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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
BETTS, Roy Harold LS, V704, RCNVR, Killed - 06 Aug 1944, HMCS HAIDA - Son of Thomas and Maria Betts.
Leading Seaman R. H. Betts was killed in action against German naval forces while serving in HMCS HAIDA as part of "Y" gun crew. He is buried at the Western Mill Cemetery, Plymouth, England.
Leading Seaman Roy H. Betts, Pine Falls, was one of the two Canadian sailors killed aboard the destroyer, HMCS HAIDA, in action near St. Nazaire, Aug. 06, 1944. The HAIDA was with a group of British and Canadian warships which sank a seven-ship convoy and chased another back to St. Nazaire as it tried to escape Allied ground forces closing in on the port. It is thought the Germans were evacuating key personnel from the battered Brittany garrison when the warships struck. The HAIDA added fresh honors to her record by taking part in the action for she is a veteran of several Channel actions in recent weeks. L.S. Betts had been with the HAIDA since it was added to the Royal Canadian navy. He enlisted in Winnipeg, February, 1942, and took his training at HMCS CHIPPAWA, HMCS NADEN and HMCS STADACONA. He first served with HMCS RESTIGOUCHE before being transferred to the HAIDA, and he was on many convoy trips across the north Atlantic and was also on the run to Murmansk. Prior to enlistment he was employed for 12 years with the Manitoba Paper company as a papermaker, and was active in sports, especially as goaltender for the Pine Falls Hockey club. Expecting leave in the early fall, he was to be married to Miss Helen Sharpe, Pine Falls. Surviving are a brother, Clifford, three sisters residing in Vancouver and two sisters residing in Ottawa.
Ships served in: HMCS CHIPPAWA - Enlisted 14 Feb 1942. Commenced Active Service 14 Feb 1942 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 13 Apr 1942 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 12 Jul 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 31 Aug 1942 HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Drafted to RESTIGOUCHE 02 Sep 1942 * Rated Able Seaman, RCNVR 14 Feb 1943 HMS CAROLINE - Drafted to CAROLINE 03 Aug 1943. HMS CAROLINE was a First World War C-Class Light Cruiser. She was re-commissioned for the Second World War and used as the Royal Navy's Headquarters and floating detention barracks in Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland. HMCS HAIDA - Drafted to HAIDA 28 Sep 1943 * Rated Acting Leading Seaman 01 Mar 1944
(RB01) Portrait of LS Roy Betts (RB02) Documents from the Service File of Roy Betts (RB03) Headstone for LS Betts at the Western Mill Cemetery, Plymouth, England (RB04) Write-up by LCdr (SB) W. Sclater, RCNVR on HMCS HAIDA'S casualties on 06 Aug 1944
Second World War Casualty Index
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