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Biography
Gordon F. Billo RCNVR
Gordon Francis Billo was born April 12, 1925, in Lasalette, Norfolk County, Ontario, to British immigrant parents Jacob and Mary Leita (Nicholson) Billo. When Gordon was young, his family moved to 203 Douro Street, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario.
He attended the Immaculate Conception Separate School in Stratford until he graduated grade eight in 1939 at the age of 14, after which he worked as an Issuer with the Canadian National Railway from 1942 to 1944.
On August 31, 1943, Gordon Billo enlisted as a Temporary Ordinary Seaman (OS) with the Royal Canadian Navy, initially stationed at HMCS Prevost, a land-based naval establishment for the training of temporary sailors in London, Ontario. He trained at this base until the commencement of his active service on January 3, 1944, when he boarded the Prevost.
He worked on the SS Prevost until March 20, 1944, when he transferred to SS Cornwallis, located in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia. On July 19, 1944, Billo was transferred to HMCS Stadacona, an RCN training facility in Nova Scotia. On July 20, 1944, Billo was stationed at HMCS Stadacona (Middlesex) and on January 27, 1945, Billo was promoted from Temporary Ordinary Seaman to Able Seaman.
Billo remained at HMCS Stadacona until his transfer to HMCS Scotian in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on April 7, 1945. Six days later, he was transferred again to HMCS Avalon (Frontenac) then to Stadacona (Frontenac) until June 10, 1945.
On June 11, 1945, Billo transferred to HMCS Cornwallis for five months. On November 13, 1945, he transferred back to HMCS Prevost in London, Ontario. Thirteen days later he was discharged to shore upon demobilization.
Gordon Billo passed on July 22, 1995 at age 70 and was buried in Our Lady of LaSalette Roman Catholic Cemetery, La Salette, Norfolk County, Ontario.
Medals: CVSM Medal and Clasp, War Medal