Jan de Vries - Biography

Mr. de Vries was born in Leeuwarden in the Netherlands on January 24, 1924 and immigrated to Canada in June 1930 with his mother and older brother to join his father who had immigrated four years earlier. He attended elementary school in East York, Ontario, and secondary school in Scarborough, Ontario, leaving school in 1939. He first worked for his father, then in a War Plant. At age 19 he enlisted in the army volunteering for the Paratroops. He was sent overseas in July 1943 with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion as the Battalion was not at full strength. His parachute training was completed at Ringway, England, where he received his wings. After undergoing extensive training with the Battalion as part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th British Airborne Division, as a member of C Company, which was the assault company, he, at 20 years of age, parachuted into Normandy at 0010 hours on June 6, 1944 as part of the D-Day invasion. Mr. de Vries fought in Normandy until he was wounded by a sniper on August 7, 1944. He was evacuated to hospital in the UK and returned directly to the Battalion from hospital on September 7, 1944, avoiding convalescence. He fought with the Battalion, in the Belgian Ardennes, known as the Battle of the Bulge; in Holland on Maas River; and parachuted over the Rhine River into Germany on March 24, 1945. Then, alternately marching and riding tanks and trucks across Germany, he was among the first into Wismar on the Baltic Sea where the Battalion met the Russian Army. Shortly after the end of the war in Europe was declared on May 8, 1945, he returned to the UK, then served in England with a specially formed 100 Man Honour Guard, until he was sent home in February 1946 with an honourable discharge.

Following the war, Mr. de Vries began his career in construction as a carpenter. While working on numerous constructions sites and taking various courses at night school, he worked his way up to Site Superintendent, ending as Construction Manager on High Rise commercial and residential projects with major construction companies until retirement in 1994 at age 70.

From 1990 to 1995 Mr. de Vries served as Secretary of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association; was elected President in 1995 and continues to serve in that capacity. Mr. de Vries represents the Battalion Association in the National Council of Veterans’ Associations; serves on the Advisory Board of the Canadian Airborne Forces Museum; serves on the Board of the Canadian Airborne Forces Association. He is a founding member of Living History Group Speakers Bureau, a member of the Memory Project, and speaks to numerous school students, Cadets, and various other groups about his wartime experiences and history of his wartime Battalion. He is a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #258 serving on its Building Committee; and serves, in an advisory capacity, on the fundraising committee for the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Juno Beach Centre Association (1998-2005); the Advisory Board Veterans’ Affairs 2004 D-Day Commemoration Committee (2003- 2004); was Honorary Chairman of the Cpl. Fred Topham VC Fundraising Project (2004-2005); participated in the Royal Canadian Mint commercial for the 2005 Victory Nickel for the Year of the Veteran (2005); was Parade Commander for the Veterans Parade in Apeldoorn for the 60th Anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the Liberation of Holland (2005); he was Official Guest of Honour and opened the Canadian National Exhibition (August 19, 2005).

Mr. de Vries was recognized by the Government of Canada for his volunteer service (2001); and received the Special Citation Award from the City of Pickering (2004).

In addition to his war medals, Mr. de Vries was presented with the 125 Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992); the Queen Elizabeth II 50th Anniversary Jubilee Medal (2003); Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France 2004).

Mr. de Vries is married to the former Joanne Nicoll. The de Vries share a love of music, reading, hiking, and tennis. They have a blended family of 6 children and 11 grandchildren.