Object Record
Images
Additional Images [2]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1984.18.01.01 |
Object Name |
Jacket, military |
Date |
1941 |
Year Range from |
1939 |
Year Range to |
1945 |
Features |
Part of Royal Canadian Air Force uniform, slate blue fabric with charcoal grey, R.C.A.F. brass buttons with crown and bird motifs, lapel collar, five large front pockets, some with flaps and some with slits, three lining pockets, badges: embroidered pilots wings, Canada, padded shoulders, pleat on lower back, belt sewn to back |
Object Story |
This jacket was made by Tip-Top Tailors in 1941 to fulfill an order placed by Roderick Barr who had just become a Flight Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). John Roderick Peardon Barr was born on September 9th, 1921 in Toronto. After growing up in Hamilton he applied to the RCAF in December 1940 and was fully trained by November 1941. Once trained he was posted to Trenton as a flight instructor until February 1944. It is here where he met his future wife, Rhonda Henrietta Marshall who was working as a nursing sister with the RCAF. In February of 1944 Rod was posted to England where he served with the 426 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire which was a bomber regiment in the RCAF also known as the Thunderbirds. He remained here until the end of the war. Once returning to Canada Rod began his studies at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and was called to the bar in 1948. That same year Rod and Rhonda got married and settled in St. Catherines, Ontario. In St. Catherines, Rod became a trial lawyer and practiced civil litigation while the two raised their children, Peter and Elizabeth. Throughout his career Rod served as a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada, was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers as well as the Advocates Society and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario, Trial Division serving between 1983 and 1989. He was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from Brock University as well as the title of Queen's Consul (QC) which indicates his "skill in oral and written advocacy, acuity and learning in legal policy development and wise consul in service to the Canadian Crown". In his casual life Rod was a part of the St. Catherines Flying Club and the St. Catherines Rowing Club. He also took up sculling at the age of 52. Rhonda passed away in 2000 at the age of 84. Three years later, Rod passed away at the age of 81. The two are buried in Glenwood Cemetery on Amherst Island alongside Rhonda's family. |
People |
Barr, J. Roderick Marshall, Rhonda Henrietta |
Subjects |
1940's Clothing & dress Costumes Flight personnel Justices Lawyers Military Military air pilots Military life Military officers Military personnel Military uniforms Pilots, Military Soldiers Soldiers, WW2 Uniforms Veterans World War II |
Search Terms |
1940's Amherst Island Costume, 1941 England Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario Royal Canadain Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force St. Catherines Toronto Toronto Canada Toronto ON Trenton Trenton (Ontario) Veterans World War Two World War Two, Royal Canadian Air Force World War Two, soldiers |