John Hugh McDonald V/26258 Able Seaman HMCS Raccoon, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve February 1, 1918 New Waterford, Cape Breton, NS August 6, 1941 (Naval Reserve) 23 Halifax, NS New Victoria, Cape Breton Co., NS Miner Roman Catholic Single Ester McDonald (Mother) September 7, 1942 24 Halifax Memorial Panel 8 Commemorated on Page 96 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 1. John “Buddy” McDonald was the son of Angus L. and Esther McDonald, of New Victoria, Nova Scotia. Prior to his enlistment with the Naval Reserve he served as a Private with the 2nd Battalion, North Nova Scotia Highlanders, between November 22 and December 21, 1940 completing his Basic Military Training at No. 61 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre – New Glasgow. He served between August 12 and September 7, 1942 as an Able Seaman 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 the German 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.

photo: Douglas E. MacLean