Category: Handley Page Halifax

HMCS Athabaskan revisited

Updated 17 August 2020

Comment from Sandra

Hello!
In reference to the second pow photo with no names or numbers to identify any of these brave men.
Second from left , standing is Stanley Dick, from Toronto my uncle.

At first this blog was about a Canadian destroyer I had never heard about.

HMCS Athabaskan

Then it was about how some sailors were rescued when the ship was torpedoed and a few were rescued by HMCS Haida.

Athabaskan sinking 1944

In July 2009, my wife’s uncle said in a family reunion that he was among them.

Haida with survivors

That’s almost all he said about his ordeal adding he was a stoker.

Then relatives of sailors who were aboard HMCS Athabaskan on that faithful night started to contact me. Some were the sons of sailors taken prisoners, and they had photos to share.

athab 2

One relative was Jim L’Esperance’s son who has shared all he had about his father. He had these two pictures of the sailors who were taken prisoners.

prisoners1

prisoners 1

It will be hard to identify who is who until more people find this blog except for Gérard Tourangeau (6) and Jim L’Esperance (1).

marin Tourangeau

Gérard Tourangeau

To be continued later after I approve this comment…

The Mystery of AB William Dearl Trickett, Stoker (1st Class), HMCS Athabaskan G07
I thought you might be interested in a little project I’m working on especially in the light of the 75th anniversary of the sinking of G07 next year on Apr 29, 2019. Also, I’m trying to track down more information on my Great Uncle and the possible whereabouts of his missing Wartime Logbook.

La mission du 5-6 janvier 1945

http://www.6bombergroup.ca/Jan45/Jan5~645.html

January 5/6, 1945

133 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were joined by 57 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Hannover. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 to 20,000 feet, releasing 1,587,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was scattered through out the city.

425 Alouettes

F/Sgt. J. Cauchy, RCAF–POW and crew from 425 squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-860, coded KW-E, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt. E. Faulkner, RCAF–POW
F/O J. Lesperance, RCAF–POW
P/O J. Piche, RCAF
Sgt. R. Cantin, RCAF–POW
P/O J. Lamarre, RCAF
F/Sgt. J. Cote, RCAF–POW
2 crew were killed and 5 were POWs.

F/O J. Seguin, RCAF–POW and crew flying Halifax III NR-178, coded KW-J, failed to return from this operation.

P/O G. Noonan, RAF
F/O J. Bilodeau, RCAF–POW
Sgt. J. Cantin, RCAF–POW
P/O J. Lapierre, RCAF–POW
F/Sgt. J. Huet, RCAF–POW
Sgt. B. Simonin, RCAF
2 crew were killed and 5 were POWs.