For Posterity's Sake A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
Service history of:
I was aboard HMCS Quesnel when we picked up the survivors off the SS Fort Camosun, which had been torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, and also when we rounded up Japanese fishing boats in Dec 1941 on the West coast. Sailed Quesnel through the Panama Canal to Halifax when the ship was employed for escort duties for convoys. Commissioned HMCS Inch Arran and served as Buffer during time aboard. Commissioned HMCS Ontario in Belfast, Ireland 25 Apr 1945. Travelled to Malta, Alexandria (Egypt), Through the Suez Canal, Aden (Arabia), Colombo (Ceylon), Trincomalee (Ceylon), through the Malacca Straits to Hong Kong (China). On 18 Sep 1945 was stationed ashore as A/RPO. Ontario returned to Canada via Honolulu and on arrival at Esquimalt most oft he crew was discharged. I was honourably release 31 Jan 1946.
On 23 Apr 1955 I re-enlisted in the RCNR at HMCS Chippawa where my duties were mostly Parade Ground GI, instruction new entries and UNTDs in rifle and parade ground drills as well as classroom instruction. I was flag bearer, carrying the White Ensign on all parades and had the privilege of carrying the White Ensign for the last time at HMCS Chippawa before it was changed. I served in HMCS Skeena for naval training 10 Aug 1957 to 22 Aug 1957 and HMCS Assiniboine for naval training 08 Apr 1961 to 16 Apr 1961. I was honourably released from the RCNR on 28 Apr 1965
Jim's father, Harry Silvester, served in the RN and RCN. His brother Henry (Harry) Silvester served in the RCNVR and RCN.
Jim's Wartime Diary Summary of ship and shore drafts
Ships served in: HMCS MALASPINA - Served in MALASPINA 15 Mar 1941 - 16 Sep 1941 as an OS/AB, QR3, RCNVR. Rated AB 07 Apr 1941 HMCS QUESNEL - Served in QUESNEL 06 Oct 1941 - 08 Sep 1944 as an ABQR2 / LS / PO, RCNVR. Rated QR2 - 04 Oct 1941. Rated LS - 15 Apr 1943. Rated PO - 05 Aug 1944 HMCS INCH ARRAN - Served in INCH ARRAN 18 Nov 1944 - 09 Jan 1945 as a PO.QR2, RCN. Commissioning Crew HMT AQUITANIA - Boarded AQUITANIA 19 Mar 1945 for transit to HMCS NIOBE HMCS ONTARIO - Served in ONTARIO 25 Apr 1945 - 29 Nov 1945 HMCS SKEENA - Served in SKEENA 10 Aug 1957 - 22 Aug 1957 as a PO1, RCNR HMCS ASSINIBOINE - Served in ASSINIBOINE 08 Apr 1961 - 18 Apr 1961 as a PO1, RCNR
(JS001) Petty Officer Jim Silvester (JS002) Petty Officer Jim Silvester (JS003) Photos from the Winnipeg Free Press of members of the RCNVR prepare to leave for Esquimalt (JS004) They're in the Navy - Party of 20 Winnipeg Boys Leave for Base at Esquimalt - Newspaper article from the Winnipeg Free Press (JS005-JS006) Photo moved. Numbers left blank.
(JS007-JS008) Edinburgh, Scotland, 1945 - While stationed and waiting to pick up the Ontario We were given a week end off. This allowed me to go to Edinburgh Scotland and visit my mom's sister and her husband (my aunt and uncle) (JS007) Edinburgh Castle, Entrance to the Shine (JS008) Sir Walter Scott Monument (JS009) Forth Bridge (Firth of Forth), Edinburgh, Scotland
(JS010) Colour Party Front: (L-R) PO2 Les Williams, PO1 Jim Silvester, PO2 Jack Sheedy - Rear: CPO1 Charlie Gilraine (JS011) Colour Party Front: (L-R) PO2 Les Williams, PO1 Jim Silvester, PO2 Jack Sheedy - rear: CPO1 Charlie Gilraine - behind colour party: LCdr J. LeMaistre - right of platoon, with white belt, C1 Jim Borthwick (JS012) Front Row: Lt. G. Calder, CPO2 Ed Bobbie, unknown, LS Jack French, PO2 Les Williams, CPO1 Jim Borthwick, Lt Wally Fox-Decent // Middle Row: PO1 Don Cameron, unknown, unknown, LS Graham Lowden, PO1 Jim Silvester // Rear Row: unknown, unknown. photo dated: Mar 1965 (JS013) The White Ensign is lowered for the final time at HMCS CHIPPAWA, 15 Mar 1965
The photos below are from Jim Silvester's photo album. Some were taken by his brother and some by him - so it is not known exactly what ship they were taken from. Jim's photo labels have been included to provide as much information as possible on each photo.
HMCS MALASPINA
(JS048) Cooks Flunky on HMCS MALASPINA - 1941 (JS049) View of the bow of HMCS MALASPINA - 1941 (JS050) Jim Silvester and Bob on HMCS MALASPINA - 1941 (JS051) HMCS MALASPINA - 1941 (JS052) MALASPINA digging in - 1941
(JS053) Coaling party on HMCS MALASPINA, 1941 // Leatham, Gilmour, Bertrand, Jim Silvester, and Gil // "The Mal was an old coal burner and when our coal supply got low we would head up to get loaded. Our coaling party looked a lot like Al Jolson when we were finished." (JS054) Two Jims on the quarterdeck of HMCS MALASPINA, 1941
HMCS QUESNEL
(JS055) HMCS QUESNEL'S bell (JS056 - JS057) Bill Godfrey posing with the gun shield art on HMCS QUESNEL, Jan 1943 (JS058) Gun shield art on HMCS QUESNEL // Jim Silvester designed and painted the eagle insignia while serving in HMCS QUESNEL. It was the crew's intention to paint this on QUESNEL'S gun shield, but this didn't happen. (JS059) HMCS QUESNEL "under the White Ensign"
(JS060) Looking aft on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS061) After deck on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS062) Field Gun Crew from HMCS QUESNEL K133 on parade in Victoria, BC in 1941 - J. Silvester ABQR2; A.S. Hickes, OS; L.G. Moore, OS; N.L. Bourne, AB; A.Z. Kennedy, AB; E.M. Herbert, AB; F. Ticehurst, AB; Roger Twiss, AB; D.C. Motley, AB; Philip Petit; John Slessor, AB; Jerry Kennedy, AB; E.P. Murphy, AB; N. Agland, Sig; L.J. Montgomery, AB; L.A. Mohn, AB (JS063) HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS064) Jack McKeown on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS065) "Tex" and "Cox'n" jacking around on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS066) LTO Lucas and mascots on HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Sep 1941 (JS067) HMCS QUESNEL'S mascots on a depth charge onboard HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS068) Jim Silvester by the 4-inch gun on HMCS QUESNEL
(JS069 - JS070) HMCS QUESNEL in rough seas in the Hecate Strait off the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC (JS071) HMCS QUESNEL'S Thunderbird Jacket Patch (JS072) HMCS QUESNEL'S Thunderbird - During the storm in the Hecate Strait the skipper pulled into Alert Bay. While there, a couple of ratings went ashore and came back with this Thunderbird which came off an Indian grave. It was in pretty bad shape with a lot of worm holes and the wings were missing Our Engine room crew made new wings and repainted it as close to the colours that were on it. The Thunderbird remained with QUESNEL the rest of the war. After the war she was paid off but we don't know what happened to it after that. It would be nice if we could find it again and return it to the grave it came from.
(JS073 - JS077) Photos and newspaper articles on HMCS QUESNEL'S Thunderbird
(JS078) Ball, Godfrey, Mahoney, Collins, Christopher and Asseltine with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird (JS079) Unknown, Parker, Morton, Connolly, Mudi, Forbes, Graham, Healey with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird (JS080) ASDIC rates - Murray, Neufeld, Collins, Marano, Graham, McCormick, Larusson with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird (JS081) Officers - Connolly, Brown, Ritchie, Laing (CO), Milledge (XO), Kitchener, Karr with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird
(JS082) Sto POs and ERAs - Keating, Grant, Moynaugh, Morton, Symington, Lundhal, Mayo, Curry, McEwan with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird (JS083) Moore, C. Ball, Asseltine, unknown, McCarron, P. Marano, McCormick with QUESNEL'S Thunderbird
(JS084 - JS086) Battleship HMS WARSPITE at the Nanoose Bay range, BC. Photos taken from HMCS QUESNEL K133 while she was tender to HMS WARSPITE (JS087) CPR's "pocket liner" Princess Alice. Photo taken from HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS088 - JS091) RMS Queen Elizabeth - Photos taken from HMCS QUESNEL. HMCS QUESNEL was screening the Queen Elizabeth while she waited for the right tide conditions to enter dry dock.
(JS092) HMCS QUESNEL K133 rounds up Japanese fishing trawlers - Dec 1941 (JS093 - JS094) 4-inch gun of HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS095) A/S Barrett on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS096) Bill Agland on the Twin .5s on HMCS QUESNEL, Feb 1942
(JS097) Jack McKeown on HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Aug 1942 (JS098) Les, Bob and ? on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS099) Gas Mask Drill on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS100) Jack McKeown, Cox'n, HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS101) Heading out and returning from manouvers
(JS102 - JS106) A few photos of unknown sailors on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS107) Twin .5 on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS108) Frank Balbar on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS109) Dave Motley on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS110) Dave Motley in Forward Stores on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS111) Unknown sailor in forward stores on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS112) Bill Godfrey and Frank Grant on the fo'c's'le of HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS113) J. Retallick, Sto, E.P. Murphy, Tel and "Duke" Dawson on HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Dec 1941 (JS114) Looking down starboard side on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS115) Looking aft on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS116) Bud Bawden and Jim Silvester
(JS117) H.A. Maubert on HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Dec 1941 (JS118) Signalmen Harry Bloomfield and Les on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS119) Ernie Knott and Bud Bawden on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS120) QR3 Ed Healy, A/S Don Bosma, AND CPO TC Jack McKeown, Cox'n on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS121) HMCS QUESNEL'S Starboard Oerlikon firing
(JS122) HMCS QUESNEL'S After Oerlikon (JS123) Lt John Mackay Laing, Commanding Officer, HMCS QUESNEL by the 4-inch gun (JS124) Mr. Chips - Mascot of HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS125) Smoke Float astern of HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS126) HMCS QUESNEL laying a smoke screen
(JS127) HMCS QUESNEL K133 enroute "To Kodiak Alaska" - 16 Jun 1942 (JS128) HMCS QUESNEL K133 (foreground) escorting the US tanker Lombardi to Kodiak, Alaska (JS129) HMCS QUESNEL Rescuing the crew of the Fort Camosun, 20 Jun 1942. All 52 crew were in these 2 lifeboat (JS130) Doswell and Lucas on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS131) A. Donnet, C. Stevens and Robert Holland painting the funnel on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS132) Bud Bawden and Ernie Knott going up the stick on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS133) E. Healy and J. Slessor AA, practice kite flying from the stern of HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Jan 1942 (JS134) HMCS QUESNEL K133 heading south - 13 Sep 1942 (JS135-JS136) The transit from Esquimalt to Halifax - HMCS QUESNEL K133 entering San Diego, California - 18 Sep 1942
(JS137 - JS138) The transit from Esquimalt to Halifax - HMCS QUESNEL K133 entering Manzanillo, Mexico - 25 Sep 1942 (JS139 - JS140) The transit from Esquimalt to Halifax - HMCS QUESNEL K133, Balboa, Panama - 03 Oct 1942 (JS141) Dugan, Jim Silvester, Jeffries somewhere down south
(JS142) Breach of HMCS QUESNEL'S 4-inch gun (JS143) Ken Bradley, Tommy Simpson and Bob Holland painting the gun deck on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS144) Escorts returning from convoy duty, Nov 1942
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS145) 4-inch gun (JS146) the Bridge (JS147) Lt Douty by the 4-inch gun (JS148) the 12-pounder gun (JS149) Starboard side just forward of the bridge, facing aft
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS150) the 4-inch gun (JS151) Jim with ice-up seaboat (JS152) Bud Bawden (JS153) Bridge and gun deck (JS154) E. Neufeld sitting on the 4-inch gun
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS155) R. Christopher and ?? (JS156) Bill Hayes (JS157) Starboard side looking aft (JS158) Bill Hayes (JS159) Bill Godfrey
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS160) Bill Godfrey (JS161) Clearing ice off the Bridge (JS162) Jim Silvester (JS163 - JS164) Bridge and fo'c's'le, photo taken from ship alongside
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS165) Harry Bloomfield by an ice covered signal light (JS166) Bud Bawden and Bill Hayes (JS167) Starboard side, looking aft (JS168) Bill Godfrey (JS169) Tommy Simpson
HMCS QUESNEL iced up after returning from convoy duty, Dec 1942 (JS170) Eddie Middleton
(JS171) H. Maubert on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS172) Ernie Knott on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS173) Coder G. Healy, R. Nixon and H. Bloomfield in Communication Mess on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS174) R. Nixon in the Communication Mess on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS175) Simpson and Godfrey on HMCS QUESNEL K133 - Jan 1943
(JS176) Paget on HMCS QUESNEL K133, Jan 1943 (JS177) Paget on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS178) Godfrey ashore in Pictou, NS - Oct 1943 (JS179 - J180) British sub at Pictou, NS - Mar 1942
(JS181) (L-R) Godfrey, McCarron, Bill Murray and unknown woman. Place unknown (JS182) Wight, Richmond, Knott, MacKay, Sheddon, Healy on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS183) Cameron Poulton and Paget on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS184) Cameron Poulton on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS185) (Back) Jack McKeown (Front) Jack, Les Lucas, Bill on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS186) Seamen's Mess on HMCS QUESNEL - H. Maubert on Guitar, R. Mousseau and Jim Silvester on Harmonica and MacKay in front - (Note: tag on photo says Bill Godfrey - this was corrected by Jim Silvester) (JS187) Seamen's Mess on HMCS QUESNEL - Mackay, H. Maubert, Mousseau and Jim Silvester (JS188) Jim Silvester, Central Park, New York, NY (JS189) Bill Godfrey in New York, NY (JS190) Gabby Grozdanich (left) and Gene Porier (right) in New York
(JS191) The Ace Club, Bermuda - Feb 1944 (JS192) St. Georges, Bermuda - 03 Feb 1944 (JS193) HMCS QUESNEL K133 transiting the Cape Cod Canal - Feb 1944 (JS194) Quebec City - Feb 1944 (JS195) Charlie Bedford, Bill Godfrey and Harry Chase on HMCS QUESNEL, Halifax - Mar 1944
(JS196) Bill Godfrey, Jim Silvester, Charlie Bedford on HMCS QUESNEL K133, Halifax - Mar 1944 (JS197) Albert Jeffries, Bob Duggan, Jim McCarron (JS198) Unknown sailor on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS199) Theresè and Bob Kett in Quebec (JS200) Bob Kett, Bill Godfrey, Jim Silvester
(JS201) Front: (L-R) Mac MacCarron and Bob Duggan, Rear: (L-R) Tommy Simpson, A. Jeffries, Ernie Knott, Hamilton, Bermuda - 02 Jun 1944 (JS202 - JS203) Escorting a convoy in the Strait of Belle Isle to Goose Bay - Jun 1944 (JS204) Ice Flows (JS205) Icebergs in Forteau Bay, Labrador - 21 Jun 1944
(JS206) Icebergs in Forteau Bay, Labrador - 21 Jun 1944 (JS207 - JS209) Icebergs off Newfoundland (JS210) "Mouse" Mousseau on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS211) E. Knott, A. Philips, S. Boroviak, E. Neufeld on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS212) E. Neufled, S. Boroviak, E. Knott, A. Philips on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS213) Knott, Dugan, "Newfie", Philips on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS214) Bob Dugan, Philips on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS215) Bob Kett
(JS216) Jim Silvester, Frank Hewlko and Adeline Bubella, US Wave (JS217) Clarke, Knott, Grant, Bolding, Cairn, Bawden, Johnson (JS218) A.G. Phillips on HMCS QUESNEL (JS219) Bill Godfrey on HMCS QUESNEL, Jun 1944 (JS220) Howie Trawick beside a severely weather tattered White Ensign on HMCS QUESNEL K133
(JS221) Bill Hayes beside a severely weather tattered White Ensign on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS222) HMCS QUESNEL K133 in Cullingham Sound, Labrador, Aug 1944
(JS223 - JS224) HMCS QUESNEL K133 launches a depth charge from the port thrower - 02 Nov 1944 (JS225 - JS226) HMCS QUESNEL K133 dropping depth charge from the stern
(JS227) McCarron on HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS228) Simpson (JS229) Duggan (JS230) Hayes and Godfrey (JS231) Boat's crew - Mousseau and John (Jack) Quick - remainder unknown
(JS232) Boat's crew pulling past a smoke float dropped by an aircraft (JS233) Mousseau and John Quick, Labrador (JS234) Stan Noble standing Quartermaster duty (JS235) HMCS QUESNEL alongside Goose Bay, Labrador (JS236) CERA moving the Thunderbird. Bud Bawden above the CERA. The CERA was a relief from the East coast
(JS237) Robert Robbins on the lamp (JS238) Vickaryous and his new wife (JS239) Sam Beaver and "Floof" (JS240) HMCS QUESNEL, 10 Sep 1942, Position: 49.00 N / 126.03W - This photo is identified as being taken in Sep 1942. Webmaster's note: QUESNEL did not get her extended fo'c's'le and main mast moved aft of the bridge till her refit Sep-Dec 1943. This photo was taken in either 1944 or 1945. (JS241) Gun and bridge of HMCS QUESNEL. Note the Thunderbird on the mast in front of the crow's nest.
(JS242) HMCS KAMLOOPS K176 (left) and HMCS SWIFT CURRENT J254 seen from HMCS QUESNEL K133 (JS243) The end is near - QUESNEL in Sorel after being paid off. Note that the Thunderbird is gone from the mast
HMCS INCH ARRAN
(JS244) HMCS INCH ARRAN
HMCS ONTARIO
(JS245) Newspaper article on HMCS ONTARIO joining the Royal Canadian Navy (JS246) Fo'c's'le and forward triple 6-inch turrets of HMCS ONTARIO (JS247) Bellevue Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland (JS248) RN Drifter loaded with Liberty men from HMCS ONTARIO, Greenock, Scotland - 25 Apr 1945 (JS249) Greenock, Scotland
(JS250) Liverpool, England, Jun 1945 (JS251) HMCS ONTARIO letting go starboard anchor in the Mersey River, England 10 Jun 1945 (JS252) HMCS ONTARIO leavinge Liverpool England (looking aft) 17 Jun 1945 (JS253) HMCS ONTARIO stops at Malta enroute to the Pacific - arriving at Valetta, Malta 08 Aug 1945 (JS254) Victoria Gate - Gate to the city of Valetta, Malta
(JS255) Valetta, Malta (JS256) Valetta, Malta (JS257) Two petty officers from HMCS ONTARIO, Valette, Malta (JS258) Water taxi, Valetta Harbour, Malta (JS259) HMCS ONTARIO, Malta
(JS260) HMCS ONTARIO in St. Paul's Bay, Malta (JS261 - JS262) Mock air attack on HMCS ONTARIO and HMS Belfast (Belfast lead ship) (JS263) Alexandria (JS264) Tramway, Alexandria
(JS265 - JS267) Transiting the Suez Canal
(JS268 - JS270) Aden, British Crown Colony, Gulf of Aden
(JS271 - JS274) HMS BLEASDALE, a Hunt Class Destroyer, fuelling from HMCS ONTARIO Photos JS271 and JS274 were taken by an RCN photographer on HMCS ONTARIO Photos JS272 & JS273 were taken by Jim Silvester
(JS275 - JS276) HMCS ONTARIO at Trincomalee, Ceylon - 22 Aug 1945 (Photo ONT116 - RCN photo) (JS277) French battleship Richelieu (centre), unknown Aircraft Carrier (right) at Trincomalee, Ceylon - 22 Aug 1945 (JS278) French battleship Richelieu at Trincomalee, Ceylon (JS279) Allied warships at Trincomalle, Ceylon
(JS280) Hospital ships at Trincomalee, Ceylon - 22 Aug 1945 (JS281) Native Huts, Trincomalee, Ceylon (JS282) Snake Charmeur, Trincomalee, Ceylon (JS283 - JS284) Trincomalle locals
(KS295) Tincomalle (JS286) Snake charmer at Tincomalle (JS287 - JS288) Colombo, Ceylon
(JS289) Street scene, Hong Kong (JS290) Newspaper articles on HMCS ONTARIO rescuing the tanker Wave King and her arrival, stay and departure from Hong Kong (JS291) Newspaper articles on HMCS ONTARIO'S time at Hong Kong
Hong Kong Sep-Oct 1945 (JS292) HMCS ONTARIO'S Platoon "A" Landing Party - 13 Sep 1945 - RCN photo (JS293) C&POs Mess in Tai Yan Club, Hong Kong. Jim Silvester first on left - RCN photo (JS294) Barracks at Fort Stanley, Hong Kong, China - RCN photo (JS295) Internee Camp Left, Civilian Prison, on Right, Fort Stanley, Hong Kong, China - RCN photo (JS296) Barracks at Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China - RCN photo
Hong Kong Sep-Oct 1945 (JS297) Motor Transport Commandeered. Used to move personnel around Hong Kong and other stations - RCN photo (JS298) HMCS Prince Robert leaving Hong Kong - 27 Sep 1945 - RCN photo (JS299) Rocket display by allied fleet at Hong Kong, China - Back of photo - RCN photo
(JS300) Two newspaper articles on HMCS ONTARIO (JS301) HMCS ONTARIO'S "A" Turret 6-inch triple gun turret - RCN photo (JS302) Ramming home 4-inch shell on starboard #2, HMCS ONTARIO - RCN photo (JS303) HMCS ONTARIO arriving at Pearl Harbor - RCN photo
(JS304) Long Journey to Death begins for the 9,000-ton cruiser HMCS ONTARIO - Newspaper article from a Vancouver paper - 26 Sep 1960
HMCS ONTARIO REUNION
April 26, 27 and 28, 1996
Toronto, ON
(JS305) Article on the crew reunion of HMCS ONTARIO
(JS306) HMCS ONTARIO Reunion - Church and Parade Service - 28 Apr 1996
(JS307 - JS309) Photos of the HMCS ONTARIO 1996 Reunion (JS308) Photo album page 2 "Some of the crew member" - (2) Boots Green (6) Gord Mitchell (10) Jim Silvester
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