Medals awarded to Victoria war hero Ted Simmons, now repatriated to Canada, went on display at CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Wednesday.
Simmon’s Second World War medals, including the Distinguished Service Order, had been purchased by collectors in England. But in 2017, the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa tracked them down, purchased them and brought them home to Canada.
The Canadian War Museum has sent them on loan to CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum to include in its special exhibit honouring Simmons.
The medals were put in place in a ceremony attended by base commander Capt. (N) Sam Sader and veteran sailor Commander (Ret’d) Peter Chance who knew Simmons personally.
Commander Edward (Ted) Simmons was the most decorated member of Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve to serve in the Atlantic. He was the only volunteer reserve sailor to win the DSO.
During his Second World War career Simmons was recognized for bravery a number of times including once for boarding a sinking German submarine. It was an attempt to retrieve secret Nazi codes.
He was the model for a character played by Randolph Scott in wartime Hollywood movie Corvette K-225.
Simmons died in England in 1988 at the age of 78.
