special thanks to the doctors and the

nurses of Ottawa Heart Intitute for their
compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ottawa
Heart Institute would be appreciated.

Dear Audrey,
All the crew and family members of the HMCS Nene express their deep sympathy to you and your family on the death of Bill. As a young man he served in the Nene over 65 years ago. We will remember Bill

Ken Riley

Bill Mason at 1987 Reunion

Bill Mason, Andy Bogle, "Big" Don McGee at 1989 Reunion

Audrey Mason, Dave Johnston, Betty and Don Delong 1987 Reunion

Betty and Don Delong behind Bill and Audrey Mason 1987 Reunion

Higher resolution photos are available on request.




	Extracted from the photo of the Crew of the Nene on deck taken March 1945
		Photo from the book "NENE LIVES The Story of H.M.C.S. Nene & her Crew" - 1993
John William Mason - Able Seaman John William Mason was born in Montreal in 1924. He attended Sir Malcolm Campbell Elementary School, then West Hill High School. In 1942 he enlisted in the RCNVR and was immediately sent to HMCS Cornwallis for basic training. From there he went to Sydney, N.S., where he spent about one year on harbour crafts and on the examination vessel called HMCS Moose that had belonged to Elizabeth Arden and was known as the S.S. Cleopatra, in American circles. Bill was then transferred to Digby, N.S. to take a gunnery course. He was transferred to the Nene in the spring of 1944 as one of the first gunnery crew. As a QR3, his assignment was the after ammunition magazine, when action stations were called. After discharge, in the fall of 1945, Bill joined the CPR as a brakeman and worked up in northern Quebec freight lines and in the lumber camps. He resigned from the CPR in 1952 and commenced work with Bell Canada as a telephone installer. He met his bride to be, Audrey Midley, who also worked at Bell and they were married the same year. They have two children, a daughter Cheryl Ann and a son David Cyril. The Masons have two grandsons. Bill and Audrey both retired from Bell Canada in 1982 and recently moved from Montreal to Ottawa. They travel frequently and Bill does volunteer work at the Ottawa Civic Hospital and delivers Meals on Wheels. MASON, John W. "Bill" Passed away in Ottawa, on July 9, 2011 at the age of eighty-seven. Beloved husband of Audrey Mason. He will also be missed by his children David Mason (Sandra) and Cheryl Hutchins, his grandchildren John Mason and Corey Hutchins, his great-grandchildren Cole Mason and Bryna, his sister Adele Wells and his brother Ronald Mason (Melba). Visitation at Collins Clarke MacGillivray White, 5610 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, 514-483-1870, www.dignitequebec.com , on Wednesday, July 13 starting at 12 p.m., followed by funeral service at 1:30 p.m., in the chapel of the funeral home. Special thanks to the doctors and the nurses of Ottawa Heart Intitute for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ottawa Heart Institute would be appreciated. July 13, 2011 Dear Audrey, All the crew and family members of the HMCS Nene express their deep sympathy to you and your family on the death of Bill. As a young man he served in the Nene over 65 years ago. We will remember Bill Ken Riley Bill Mason at 1987 Reunion Bill Mason, Andy Bogle, "Big" Don McGee at 1989 Reunion Audrey Mason, Dave Johnston, Betty and Don Delong 1987 Reunion Betty and Don Delong behind Bill and Audrey Mason 1987 Reunion Higher resolution photos are available on request.