John Henry Allen A2002 Motor Mechanic HMCS Raccoon, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve February 29, 1904 St John, New Brunswick July 1, 1940 36 Halifax, NS St. John, NB Stationary Engineer (ships) Baptist Married Hazel Josephine Allen (Wife) Bridgetown, NS / St. John, NB September 7, 1942 38 Halifax Memorial Panel 6 Commemorated on Page 54 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 6, 7, and 8 One of seven children, John Allen was the son of John Henry and Eliza May Allen and husband of Hazel Josephine Allen, of Bridgetown, NS. He was the father of Lillian Frances and Joan Gertrude ages 11 and 6 at the time of his death. He was married on June 22, 1926 at St. John, New Brunswick. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as Chief Engineer (Ocean Transport 24) St. John Tow Boat Company, St John, NB. He served between January 25 and September 7, 1942 as a Motor Mechanic on HMCS Raccoon. He was lost, killed in action, in the sinking of HMCS Raccoon when it was torpedoed by enemy action. HMCS Raccoon was an armed yacht The ship was purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940, originally known as Halonia. In 1942 the ship was assigned to the naval base at Gaspe to patrol the St. Lawrence River and Gulf and to escort convoys of ships from Quebec to Sydney, Halifax or Newfoundland. HMCS Raccoon was sunk by enemy submarine U-165 in the St. Lawrence River on September 7, 1942 while escorting Convoy QS-33. The entire ship's crew of 37 was lost.