November 11, 2011, 11:11
This blog all started in 2009 to pay homage to the sailors of HMCS Athabaskan, the Unlucky Lady.

Before my wife’s uncle said he was part of the crew on that faithful night of April 29, 1944, I did not know HMCS Athabaskan ever existed. I have always been interested in the history of WW II, but mostly about airplanes.
This is how I came about to write about the Athabaskan and that I decided to write this blog.
I did not find my wife’s uncle’s name in the book Unlucky Lady.

There is a list of the sailors who sailed that day.
I also could not identify him in these two pictures that Herm Sulkers’ son sent me last year in an e-mail.


These are the sailors whose relatives wrote me since 2009 and sent me pictures to share with my readers.

Jim L’Esperance

Sydney A. Cottrell

Louis Ledoux

Louis Senecal
Stanley Dick

Douglas Laurie

Jack Forron

L. Murchison Gordon

Jack Edwards

John Cameron Adams

Russell Knight

Herman Sulkers

PO G. E. Cooper

John Clark Roberts
This blog is about sharing.
Nothing else.
No donation…
The veterans have given enough…
This week someone posted a comment on this blog.
It was about an article I wrote on sailors who were on HMCS Regina…
Click here to read it.
Our father (still alive (age 86) and living in Port Hope Ontario served on HMCS Regina K234 and survived her sinking. He lost many friends and shipmates that night.
On a recent visit to the UK (September 2011) we had the honour and priviledge to visit the graves of five of these brave men in Cornwall, UK. We paid our respects and gratitude to AB Saulnier, Rathbone at St Merryn near Padstow and PO. Cramp, AB Dawson and AB Malone at St Winwaloe Churchyard. Poundstock. UK.
I am in the process of trying to find their descendants.
Have many photographs of their graves and the church areas. Willing to send to anyone interested.
Also remember there are 25 men from Regina who are still out there.
Sincerley, John Hawly, Cole Harbour, NS
John wrote me again. He is not too savy about blogs and Facebook. Neither am I. On another note, Dorothy sent me this. She said I could share it…
Dear Pierre,
I have more information on the sinking of the Athabascan, my first cousin
Norman Barrie was on the Haida that pick up the survivors, John (Jack Edwards) my neighbour was one of the survivors.
They stayed friends until their deaths. This I learned this year, as I had been in contact with Norman’s wife Marg. John’s wife had moved to Victoria this year and Marg didn’t know about that.
I got in contact with John’s wife Doreen and had her contact Marg. The Edwards family attended the Anniversary of the Navy in Victoria in 2010.
Dorothy Orchuk Brodeur.
Edmonton, Alberta

Lest we forget…
Source: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas2510-RCN.htm#date
29 April 1944

Athabaskan (RCN), ship loss (above – Photo
Ships)
ADAMS,
John C, Able Seaman, V 17001 (RCNVR), MPK
AGNEW,
John, Able Seaman, V 1383 (RCNVR), MPK
ALLISON,
Albert E, Able Seaman, V 8402 (RCNVR), MPK
AMIRO,
Irvin V, Telegraphist, V 26054 (RCNVR),
killed
ANNETT,
Robert I L, Sub Lieutenant (E), RCN, killed
ARMSTRONG,
George A, Able Seaman, V 12833 (RCNVR), killed
ASHTON,
Percy G, Able Seaman, V 31508 (RCNVR), MPK
BARRETT,
Arthur E, Able Seaman, V 12346 (RCNVR), killed
BELL,
Donald A, Stoker 1c, V 53224 (RCNVR), killed
BERKELEY,
Alfred G, Ordinary Seaman, V 54498 (RCNVR), MPK
BERTRAND,
Laurent J L, Chief Petty Officer, 2408 (RCN), killed
BIANCO,
Anthony D, Able Seaman, V 34263 (RCNVR), MPK
BIEBER,
Edgar E, Stoker Petty Officer, V 9844 (RCNVR), MPK
BLINCH,
Harry C, Able Seaman, 4265 (RCN), MPK
BRANDSON,
Thomas L, Paymaster Lieutenant, RCN, MPK
BRIGHTEN,
Victor H, Engine Room Artificer 2c, 21930 (RCN), MPK*
* information from a reader
Pierre
In speaking to my dad this morning, two things emerged. The website shows Vic Brighten’s rank as ERA. He was in fact Chief ERA. He had just replaced Ernie Mills, and was therefore no supposed to be aboard, but the changeover took longer than expected so he stayed aboard for the extra 2 days.
Doug
BURROW,
William O, Leading Seaman, V 7988 (RCNVR), MPK
CHAMBERLAND, Paul H A, Able Seaman,
V 3677 (RCNVR), killed
COOKMAN,
Edgar A, Leading Seaman, 3210 (RCN), MPK
COONEY,
Stewart R, Steward, V 35579 (RCNVR), MPK
CORBIERE,
Vincent G, Able Seaman, V 34003 (RCNVR), MPK
CORKUM,
Gordon F, Able Seaman, A 1169 (RCNR), killed
COTTRELL,
Sydney A, Able Seaman, V 18362 (RCNVR), killed
CROFT,
Moyle H, Able Seaman, A 4958 (RCNR), MPK
CROSS,
Alfred T, Ordinary Telegraphist, V 25039 (RCNVR),
MPK
DEARMOND,
Gordon L, Leading Seaman, V 11568 (RCNVR), MPK
DILLEN,
Stewart C, Steward, V 34261 (RCNVR), MPK
DION,
Albert J G, Leading Stoker, V 3373 (RCNVR), MPK
EDHOUSE,
Donald W, Stoker 2c, V 58286 (RCNVR), MPK
FLEMING,
Harold L, Able Seaman, V 12849 (RCNVR), MPK
FORRON,
Jack E A, Stoker 1c, V 17506 (RCNVR), MPK
FRALICK,
Earl I, Able Seaman, V 31885 (RCNVR), MPK
FRITH,
William A, Leading Seaman, V 17806 (RCNVR), killed
FULLER,
Eugene M, Able Seaman, V 8808 (RCNVR), killed
GAETANO,
Valentino J, Able Seaman, V 35858 (RCNVR), MPK
GIBBONS,
Marshall L, Able Seaman, V 51109 (RCNVR), killed
GOLDSMITH,
Thomas H H, Chief Yeoman of Signals, 2980 (RCN),
killed
GORDON,
Lloyd M, Able Seaman, V 1267 (RCNVR), MPK
GOULET,
Robert J, Stoker 1c, V 42673 (RCNVR), MPK
GRAINGER, Roy J, Leading Supply Assistant, V 17877 (RCNVR), MPK
GUEST,
Earlton G, Able Seaman, V 17487 (RCNVR),
killed
HAYES,
Christopher, Ordinary Seaman, V 34625 (RCNVR), MPK
HEATHERINGTON, John T, Stoker 1c, V
31647 (RCNVR), MPK
HENRY,
Robert J, Able Seaman, V 16777 (RCNVR), killed
HEYMANN,
Hans P (also known as Hugh P Heaton), Writer, C/MX 678680, MPK
HOUISON,
George D, Leading Writer, V 23114 (RCNVR), MPK
HURLEY,
Michael P, Stoker 1c, V 36734 (RCNVR), MPK
IRVINE,
Leonard C, Able Seaman, V 11886 (RCNVR), killed
IZARD,
Theodore D, Lieutenant (E), RCN, MPK
JARVIS,
Edmund A, Leading Seaman, 3330 (RCN), MPK
JOHNSON,
Elswood S, Able Seaman, V 16839 (RCNVR),
MPK
JOHNSON,
Richard R, Leading Stoker, V 5801 (RCNVR), MPK
JOHNSTON,
Lawrence R, Able Seaman, V 51370 (RCNVR), killed
KELLY,
Lionel D, Steward, V 4445 (RCNVR), MPK
KOBES,
John R, Leading Seaman, 3074 (RCN), MPK
LAMOUREAUX, Andre, Leading Seaman,
V 4348 (RCNVR), MPK
LAWRENCE,
Ralph M, Lieutenant, RCN, MPK
LEA, Eric
E, Stoker 1c, V 47397 (RCNVR), MPK
LEDOUX,
Louis, Able Seaman, V 4433 (RCNVR), killed
LEWANDOWSKI, Stanley S, Stoker 2c,
V 61813 (RCNVR), MPK
LIND,
Mekkel G, Stoker Petty Officer, V 13918 (RCNVR),
MPK
LOVE,
Walter Mc, Engine Room Artificer 3c, V 8030 (RCNVR), MPK
LUCAS,
Donald O, Stoker 2c, V 60018 (RCNVR), MPK
MACAVOY,
Gerald W, Petty Officer Cook (O), 40500 (RCN), MPK
MACDONALD,
Ashley K, Able Seaman, 3625 (RCN), MPK
MACKENZIE,
Alexander, Able Seaman, V 19875 (RCNVR), MPK
MAGUIRE,
John W, Leading Stoker, 40911 (RCN), killed
MAHONEY,
John D, Lieutenant (Sp), RCN, killed
MANSON,
John L, Cook (O), V 23559 (RCNVR), killed
MATTHEWS,
George H, Able Seaman, V 2809 (RCNVR), MPK
MCBRIDE,
John L, Able Seaman, V 45461 (RCNVR), killed
MCCARROLL,
Thomas G, Stoker 1c, V 39522 (RCNVR), MPK
MCCRINDLE,
William D, Able Seaman, V 1854 (RCNVR), MPK
MCGREGOR,
William, Leading Stoker, V 30291 (RCNVR), killed
MCLEAN,
Daniel H, Able Seaman, V 14742 (RCNVR), MPK
MCNEIL,
John J, Stoker 2c, V 59518 (RCNVR), killed
MEADWELL,
Richard G, Able Seaman, V 49203 (RCNVR), MPK
MENGONI,
Eric J, Able Seaman, 3980 (RCN), MPK
METCALFE,
Donald I, Electrical Artificer 3c, V 11603 (RCNVR), MPK
MILLAR,
Victor, Able Seaman, V 27555 (RCNVR), MPK
MILLS,
Ernest G, Chief Engine Room Artificer, 21508 (RCN), MPK
MUMFORD,
Leonard K, Engine Room Artificer 4c, V 42353 (RCNVR), MPK
NASH,
Robert A, Sub Lieutenant, RCN, killed
NICHOLAS,
Joseph R, Leading Stoker, V 16615 (RCNVR), MPK
OUELLETTE,
Joseph E V, Able Seaman, V 50769 (RCNVR), MPK
PEART,
Hilbert J, Able Seaman, A 927 (RCNR), MPK
PHILLIPS,
John D, Able Seaman, V 19152 (RCNVR), killed
PIKE,
Brenton J, Able Seaman, V 36417 (RCNVR),
killed
POTHIER,
Charles L, Able Seaman, V 4752 (RCNVR), killed
RENNIE,
John E, Petty Officer, 3075 (RCN), MPK
RIENDEAU,
Joseph A L, Able Seaman, V 6869 (RCNVR), killed
ROBERTS,
John C, Engine Room Artificer 4c, V 41069 (RCNVR), MPK
ROBERTS,
Raymond L, Able Seaman, V 10880 (RCNVR), killed
ROBERTSHAW, Eric, Able Seaman, V
8634 (RCNVR), killed
ROBERTSON,
Ian A, Able Seaman, V 33909 (RCNVR), killed
ROBERTSON,
William, Stoker 1c, V 55418 (RCNVR), MPK
ROGER, Leo
A, Stoker 1c, V 38426 (RCNVR), killed
ROLLS,
Raymond B, Able Seaman, V 34863 (RCNVR), killed
RUTHERFORD, Norman W, Petty Officer
Radio Mech, P/MX 124283, MPK
RYAN,
Norman V, Able Seaman, V 52603 (RCNVR), MPK
SAMPSON,
Francis L, Able Seaman, V 174 (RCNVR), killed
SANDERSON,
Earl H, Able Seaman, V 34973 (RCNVR), MPK
SENECAL,
Jean G L, Able Seaman, V 15272 (RCNVR), killed
SHERLOCK,
Albert V, Steward, V 861 (RCNVR), MPK
SIGSTON,
George D, Gunner, RCN, MPK
SINGLETON,
John C, Able Seaman, V 17334 (RCNVR), MPK
SKYVINGTON, Francis G, Sick Berth
Attendant, V 46829 (RCNVR), MPK
SOMMERFIELD, Samuel W, Able Seaman,
V 32952 (RCNVR), MPK
SOUCISSE,
Paul E, Coder, V 836 (RCNVR), MPK
ST
LAURENT, Joseph L M, Able Seaman, V 37192 (RCNVR), MPK
STEVENSON,
Elmer H, Stoker 1c, V 53221 (RCNVR), MPK
STEWART,
John L, Able Seaman, V 1362 (RCNVR), MPK
STEWART,
William G, Signalman, V 8866 (RCNVR), MPK
STOCKMAN,
Ernest O, Lieutenant (E), RCN, MPK
STUBBS,
John H, Lieutenant Commander, RCN, killed
SUTHERLAND, John W, Able Seaman, V
12533 (RCNVR), MPK
SWEET,
Charles E, Chief Petty Officer, 2563 (RCN), killed
THOMPSON,
Harry, Stoker 1c, V 38485 (RCNVR), MPK
TUPPER,
Allister R, Ordnance Artificer 4c, V 40751 (RCNVR),
MPK
VAIR,
James A, Leading Steward, A 4980 (RCNR), MPK
VEINOTTE,
Joseph V W, Supply Petty Officer, V 25606 (RCNVR), MPK
WAITSON,
Maurice, Able Seaman, V 18646 (RCNVR), MPK
WALLACE,
Peter W, Able Seaman, V 11722 (RCNVR), MPK
WARD,
Leslie, Lieutenant (Sp), RCN, MPK
WATSON,
Reginald J, Telegraphist, V 35953 (RCNVR),
killed
WILLIAMS,
Kenneth W, Engine Room Artificer 4c, A 5402 (RCNR), killed
WOOD, John
A, Able Seaman, V 34862 (RCNVR), killed
YEADON,
Robert L, Able Seaman, V 272 (RCNVR), killed
Like this:
Like Loading...