|
A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
CUMMINGS, William George - passed away at the age of 71 years in the W.W. Cross Cancer Institute. Bill leaves to mourn his loving wife of 49 years, Ruth; three sons and four daughters, Pat (Jack) Currie of Pickering, ON, Marueen (Doug) Dunlop of Calgary, Sharon (Kent) Stevens of Richmond, BC, Jack (Laura) of Tsowwassen, Rob (Jacqueline) of Beaumont, Ken (Norma) of Sherwood Park and Lori (Mark) Senio of Edmonton; 13 grandchildren, Carol, Sharon, Megan (lee) Downey, Julie, Kathy, Christy, Kenny, Michael, Kathleen, Albert, Ian, Kevin, and Dean. Bill also leaves to mourn his passing two sisters, Dorothy Rigney of Bon Accord and Eileen Bradley of Edmonton. Bill was predeceased by his mother, Beatrice and father, John. Friends and family may pay their respects on Tuesday, May 9, 1995 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Hainstock's Funeral Home, 9810 34 Avenue, where the Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 1995 at 3:00 p.m. Interment to follow at South Haven Cemetery. Reverend Al Stenson officiating. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Cross Cancer Institute.
William Cummings served in the RCNVR from 18 Jan 1943 to 25 Sep 1945
Ships served in: HMCS NONSUCH - Enlisted 18 Jan 1943. Commenced active service 15 Mar 1943 HMCS GIVENCHY - Served in GIVENCHY 17 Sep 1943 - 05 Oct 1943 as OS, RCNVR ML Q096 - Served in Q096 23 Oct 1943 - 24 Mar 1944 as OS/AB, RCNVR HMCS MEON - Served in MEON 18 Apr 1944 - 30 Mar 1945 as AB, RCNVR HMCS NONSUCH - Demobilized 25 Sep 1943
(WC00) The Wartime Diary of ABAA3 William Cummings. This diary - while only designed for a year, was used over a period starting in 1943 and continued till sometime in Jan 1945 - with Bill wrapping back around in each year. There are very few entries prior to his draft to HMCS MEON in Apr 1944, which was just prior to MEON'S participation in the D-Day landings. He notes his draft to ML Q96 on 23 Nov (1943) which appears to be his first main entry with a few minor entries of "at sea" "on ML" till the end of the year. On 19 Apr (1944) he notes his draft to HMCS MEON. All the entries from there until 21 Oct 1944 are from his time on MEON. Then for what is believed to be 14 Jan (1945) he wrote 3 ships fished by buoy #1 that appears to reference the torpedoing of 3 ships near Halifax that were part of Convoy BX-141. The many names written throughout the diary (keep in mind it was used for about a year and a half or so) appear to reference the names of those he received letters from and / or wrote to.
(WC01) Portrait of William Cummings (WC02-WC05) Certificate of Services - pages 1 and 2
(WC06) William Cummings with ?? (WC07) William Cummings in from of his parent's house (WC08) Letter from William Cummings to his parents where he mentioned shooting down a glider bomb while on HMCS MEON. Note that the censors cut out the ship's name from the letter (WC09) Tug HMCS RIVERTON W47 in harbour at St. John's, Newfoundland
(WC10) William Cummings by the forward gun on HMCS MEON (WC11) William Cummings on HMCS MEON (WC12) HMCS MEON making smoke and dropping depth charge (WC13) William Cummings, looking aft, sitting just forward of the after gun mount on HMCS MEON (WC14) William Cummings ashore in an unknown location
(WC15) William Cummings on HMCS MEON (WC16) William Cummings, on duty as Quartermaster, standing behind the Hedgehog launcher on HMCS MEON
(WC17) Gunnery Course at HMCS NADEN (RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT) sometime between 10 May and 16 Sep 1943
(1) Osypichuk, M. (2) McKenna, J. (3) Gallo, Mike, LS, Instructor (4) Harvey, L.D. (5) Smith, D. (6) Johnson, H.M. (7) Jones, E. (8) Cummings, William (9) Cook, J.D. (10) McReady, T.M. (11) Pound, W.G. (12) Mather, W.G. (13) Barber, G.M. (14) Wallace, J.F. (15) Johnston, B.A. (16) Pierce, J. (17) Strachan, R. (18) Krpan, Ivan John
|
For Posterity's Sake 
