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A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Leslie Lucas enlisted in the RCNVR on 26 May 1933. He commenced active service 25 Aug 1939 and served until he was demobilized after WW2 on 17 Jul 1945 as a TGM (note 1)
CPO Lucas was serving in HMCS Skeena when she grounded and was wrecked off Iceland in 1944. He was one of the men who volunteered to "dive" on grounded Skeena to remove the fuses from the torpedoes, and depth charges as well as, retrieve the codes/classified material. From the family stories everyone of the men who dove on the Skeena died within 10 years after the grounding. Chief Lucas was diagnosed with Scleroderma Myositis which was determined to be caused be the prolonged immersion in the cold water.
Awards and Decorations: 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Pacific Star, CVSM and Clasp, War Medal Ships served in: HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 26 May 1933 - 12 Jun 1933 as an OS HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 16 Feb 1934 - 20 Mar 1934 as an OS & AB. Rated AB 03 Mar 1934 HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 27 Mar 1936 - 28 Apr 1936 as an AB HMCS SKEENA - Served in Skeena 15 Jan 1937 - 27 Mar 1937 as an AB HMCS FRASER - Served in Fraser 28 Mar 1937 - 06 May 1937 as an AB HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 15 Jul 1938 - 15 Aug 1938 as an AB * Commenced Active Service HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 25 Aug 1939 - 30 Jul 1940 as an AB HMCS PRINCE ROBERT - Served in Prince Robert 31 Jul 1940 - 11 Sep 1940 as an AB HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 12 Sep 1940 - 30 Jul 1941 as an AB & A/LS. Rated A/LS 15 Nov 1940 HMCS QUESNEL - Served in Quesnel 30 Jul 1941 - 13 Sep 1942 as an A/LS LTO & A/PO LTO. Rated A/PO 1 Nov 1941 HMCS NADEN - Served in Naden 14 Sep 1942 - 31 Aug 1943 as an A/PO and PO. Rated PO 01 Nov 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Served in Stadacona 01Sep 1943 - 25 Jun 1944 as a PO & CPO. Rated CPO 01 Nov 1943 HMCS NIOBE - Served n Niobe 26 Jun 1944 - 07 Jul 1944 as a CPO HMCS SKEENA - Served in Skeena 09 Jul 1944 - 25 Nov 1944 as a CPO. Survived the grounding of HMCS Skeena. HMCS NIOBE - Served in Niobe 26 Oct 1944 - 25 Nov 1944 as a CPO HMCS PEREGRINE - Served in Peregrine 26 Nov 1944 - 17 Jan 1945 as a CPO HMCS STADACONA - Served in Stadacona 18 Jan 1945 - 26 Jun 1945 as a CPO HMCS PEREGRINE - Served in Peregrine 27 Jun 1945 - 02 Jul 1945 HMCS NADEN - Drafted to Naden 03 Jul 1945. Demobilized 17 Jul 1945.
Note 1: Torpedo Gunner's Mate (TGM) Duties: In destroyers and larger ships, is in charge of all Torpedo ratings (14 to 16 men). Supervises maintenance of ship's electrical equipment including generators, motors, controllers, starters, telephones, batteries, etc. Responsible for operation of ship's electrical power systems (220 and 24 volts). Prepares and fires explosive charges. Responsible for care and maintenance on torpedoes. Maintains fire-control equipment.
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For Posterity's Sake 
