Background
Deacon was born and raised in a family of ten children in Toronto, Ontario. In 1942, he volunteered to serve in the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War II, rising to the rank of Captain. Deacon, a Forward Observation Officer, traveled with front line infantry in order to direct artillery fire via radio transmission. He was mentioned in dispatches as his Battery fought its way across France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. He was awarded the Military Cross for risking his life to save soldiers under fire when his radio failed. Deacon was to be presented the Military Cross from King George VI. Instead, Deacon chose to accept passage on the first ship home to Canada and found himself walking up to his parent's home on Christmas Morning 1945.
Following the war, Deacon met, courted, proposed and, to his delight, married Florence Campbell, sister of his best friend John Campbell. They moved to Deacon's family farm outside of Unionville, Ontario where they raised a family of six. He was one of the founders of Markham Stouffville Hospital. He spent most of his working career in business in the financial sector serving as chair of F.H. Deacon Hodgson Ltd and also served as president of the Canadian Club of Toronto from 1968 to 1969.
Read more about this topic: Donald Deacon
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