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Godfrey, Valentine Stuart "Val"

Date of birth:
August 14th, 1898 (London, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
April 25th, 1968 (Victoria/British Columbia, Canada)
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy (HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy)
For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy.



Supplement to the London Gazette, 14 November, 1944.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy (HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy)
For services in the successful invasion of the south of France in August, 1944.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 27 March, 1945.
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
Canadian Joint Staff, Washington, Royal Canadian Navy (Canadian Joint Staff, Washington, Royal Canadian Navy)
For exceptionally meritorious service as Chief of Staff to the Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Staff Mission from April 1943 to August 1943, and later as Naval Member from August 1943 to December 1943. Captain Godfrey materially contributed to the war effort of Canada and the United States during a critical period in the course of hostilities against Germany and Japan.


Supplement to the London Gazette, 30 January, 1946.
Legion of Merit - Officer (LoM - O)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Captain
Unit:
HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy (HMCS Prince Henry (Landing Ship Infantry (Medium), Armed Merchant Cruiser), Royal Canadian Navy)
As an Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy for over thirty years. Captain Godfrey has served during the war both ashore and afloat, with equal success. For the first two years of the war, he was Inspector of Naval Ordnance in Halifax, which appointment he carried out with zeal, energy and ability. For over a year he had command of HMCS Prince David and was senior Officer of HMC ships operating under orders of the Commanding Officer Alaskan Sector. Following this appointment, Captain Godfrey served in Washington, first as Chief of Staff to the Naval Member, Canadian joint Staff and latterly as Naval Member Canadian Joint Staff. At the termination of this appointment, he returned again to sea as Commanding Officer of HMCS Prince Henry for a period of more than a year, from January 1944 until April 1945. During this time, the HMCS Prince Henry participated in landings in Greece and in D-Day operations. Since then, he has assumed the duties of Chief of Staff to the Commanding Officer, Pacific Coast, which appointment is being filled with loyalty, tact and devotion to duty.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 June, 1946.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

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