Name: Jason (Jake) Garfield Kilcup Rank: Able Seaman Service: SS Gypsum Prince (Windsor, Nova Scotia) Canadian Merchant Navy Date of Birth: July 24, 1920 Place of Birth: Windsor, Nova Scotia Date of Death: March 4, 1942 Age at Death: 21 Cemetery/Memorial: Maplewood Cemetery, Windsor, Hants Co., Nova Scotia Commemorated on Page 166 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 4, September 1, and November 7 Jason (Jake) Garfield Kilcup was the son of Reginald Clifford Kilcup (1880-1955) and Lavinia (Reid) Kilcup of Windsor, Hants Co., Nova Scotia. Jason Garfield joined the Merchant Navy as an Able Seaman engaged on the SS Gypsun Prince on December 24, 1940, at the age of 20. On March 4, 1942, the SS Gypsum Prince sank after a collision at 6:46 am, 4 miles (6.5 km) off Lewes, Delaware. The freighter was sailing from Digby, Nova Scotia, to Philadelphia with a cargo of gypsum when it collided with the tanker Voco. Because of the threat of German submarines along the U.S. East Coast, both vessels were running without lights, leaving them effectively invisible to one another in the early morning darkness. Heavy fog and poor visibility also contributed to the accident. The impact damaged the Gypsum Prince, on its port side and the ship sank within ten minutes of the impact. Six crew members, including Jake Kilcup, lost their lives. Twenty other crew members were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Of the six who perished, three bodies were recovered. His name is not listed on the Halifax Memorial. The body of Jake Kilcup was recovered after floating ashore and was returned to his home town of Windsor, Nova Scotia for burial.

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