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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
DAWSON, Charles Edward, PO.MM, V42893, RCNVR, Killed - 16 Jul 1944, MTB 459 - Son of Charles Edward and Alice Dawson; husband of Sylvia Frances Dawson, all of Calgary, AB
PO.MM Charles E. Dawson was killed during action with the enemy. He was buried at sea.
On 16 Jul 1944 boats 459, 464 and 466 were close in to Le Havre, zigzagging under fire from batteries both at Cap de la Heve to the north of the port, and Trouville to the south. About midnight, their controlling frigate which was lying outside the assault anchorage with its radar team on the alert, vectored them on to some enemy minesweepers which were creeping northward out of Le Heve, close inshore. The three boats made for the position, and as they raced along the coast, were suddenly illuminated by flares dropped from an enemy aircraft overhead. The flares were followed by bombs. Then the shells from the shore batteries stated, screaming down on them at a range of less than four miles. One shell crashed through the light sides of 459 to explode in the engine room, killing two men and wounding another. As wreckage from below spewed up through a hole blown in the deck, the boat began to settle. Another straddling salvo burst in the water, and through the descending splashes, 466 moved in to take 459 in tow. Boat 464 circled to make smoke while lines were rigged, then followed behind, feeding the smoke screen, while 466 and her tow (459) limped away, still under heavy fire. They reached the anchorage without further damage.
Ships served in: HMCS TECUMSEH - Enlisted 20 Jul 1942. Commenced Active Service 25 Jul 1942. HMS ATTACK (Royal Navy Coastal Forces Base, Portland, England) - Served in ATTACK 25 Oct 1942 - 22 Nov 1942 as a MM, RCNVR MGB10 - Served in MGB10 23 Nov 1942 - 05 Dec 1942 as a MM, RCNVR HMS ATTACK - Served in ATTACK 06 Dec 1943 - 07 Dec 1943 as a MM, RCNVR MTB 459 - Drafted to MTB 459 08 Dec 1943 as a MM, RCNVR
(CD01-CD02) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2 (CD03) Report of Death (CD04-CD05) Letters to PO Dawson's widow
(CD06) Article on the death of MM Dawson
Second World War Casualty Index
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