Downtown in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The “Veteran Sailor”

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

1. The “Veteran Sailor” Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1910, Canada’s Naval Service wore the same uniform as the Royal Navy. The traditional “sailor suit” included bell bottom trousers, jumper, flannel ‘gun shirt”, and square collar. The uniform was completed with a lanyard, silk and a round cap with a ribbon that during peacetime identified the sailor’s ship. In 1968 Canada adopted a single uniform for both officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces.

The “Veteran Sailor”
The statue is of John Mason who enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve at age 18 in 1942 as a Stoker 2nd Class. After serving in the North Atlantic for the duration of the Second World War he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and returned to the Navy in 1949 as an officer. He later served during the Korean conflict. In 1964 he was the first Engineering Officer to command a destroyer. He retired in 1978 at the rank of Captain.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 48° 25.393′ N, 123° 22.187′ W. Marker

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is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in Downtown. It is on Wharf Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 812 Wharf Street, Victoria BC V8W 1T3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy (within shouting distance of this marker); Customs House (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Royal Canadian Navy (about 120 meters away); Windsor Hotel (about 120 meters away); Old Victoria Custom House (about 120 meters away); The Birthplace of Victoria (about 120 meters away); The 75th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy (about 150 meters away); Arbutus Tree (Arbutus menziesii) (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

The “Veteran Sailor” Statue. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

2. The “Veteran Sailor” Statue.

The marker is on the paving stones to the left of the statue.

The “Veteran Sailor” Statue at Anniversary Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

3. The “Veteran Sailor” Statue at Anniversary Park

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,828 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.