Sadly Wing Commander S P Russell Passed Away

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Updated 8 November 2023

Originally posted on 29 November 2012

Revd Pip Clements just sent this comment…

Sadly Wing Commander S P Russell passed away towards the end of November 2012 at Sibbertoft Manor Nursing Home, Northamptonshire aged 96 years after a very full life running the family foundry business and being Chairman of Leicester Aero Club and regaining his private pilot’s licence at the age of 67 yrs.
He lived for many years at Blakeney, Norfolk. A Service of Thanksgiving, following private cremation, will take place on Thursday 6th December at St. Giles Church, Medbourne, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8EB at 12 noon.
Revd Pip Clements

Distinguished Flying Cross. 23 April, 1943

Acting Squadron Leader Samuel Philip RUSSELL (73011), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 23 Squadron.

This officer has completed 41 sorties. Whilst serving in the United Kingdom, he participated in numerous attacks on lines of communication in…

View original post 286 more words

Deserted: USS Juneau

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George W. Casswell

My Dad, George W. Casswell, also served on HMCS Athabaskan I (G07) and II. Dad was rescued by HMCS Haida’s cutter. He was a Petty Officer at the time. Dad retired from the RCN in 1967 after 27 years service, at the rank of CPO1. His last posting was as the Base Chief at CFB Cornwallis. Dad passed away on 31 December 2011 at the age of 92. The Navy was always part of his life.

This comment was made this week.

George W. Casswell also served on HMCS Nootka during the Korean War.

source

Caption

Nootka’s Petty Officers on her second tour of duty in Korea.

2) George W. Casswell, 7322-H, CP01, C10T4,
6) CPO Robert Leigh Henry

My wife’s uncle said he had served on the Nootka. That’s the only thing he said about it.

Everything you have been reading on this blog is because he did not want to tell more about his ordeal when HMCS Athabaskan was sunk.

He said he was working in the engine room. So I started to write a blog about it first in French then in English.

I believe Pierre Bachant would be sailor no. 13.

I have no way to verify all this because Pierre Bachant died in 2010.

More on HMCS Haida’s cutter rescue…

Stolen

William McGregor,
Loretta Rose McGregor,
and Mary Jane Grace (McGregor) (Stefanek) Hastings

STOLEN
On this, yet,
Another Remembrance Day,
We are asked to pause
And remember
Men, women
Called
To the war.
War
To defend
Democracy,
Freedom,
And
The
Peace of all people.
Women, Men,
Called to war
Some
Injured
Some
Killed
Some
Prisoners of war
Some
Came home.
Some did not.
Today,
I look
Again
Proudly
Sadly
At
The
Silver cross
Given
To me
By a mother
Who lost her son
To a torpedo.
A torpedo of
War
That hit the ship,
The H.M.C.S. Athabaskan
April 29, 1944.
The H.M.C.S. Athabaskan.
The ship
My grandmother’s son
Was on.
Her son, my dad
The “Athab”
The ship my dad
Was on
Destroyed by a torpedo.
My wonderful Dad
Was
Stolen from
His very young
Child
ME.
Stolen from
His Mother
His Dad
His wife
His sister
His brother
Stolen.
Never to be returned.
Today
I remember
Sadly
Proudly
My
Dad
Who
I hardly knew.
A dad,
Like others
Served so
I and others
Can speak
Freely.
Move
Freely
In this land.
Oh, how
I wish I
Knew
My
Dad
Stolen from me
By
War.
Oh
How I wish for peace
So other families
Do not have a mom, dad stolen by war.

Loretta Rose (Mc Gregor) Deutscher and her Dad William McGregor

Leading Stoker William McGregor

This comment from a reader…

Hello.
My father, William McGregor served on the HMCS Athabaskan.
He was killed when the ship was hit.
I have the book, the Unlucky Lady. It is a wealth of information. I continue my interest in learning more about my dad and the Unlucky Lady.

I worked at John Stubbs Memorial School in the Victoria area.
My dad’s sister’s husband served on the Athabaskan II.
My uncle invited me to tour that ship when she came to Comox, B.C.

Here is a poem I wrote some time ago.

STOLEN
On this, yet,
Another Remembrance Day,
We are asked to pause
And remember
Men, women
Called
To the war.
War
To defend
Democracy,
Freedom,
And
The
Peace of all people.
Women, Men,
Called to war
Some
Injured
Some
Killed
Some
Prisoners of war
Some
Came home.
Some did not.
Today,
I look
Again
Proudly
Sadly
At
The
Silver cross
Given
To me
By a mother
Who lost her son
To a torpedo.
A torpedo of
War
That hit the ship,
The H.M.C.S. Athabaskan
April 29, 1944.
The H.M.C.S. Athabaskan.
The ship
My grandmother’s son
Was on.
Her son, my dad
The “Athab”
The ship my dad
Was on
Destroyed by a torpedo.
My wonderful Dad
Was
Stolen from
His very young
Child
ME.
Stolen from
His Mother
His Dad
His wife
His sister
His brother
Stolen.
Never to be returned.
Today
I remember
Sadly
Proudly
My
Dad
Who
I hardly knew.
A dad,
Like others
Served so
I and others
Can speak
Freely.
Move
Freely
In this land.
Oh, how
I wish I
Knew
My
Dad
Stolen from me
By
War.
Oh
How I wish for peace
So other families
Do not have a mom, dad stolen by war.

About William McGregor… Click here.

William McGregor is buried besides Commander John Stubbs.

Athabaskan (RCN), ship loss (source)
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 A, 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, 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, Carlton 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, Writer (served as Hugh P Heaton), 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 M, 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, Hubert 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 Mechanic, 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

Remembrance Day 2012 HMCS Regina

I had written a few articles in 2009 about that ship that I had never heard before just like I had never heard about HMCS Athabaskan before my wife’s uncle talked about it in the summer of 2009.

Click here.

Then click here…

That last article is the reason why John Hawley wrote a comment during my Rememberance Week 2011.

This is the picture he took in a cemetery… and that he sent me.

collection John Hawley

We see the monuments of three sailors who died when HMCS Regina K234 was torpedoed on August 8, 1944.

John’s father was a sailor on that ship as you can read in his e-mail.

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.

Sincerely, John Hawley, Cole Harbour, NS

So I started a new blog in 2011 to know what I am talking about before paying homage to all those sailors who served on HMCS Regina.

On Rememberance Day, you can read this article.

Click on the image.

St. Catharines July 1941

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

Updated 25 April 2021

What more can I say…

November is a good time to remember… what happened in July 1941.

remembrance-poppy-200

Eugène Gagnon did not die in a plane crash while training in a Fleet Finch like LACs Fetherston and Davie.

I will tell you how he died later.

Eugène Gagnon is on a picture his nephew Jacques Gagnon shared with me in 2011.

At first I thought that photo was taken at No. 4 Manning Depot in Quebec City. I had quickly identified Eugène.

I had this other picture which Jacques Gagnon shared.

There was something written on the back…

Pretty easy to identify who were on it and where it was taken thanks to Eugène’s handwriting.

Front : Nadeau – McGuire

Back : Reardon – Sweet – Cloutier

St. Catharines Ont July 41

Back in 2011, I had figured the group picture was taken later when Eugène was…

View original post 26 more words

George Howard

George Howard was an Able Seaman aboard HMCS Athabaskan. He was taken prisoner when the Unlucky Lady was sunk on April 29, 1944.

His daughter Melanie just left a comment.

My dad George Howard was a POW in Marlag and Milag Nord and I got to know Herm very well. After my mother passed away I went on all the POW Reunions with my dad. What a great group of men!
Melanie Taylor

Someone sent me this picture back in 2009 when I started writing this blog.

The names were written in the back.