Canadian War Tales

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN STUBBS HMCS ATHABASKAN HMCS Athabaskan’s much loved Commander was already a hero by the time he took command of the ill-fated Canadian Tribal Class Destroyer. For his part in chasing and sinking a German U-boat through a fogbank, with his bridge on fire, the then Commander of Assiniboine, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.... When Haida returned to collect survivors after Athabaskan was sunk on 29 April, 1944, he helped Teddy Hewittt, the last to be recovered, up Haida’s scramble net and to safety. Amid calls from Haida’s Commander, Harry de Wolfe, he waved her away, choosing to remain in the frigid ch.annel waters with his men. He is buried at Plouescat, France. Stubbs was only thirty-one years old. He is a legend in Canadian naval circles and will forever remain a hero to Athabaskan families for generations to come. #canadian navy#canadianwarmuseum

JAMES ALEXANDER VAIR HMCS ATHABASKAN Leading Steward Vair from Northern Ontario wrote letters home to his wife, two year old daughter and 10 month old son. In the event he did not make it home, his poignant letters were filled with sound spiritual advice on how to live life.... Everything in life grows up. Trees grow up towards the heavens, flowers grow up towards the sun, babies grow into men and women and, if they walk life straight, they grow to God, our Creator and our Friend and when your life is over, they go up to heaven. Daddy Jim When Athabaskan was sunk, it was highly probable, Vair was unable to make it topsides. He is classified as MPD (Missing Presumed Dead).

HERMAN SULKERS- AB HMCS Athabaskan Herm was a terrific athlete and thought he could swim to shore in the aftermath of Athabaskan’s sinking. As the beacon flashe...d from the Finnistere Lighthouse, five miles away, he soon realized, due to the frigid waters and his burns, it was impossible. He was picked up by the Germans and sent to Milag-Marlag as a Prisoner of War. As the Allied troops advanced, the entire prison camp was being relocated further inland. Forced to March a great distance, the prisoners were led by a British officer officer, wearing his Greatcoat. When the officer frantically waved at a British bomber flying overhead, the buddy beside him waved also. As he did, the potatoes he had recently stolen from a farmer’s field, fell onto the ground. Herm bent over to help his friend retrieve them when the plane opened fire, killing the British officer snd several people behind him. The only thing that had saved Herm and his walking partner was bending over to pick up the potatoes.

JOYCE SMITH (Plenderleith) Joyce Plenderleith joined the WRCN when she was of enlistment age. Sent to Halifax, she worked in the Department of Officers’ Pay Accounting. She had a wonderful singing voice, that led her to become friends with three musicians. Together they formed a band called, The mellow Men and Jo and entertained locally in Halifax and up and down the coast of Nova Scotia. The band applied and were accepted by the navy to travel abroad to entertain troops. ...The last bit of protocol was to undergo a physical. Much to Joyce’s chagrin, the doctor suspected Joyce had TB. Against her protests she was sent to hospital. As she lay in her hospital bed The Mellow Men sailed from Halifax Harbour without their Jo. The doctor finally realized Joyce, merely had a cold. She was released from hospital but it was too late for her golden opportunity.

Chief Stoker, Doug Laurie, a Canadian newlywed, managed to make it topsides from Boiler Room No 2. As the ship sank lower he jumped overboard and into the frigid Atlantic waters. When Haida returned for survivors, he could hear the shouts and waves, encouraging him on, but he could not make it. Overcome with cold and exhaustion, Petty Officer Laurie passed out. When he came to, Haida was gone. Hours later, the enemy rescued him and along with 82 other Athabaskan’s, was sent to prison camp in Northern Germany, where they were detained until their camp was liberated a year later.