HMCS Otter On 26 March, 1941, HMCS Otter, an escort ship, was to rendezvous with the Royal Navy Submarine Talisman and escort it into Halifax. The waves were ten feet at a Force 6 with intermittent rain. At 8:45 am, an explosion and fire occurred and the crew were forced to abandon the ship crowding into boats and rafts. Heavy seas swept the men from the rafts, killing many in the near freezing water. Talisman arrived in heavy fog to rendezvous near the Sambro light vessel with HMCS Otter. When the fog lifted HMCS Otter was seen to be on fire. The Talisman attempted rescue and was joined by the Polish merchant ship, SS Wisla. The high seas hampered and slowed the rescue. Survivors was pulled from the water almost two and a half hours after they had abandoned their ship. Twenty-two were rescued. Nineteen of the crew of forty-one died of exposure including the following from Nova Scotia. Darrach, Ronald Murray A/1964 Motor Mechanic Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Age 24 Listed on the Halifax Memorial Ronald Darrach was born June 7, 1916 in Herring Cove, Halifax Co., NS. He was the son of John Thomas Darrach and Ethel Rose Darrach, of Halifax, NS, and the husband of Ruby Roberta Darrach, of Dartmouth, NS. He enlisted at Halifax on June 10, 1940 and had joined the crew of HMCS Otter on October 28, 1940. Commemorated on Page 27 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 25 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Stuart, Lionel Everett A/2648 Stoker Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Age 27 Listed on the Halifax Memorial Lionel Stuart was born at Green Harbour on March 5, 1913, the son of John M. and Violet Stuart, of Lockeport, NS. He was married to Delta Doris (Snow) Stuart, of Ingomar, NS and was the father of their three children. He joined the Navy at Halifax on September 12, 1940. Commemorated on Page 46 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 3 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Wall, Edward Thomas A/1740 Stoker 1st Class Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Age 28 Bleumortier Cemetery, Grand Manan, New Brunswick Edward Wall was the husband of Nellie Wall, of Dartmouth, NS and the father of three children. He was the son of Thomas and Jane Wall of North Sydney, NS and the oldest of nine children. Born in Reserve, Cape Breton he enlisted for service on May 22, 1940 and joined the crew of HMCS Otter on October 31, 1940. Commemorated on Page 47 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 4 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Parker, Andrew Faulkner Chief Skipper Royal Canadian Naval Reserve Age 35 Listed on the Halifax Memorial Andrew Parker was born in Parrsboro, NS on November 7, 1905. He attended the Marine School at Yarmouth and obtained both his Mate’s and Captain’s certificate. He joined the Navy in Halifax in 1939. He first went to sea at the age of sixteen and had seen service on sailing ships and steam vessels holding certificate for both. In 1927 he married Vilda Cavanagh and was the father of two children. Commemorated on Page 41 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 1 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Armstrong, Irvine Carrick V/11273 Telegraphist Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Age 25 Listed on the Halifax Memorial Born November 11, 1915, Irvine Armstrong was the son of Irvine John and Sarah E. Armstrong, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and husband of Florence Ruth Armstrong. He had been stationed in Nova Scotia since 1939. Commemorated on Page 22 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 20, 21, and 22. Canadian Virtual War Memorial Walker, Alan MacKenzie Lieutenant Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Age 30 Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax, NS Lieutenant Walker was the son of the Revd. W. W. Walker and Mrs. Walker, of Toronto, Ontario and the husband of Joan Walker, of Halifax. Commemorated on Page 47 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 4 Canadian Virtual War Memorial D'Eon, Gerald Joseph V/25232 Assistant Victualling Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Age 23 Halifax Memorial Born on May 3, 1917, Gerald D’Eon was the oldest of three sons of J. Eugene D'Eon and Margaret D'Eon, of Meteghan River, NS. Prior to his enlistment with the Navy on January 9, 1940, he served with the 52nd Battery between 1935 and 1938. He joined the crew of HMCS Otter on December 14, 1940. Commemorated on Page 28 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 25 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Gillis. Daniel Everett A/841 Chief Motor Mechanic Royal Canadian Navy Reserve Age 33 Halifax (Mount Olivet) Cemetery Daniel Gillis was the son of Daniel and Mary Gillis, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, husband of Viola Georgina Gillis, of Halifax, Nova Scotia and the father of seven children. He was a member of the pre-war RCMP marine section before he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. M.I.D. Citation: Mentioned in Despatches (Postumously) Awarded as per London Gazette of 4 November 1941. "For gallantry and devotion to duty when HMCS Otter was lost." The sinking of HMCS Otter (Animal Class Yacht) after catching fire off of Halifax on 26 March 1941 with the loss of 19 members. Chief Gillis lost his life while trying to rescue his shipmates. Commemorated on Page 31 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 27 Canadian Virtual War Memorial

The Loss of the HMCS Otter March 26, 1941