HMCS Regina

HMCS Regina (K 234) was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on January 22, 1942 at Halifax, NS. Between April and October 1942, HMCS Regina served as convoy escort operating from Halifax and New York. In November 1942, the corvette took part in Operation Torch, the landings in North Africa, and later joined the Gibraltar Escort Force. On February 9, 1943, HMCS Regina successfully attacked the Italian submarine Avorio while escorting two stragglers from a convoy. In April 1943, the ship returned to Canada with convoy ON-174 for a short refit and was then operated again with the Western Escort Force from Halifax, St.Johns, and New York. In June 1944, the corvette took part in Operation Neptune, the naval part of the Invasion in the Normandy and served thereafter as escort for several convoys or individual ships and was also assigned to anti-submarine patrols. On August 8, 1944 while HMCS Regina was part of convoy EBC-66 and in the process of aiding survivors of a torpedoed merchant ship was itself struck by a GNAT (German Navy Acoustic Torpedo) from U-667. The corvette blew up and sank in thirty second with the loss of thirty men of the crew of ninety-six. Among the dead were Able Seaman Joseph Melbourne Saulnier and Leading Seaman Harold Baxter Moore of Nova Scotia.

Joseph Melbourne Saulnier Able Seaman V/32223 Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve HMCS Regina Mentioned in Despatches April 24, 1920 Meteghan River, Digby Co., NS May 20, 1941 (Canadian Army Reserve) October 7, 1941 (Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve) 21 5 feet 7 inches Fair Brown Dark Brown Labourer Single Roman Catholic Daisy Saulnier (Mother) Meteghan River, NS August 8, 1944 24 St. Merryn Churchyard, Cornwall, UK Grave 22 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 Able Seaman Saulnier was the son of John and Daisy Saulnier, of Meteghan River, Digby Co., NS. He was the brother of Bernard and Anna Saulnier. Joseph first enlisted with the Canadian Army Reserve Force (Service No F-600307) and was discharged for the purpose of re-enlistment in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve on October 4, 1941. He completed his basic training at No 60 CIBTC Yarmouth, NS and was stationed at Petawawa at the time of his transfer. He served on HMCS Regina from June 21, 1942. On February 9, 1943, Able Seaman Saulnier was the first to sight the Italian submarine that was encountered and captured and was mentioned in dispatches.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Honours and Awards: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Trade: Marital Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada

Harold Baxter Moore Leading Seaman 4158 Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Regina April 15, 1922 Dartmouth, NS January 27, 1941 Esquimalt, BC 5 feet, 6 inches Medium Blue Fair Student Single Church of England Mary Moore (Mother) Dartmouth, NS August 8, 1944 22 Halifax Memorial Panel 5 Commemorated on page 397 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on August 26 Leading Seaman Moore was the son of Richard Henry and Mary Moore, of Dartmouth, NS. In high school, Harold belonged to the Cadet Corps and worked as an usher at Famous Players Theatre Co., Halifax for six months prior to his enlistment. He made application to the Canadian Naval Service in September, 1939 at the age of seventeen with the official consent of his parents; however, he was officially enlisted on January 27, 1941 for seven years. He joined HMCS Regina on October 15, 1942. He was missing, presumed dead, when HMCS Regina was lost by enemy action on August 8, 1944. A local newspaper reported the following at the time of his death: “The official telegram gave no further particular and none were received up to this morning. Harold Moore, a former high school student and a very popular young man, enlisted a year ago and recently was promoted to leading seaman. He was home on a visit to his parents at Christmas time and talked interestingly of his experiences. Although young in years he was a veteran so far as actual fighting was concerned, having been engaged in more than one naval battle. He had served for some two years on escort service and was on one boat which destroyed a submarine and the part he played in that engagement won for him an award, being presented with a medal. On another occasion the captain of his ship and the entire crew were mentioned in dispatches when they showed courage in saving their ship by working a bucket brigade. They worked for seventy-two hours to keep the ship afloat and were successful in having her come into Cardiff, Wales under her own steam. Young Moore was a member of a corvette during the past year. His brother Allan [Moore] is fighting in Italy and has been in some of the severest battles which have been staged there.”

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Trade: Marital Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Reference:

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada forposterityssake.ca