SS Nerissa - Lost at Sea

Wartime Heritage ASSOCIATION

Remembering World War II

SS Nerissa The SS Nerissa departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, on April 21, 1941. On board the ship were 105 Merchant Navy crew members; 16 Royal Canadian Navy (4 officers and 12 Ordinary Telegraphists);108 Canadian Army personnel from logistics, artillery, medical, infantry, armoured, signals, engineers and provost (RCMP) units; 5 Royal Navy (Including 2 DEMS gunners for assisting the crew in manning the 4-inch Breech Loading MK VII naval gun); 12 Royal Air Force - A Wing Commander and staff of 11 were returning to the UK after serving as Officer Commanding Troops (O.C. Troops) in various troopships; 7 British Army - An officer of the 11th Hussars and 6 Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment gunners for manning the Bofors 40-mm anti-aircraft gun; 14 Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) American pilots; 4 Royal Norwegian Air Force administrative personnel from the “Little Norway” base on Toronto Island, and were being transferred to air force headquarters in London; and 20 civilians. On April 23 the ship arrived at St. John's, Newfoundland, and departed that evening. For seven days the Nerissa sailed toward Liverpool in England. “At 11:30 pm on April 30 the first torpedo struck amidships. Immediately the auxiliary transport began to settle and the passengers calmly donned life-jackets and went to their assigned lifeboat stations as though taking part in a drill. Boats were filled and in the process of being lowered when catastrophe struck. A tremendous explosion ripped the foundering ship in two, splintering the partially lowered boats and sending a geyser of wreckage and water hundreds of feet into the air. The U-boat to ensure the completeness of its kill had fired an additional two torpedoes which struck and exploded simultaneously. Within 4 minutes of the first strike Nerissa was gone.” (For Posterity’s Sake) There were 91 survivors. 209 were lost in the sinking. The SS Nerissa was the only troopship carrying Canadian Army troops to be lost during WWII and resulted in the third largest loss of life for a ship sunk by U-boats in the approaches to the British Isles. Among the casualties are the following that had connection to Nova Scotia by birth, marriage, and/or family residency.

SS Nerissa

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Daniel Arseneau Sergeant P/30264 Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps July 8, 1911 Margaree, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia September 13, 1939 Single Teacher April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 29 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 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

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Jack Francis Henry Brookes Sergeant P/4517 Royal Canadian Artillery July 10, 1910 Silma, India September 29, 1939 (Halifax, NS) Married Clerk April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 30 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 24 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 23 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Jack Brookes was the husband of Leslie Milicent Brookes of Dartmouth, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia. Sergeant Brookes served with the Active Militia of Canada with the Royal Canadian Artillery from November 4, 1935 until joining the Canadian Active Service Forces in September 1939.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

George Calvert Company Quarter Master Sergeant P/27935 Royal Canadian Army Service Corps June 20, 1911 Edinburg, Scotland September 18, 1939 (London, Ontario) Married Clerk April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 29 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 25 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 24 Canadian Virtual War Memorial George Calvert initially joined the Active Militia of Canada on October 26, 1931, in Halifax, NS, listing his address as Scotburn, Nova Scotia. He re-enlisted with the Canadian Active Service Forces on September 18, 1939 in London, Ontario. He was the husband of Husband of Dorothy Calvert, of London, Ontario.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

David James Doherty Gunner P/4459 Royal Canadian Artillery June 14, 1908 Bangor, County Down, Ireland September 29, 1939 (Halifax, NS) Married Soldier (Dept. of National Defence) April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 32 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 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 David Doherty served with the Active Militia of Canada for eleven years prior to his enlistment with the Canadian Active Service Forces in 1939. He was the husband of Elsie Christina Doherty and the father of William Terrance and Joan Margaret. At the time of his re-enlistment the family was living at Ives Point, Halifax, NS. David and Elsie were married in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Halifax on September 5, 1935.

Name: Rank: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

William Hazen Embree Captain No 22 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps June 10, 1909 Amherst, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia December 26, 1939 (Halifax, NS) Married Medical Doctor April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 31 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 29 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 26 Canadian Virtual War Memorial William Embree was the son of John Russell Embree and Ethel Jean Embree, of Amherst, Nova Scotia, and the husband of Mary Belle Embree, of Kentville, Nova Scotia. He graduated from the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine in 1938. At Dalhousie, he was Treasurer of the Medical Society in 1937; Circulation Manager of the Medical Journal in 1936; Managing Editor of the Medical Journal in 1937; and House Manager, Phi Chi, in 1937.

1938 Dalhousie

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Calvert William Leng Warrant Officer Class II P/38201 Corps of Military Staff Clerks March 29, 1915 Ottawa, Ontario October 3, 1939 (Halifax, NS) Single (at initial enlistment) Student (at initial enlistment) April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 26 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 35 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 29 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Calvert Leng was the son of William Calvert Leng and Colina Leng, of Ottawa, Ontario and husband of Kathlyn Frances Leng, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Calvert Leng initially enlisted with the Canadian Army on October 10, 1935 in Ottaw Ontario. In 1937 he was transferred to No 6 Depot, Halifax, and on October 3, 1939 he re-enlisted with the Canadian Active Service Force in Halifax. He was the husband of Kathlyn Frances Leng, married on November 4, 1940 in Halifax.

Name: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

John Neil MacNeil October 24, 1897 Cowal, Ontario Married Supervisor, Canadian Legion Auxiliary War Services (Civilian) April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 44 Civilian War Dead Register United Kingdom Commemorated on Page 605 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on December 24 Canadian Virtual War Memorial John Neil MacNeil was the son of the Revd. John MacNeil, of Baddeck, Nova Scotia and Annie Drummond MacNeil. He was the husband of Mabel Jessie Murray MacNeil, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In 1917 he was a student living in Baddeck, NS. He enlisted during WWI, serving as a Gunner with the 10th Siege Battery in France and discharged on May 1919 on demobilization. With the outbreak of WWII he served as a Supervisor with the Canadian Legion Auxiliary War Services. He was listed as a civilian passenger on the SS Nerissa en route to England.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

John Robert Maynard Sergeant P/30268 Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps December 30, 1914 Cornwall, Ontario September 15, 1939 (Halifax, NS) Married Salesman April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 26 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 37 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 30 Canadian Virtual War Memorial John Maynard was the son of John Russell Maynard and Elizabeth May Maynard, of Ottawa, Ontario. John married Greta Marie Webber (1919-2003) on December 5, 1939 in Dartmouth, NS. They were the parents of Carolyn Elizabeth Maynard (1919-2003). Carolyn was two months of age at the time of her father’s death. Prior to enlistment with the Canadian Active Service Force, Sergeant Maynard served with the Active Militia of Canada at No 6 Depot RCAMC, Halifax, NS from May 14, 1935. He also served with No 3 Canadian Casualty Station, Canadian Army Medical Corps from August 7, 1930, until May 1935.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

William Robert Neilson Mills Lance Sergeant P/10733 1st Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers November 17, 1918 London, England September 12, 1939 Married Soldier April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 22 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 39 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 31 Canadian Virtual War Memorial William Mills was the son of William Neilson Taylor Mills and Carrie Louise Mills, of Truro, Nova Scotia and the husband of Virginia Randolph Mills, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. William came to Nova Scotia from England with his parents in 1921. Lance Sergeant Mills initially enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers on November 24, 1937, in Halifax, NS. In 1939 he re-enlisted with Royal Canadian Engineers to serve with the Canadian Active Service Force.

Name: Rank: Service Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Francis Robert Woodcock Nixon Paymaster Commander O/55522 Royal Canadian Navy February 8, 1904 Duncan, British Columbia September 22, 1918 (Esquimalt, British Columbia) Married (1928) Student (1918) April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 37 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 5 Commemorated on Page 40 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 30, September 27, December 2 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Francis Robert Woodcock Nixon, always known as “Jack”, began his Naval career at the age of 14 years on September 22, 1918, at the Royal Naval College as a Cadet. He married Nora Tolson on July 3, 1928 and they lived in Halifax from February 1931 to May 1932 and again, transferred to Halifax, from January 1936 where they lived in a rented house at the head of Bedford Basin. In October 1940, the family moved from Bedford to a house close to the Naval Base in Halifax. He was en-route to England to inspect the Canadian Naval installation he had been setting up from Canada. For Posterity’s Sake

Name: Rank: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Earle Sturdee Raine Able Seaman SS Nerissa; Merchant Navy January 1, 1922 Halifax, Nova Scotia April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 19 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 19 Commemorated on Page 216 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on January 31 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Earle Sturdee Raine was the son of Charles Horton Raine and Ernestine Anna Dill of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Marital Status: Trade: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery/Memorial

Lloyd William Alexander Rose Corporal F/54760 Corps of Military Staff Clerks July 12, 1912 Little Bay, Newfoundland September 4, 1939 (Sydney, Cape Breton, NS) Single Timekeeper Clerk (Dominion Iron and Steel Corp.) April 30, 1941 (Lost at sea by enemy action; SS Nerissa) 29 Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 43 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 2 Canadian Virtual War Memorial Lloyd William Alexander Rose was the son Levi Thomas Rose and Elizabeth Rose, of Sydney, Nova Scotia. Lloyd and his family lived in Sydney for eighteen years prior to his enlistment. He completed high school at 19 and two years in the Engineering Program at Acadia University. Prior to his enlistment in 1939, Corporal Rose served one year with the 1st Battalion Cape Breton Highlanders in 1936.

Sources: Library and Archives Canada findagrave uboat.net forposterityssake.ca

Three of the military personnel lost were stationed at Halifax with military units prior to their departure for overseas on the SS Nerissa and listed residence as Halifax Military Barracks on Attestation records. McKay, Wallace Andrew (Sergeant, Royal Canadian Engineers; Aged 26; b. Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canadian Virtual War Memorial Wells, Reginald Lawrence (Warrant Officer Class II, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals; Aged 31; b. Ontario) Canadian Virtual War Memorial Wilkinson, Leslie Angus Cecil (Corporal, Corps of Military Staff Clerks; Aged 26; b. Ontario) Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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