Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Ivar Partanen of LaSalle, Quebec. Husband of Ethel Anne Partanen and father of Lesley A. Partanen of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Cross of Valour, Date of Instrument: July 20, 1972 "CWO Vaino Olavi Partanen was Chief engine room artificer aboard HMCS Kootenay. He remained at his post to inform the bridge when an explosion and fire devastated the engine room. HMCS Kootenay, one of seven "Restigouche"-class destroyer-escorts in the Canadian navy was conducting full-power trials on October 23, 1969, in the western approaches to the English Channel with eight other Canadian ships. At 8:21 in the morning there was an explosion in the engine room. Intense heat, flame and smoke engulfed the engine room almost immediately and spread to adjacent passageways and to the boiler room. There were immediate orders to clear the engine room but CWO Partanen, in full knowledge that he was in mortal danger, remained behind in order to report the situation by telephone to the officer of watch on the bridge. He died moments after attempting to make his effort." United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Korea Medal, Centennial Medal (1967)
Digital gallery of Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
Digital gallery of
Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen
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BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY Surrey, United Kingdom
Brookwood is 30 miles from London (M3 to Bagshot and then A322). The main entrance to Brookwood Military Cemetery is on the A324 from the village of Pirbright. Brookwood Military Cemetery is owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres.
In 1917, an area of land in Brookwood Cemetery (originally The London Necropolis) was set aside for the burial of men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth and Americans, who had died, many of battle wounds, in the London district. This site was further extended to accommodate the Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War, and American, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French and Polish plots containing the graves of Allied casualties. There are also German and Italian plots where prisoners of war lie buried.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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