HMCS Athabaskan - Nova Scotia Casualties

Remembering World War II

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

HMCS Athabaskan

Alfred Thomas Cross Ordinary Telegraphist V/25039 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve May 19, 1917 Halifax, NS September 11, 1939 April 29, 1944 26 Halifax Memorial Panel 11 Commemorated on page 283 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 18 Son of Alfred George and Geraldine Erminie Cross, of Halifax, Nova Scotia and husband of Marguerite Julia Cross, of Armdale, Nova Scotia. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on February 3, 1944.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

During the early hours of April 29, 1944, Athabaskan was patrolling with her sister Tribal-class destroyer Haida in support of a British mine laying operation off the coast of France. Admiralty orders were received to intercept German warships near Ile de Bas and during the subsequent engagement with German naval vessels, Athabaskan was torpedoed and sank. 128 men were lost, 44 were rescued by Haida and 83 were taken prisoner by three German minesweepers sortied from the coast after the departure of Haida. HMCS Athabaskan was struck by a glider bomb on August 27, 1943 with the loss of Leading Cook, Frank Eugene Prudhomme, also listed here as a casualty of the ship.

Nova Scotia Casualties

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Earl Irwin Fralick Able Seaman V/31885 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve January 1, 1922 Port Dufferin, Halifax Co., NS March 25, 1942 April 29, 1944 22 Halifax Memorial Panel 11 Commemorated on page 308 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 30 Son of Charles Irwin Fralick and Mary Ada Fralick, of Port Dufferin, NS. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on December 12, 1942

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Gerald William MacAvoy Petty Officer Cook 40500 Royal Canadian Navy January 15, 1917 Halifax, NS May 18, 1937 April 29, 1944 27 Halifax Memorial Panel 6 Commemorated on page 370 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on August 6 Son of Frank and Mary MacAvoy, of Halifax, NS, husband of Mary Margaret MacAvoy and father of Eileen Mary MacAvoy of Halifax. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Eric Joseph Mengoni Able Seaman 3980 Royal Canadian Navy November 11, 1921 Dartmouth, NS December 7, 1937 April 29, 1944 23 Halifax Memorial Panel 5 Commemorated on page 392 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on August 23 Son of Nina B. Mitchell, of Dartmouth, NS. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Hilbert Joseph Peart Able Seaman A/927 Royal Canadian Naval Reserve February 28, 1916 Canso, NS October 17, 1939 April 29, 1944 28 Halifax Memorial Panel 7 Commemorated on page 414 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 3 Son of Roy and Elizabeth Peart, of Halifax, NS and husband of Dorothy M. Peart, of Glace Bay, NS. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on July 14, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

George Dennis Sigston Commissioned Gunner Royal Canadian Navy October 15, 1912 Ottawa, Ontario November 25, 1929 April 29, 1944 32 Halifax Memorial Panel 5 Commemorated on page 443 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 25 Son of Edmund Thomas Sigston and Lilian Frances Sigston, of Dartmouth, NS, husband of Dorothy May Sigston, and father of Ronald Dennis and Dandra Ellen of Dartmouth, NS. George Sigston lived in Dartmouth, NS for twenty-nine years. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on December 18, 1942.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Allister Robertson Tupper Ordnance Artificer V/40751 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve April 19. 1918 Stellarton, Picto Co., NS June 23, 1942 April 29, 1944 26 Halifax Memorial Panel 12 Commemorated on page 466 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 6 Son of John D. and Jessie Tupper, of New Glasgow, NS, husband of Helen Florence Pauline Tupper, and father of Patricia Anne of New Glasgow, NS He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on September 3, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Robert Lawrence Yeadon Able Seaman V/272 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve May 31, 1920 Halifax, NS September 10, 1939 April 29, 1944 23 Ile-De-Batz Communal Cemetery, Finistere, France Grave 3 Commemorated on page 484 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 15 Son of Andrew W. Yeadon and Florence Lillian Yeadon, of Armdale, Halifax Co., NS. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on Decembe 16, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Laurent Joseph Lucien Bertrand Chief Petty Officer 2408 Royal Canadian Navy April 29, 1944 January 8, 1911 Montreal, Quebec August 19, 1929 April 29, 1944 33 Plouescat Communal Cemetery, Finistere, France Row B. Grave 38. Commemorated on page 249 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 26 Son of Adolphe and Eva Bertrand, husband of Mary Madeleine Veronica Bertrand, and father of Mary Jeanne (b. March 3, 1939), Kathleen Anne (b. January 2, 1941), and Bonita Margaret (b. January 8, 1943) of Halifax, NS. He joined the crew of HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943.

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Ivan Vincent Amiro Telegraphist V/26054 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve September 18, 1922 Pubnico, Yarmouth Co., NS April 29, 1944 21 Plouescat Communal Cemetery, Finistere, France Row B. Grave 25. Commemorated on page 236 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 19 The 6th name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Charles Louis Pothier Able Seaman V/4752 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve June 26, 1924 Yarmouth, NS March 4, 1942 April 29, 1944 21 Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery Finistere, France Plot 46. Row 5. Grave 15 Commemorated on page 419 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 6 The 93rd name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Moyle Haliburton Croft Able Seaman A/4958 Royal Canadian Navy Reserve July 3, 1912 First South, Lunenburg Co., NS April 29, 1944 31 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia Panel 7 Commemorated on page 283 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 18 Son of Anthony John Gordon Croft (1878-1949) and Mary Louise (Crouse) Croft (1879-1948) and husband of Eldora Rosalean Blanche (Meisner) Croft (1922-2018), of Rose Bay, Lunenburg County, NS. They married September 27, 1939 in Rose Bay, and they had two daughters – Joan Rose born January 20, 1942, and Mary Helen born June 14, 1943. A farmer and fisherman, Moyle joined the service at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax on August 28, 1941, and joined the crew of the HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Gordon Francis Corkum Able Seaman A/1169 Royal Canadian Navy Reserve October 27, 1919 Pleasantville, Lunenburg Co., NS April 29, 1944 24 Pornic War Cemetery, France Coll. grave 2. AA. 7-16. Commemorated on page 279 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on June 16 Gordon Francis Corkum was the son of Starratt N. Corkum and Genevieve Corkum, and brother of Wilton A. Corkum of Halifax, NS. He enlisted on December 21, 1939 and assigned to HMCS Athabaskan on January 7, 1944. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Photo/Newspaper clipping: Fort Point Museum, LaHave, NS

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery Reference:

John James McNeil Stoker 2nd Class V/59518 Royal Canadian Navy Reserve March 11, 1924 New Victoria, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia April 29, 1944 20 Landeda Communal Cemetery, France Plot 12. Row 3. Grave 18 Commemorated on page 391 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on July 24 John James McNeil was the son of Lawrence Michael McNeil 1895-1950 and Catherine (McIntyre) McNeil of New Victoria, Nova Scotia. John enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy on April 20,1943. He was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan on February 11, 1944. He died of injuries on April 29th following the lost of the ship. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Service Files: John James McNeil

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Francis Leonard Sampson Able Seaman A/174 Royal Canadian Navy Reserve September 8, 1916 Halifax, NS April 29, 1944 27 Plouscat Communal Cemetery, France Row B, Grave 24 Commemorated on page 436 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 21 Francis Leonard Sampson was the son of Francis Sampson and Minnie Sampson, and the wife of Dorothy Sampson of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He enlisted on July 3, 1934 and was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan on February 2, 1943. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Service File: Francis Leonard Sampson

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Frank Eugene Prudhomme Leading Cook 40702 Royal Canadian Navy October 22, 1915 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia August 28, 1943 27 Halifax Memorial (Buried at Sea) Panel 5 Frank Eugene Prudhomme was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Pierre Prudhomme, of Halifax, Nova Scotia; husband of Mae Georgina Prudhomme, of Fairview, Nova Scotia. He enlisted on September 26, 1939 and was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943. Leading Cook F. Prudhomme died of wounds sustained when HMCS Athabaskan was struck by a glider bomb on August 27, 1943. He was buried at sea. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Service File: Frank Eugene Prudhomme

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Joseph Victor Wilkins Veinotte Supply Petty Officer V25606 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve May 24, 1916 Ecum Secum, Guysborough Co., Nova Scotia April 29, 1944 27 Plouscat Communal Cemetery, France Row B, Grave 24 Commemorated on page 468 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 7 Joseph Victor Wilkins Veinotte was the son of Daniel Kenneth and Mary Florence Veinotte, of Ecum Secum, Nova Scotia and the husband of Irma May Veinotte, of Marie Joseph, Nova Scotia. He enlisted on August 8, 1940, and was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan on February 4, 1943. Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Service File: Joseph Victor Wilkins Veinotte