For Posterity's Sake A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
BOSWORTH, Richard Cooper, Coder, V/49160, RCNVR, MPK - 21 Aug 1944, HMCS ALBERNI - son of George Frederick and Katherine Bernice Bosworth, of Paris, Ontario.
Coder Bosworth died when his ship, HMCS ALBERNI, was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on 21 Aug 1944 by U-480, southeast of the Isle of Wight. Fifty-nine of her ship's company lost their lives.
Coder Richard Cooper (Dick) Bosworth, younger son of Mrs. George Bosworth and the late Mr. Bosworth, 30 Dumfries St., Paris, was lost at sea when HMCS Alberni, a corvette, struck a magnetic mine in the English Channel on August 21, 1944. It was Coder Bosworth's first trip on this corvette, which left port at six o'clock that morning on what was to prove a tragic voyage for many members of her crew. Five hours later, the fatal blast occurred. The young Paris sailor, with his messmates, was lunching below deck, and had no opportunity to escape. His Captain, in writing to Mrs. Bosworth, paid high tribute to the qualities of friendship, dependability and contentment he had seen apparent in her son in his association with the Ship's Company. Enlisting in the RCNVR, in Hamilton on January 29, 1943, the young sailor trained at Charlottetown, Halifax, and St. Hyacinthe, and then sailed overseas in March, 1944, and was stationed for several months at HMCS Niobe at Greenock, Scotland, until he went on active duty. Born in Paris, November 3, 1922, Richard, or "Dick", as he was popularly known, received his education at the Paris Public and High Schools. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. After his school days he worked in the service station with his father, who survived him, but passed away in September, 1945. (Transcription from a newspaper article)
Ships served in: HMCS STAR - Enlisted 20 Oct 1942. Commenced Active Service 29 Jan 1943 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS QUEEN CHARLOTTE - Drafted to QUEEN CHARLOTTE 03 Feb 1943 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 06 Apr 1943 HMCS ST HYACINTHE - Drafted to ST HYACINTHE 17 Jun 1943 * Rated Ordinary Coder 03 Sep 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 28 Sep 1943 HMCS CAPTOR II - Drafted to CAPTOR II 13 Sep 1943 HMS MELITA (Royal Navy Algernine Class Minesweeper) - Drafted to MELITA 20 Dec 1943 * Rated Coder 29 Jan 1944 HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 21 Mar 1944 HMCS ALBERNI - Drafted to ALBERNI 10 Aug 1944
Documents from the Service File of Richard Bosworth
Second World War Casualty Index
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