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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
WATERHOUSE, Douglas Reginald, Signalman, V51112, RCNVR, MPK - 21 Jul 1944, HMCS MATANE - Son of Reginald and Edith Rhea Waterhouse, Brantford, Ontario.
Signalman Douglas Reginald Waterhouse, 19-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Waterhouse, 69 Victoria St., lost his life at sea off Brest, France, on July 20, 1944, when German planes bombed HMCS MATANE on which he was serving. A tribute from the ship's captain stated that he had died in action doing his duty and that he had always followed the highest traditions of service. Sig. Waterhouse was an unusually fine type of young man with a capacity for many interests and talents. He was born in Brantford and his schools were Major Ballachey and the Collegiate Institute and Vocational School. He was an able athlete and made the senior basketball and rugby teams. He was a member of the Zion Church basketball team in 1941 when it captured the Provincial Sunday School championship. His Zion Church activities included membership in the Sunday School and the Young Men's Club. Later he attended the Colborne Street United Church. An enthusiastic Boy Scout, he became after his enlistment, interested in the Deep Sea Scouts and when at Halifax and overseas in Londonderry, he joined the branches there. He was a member of the Brantford Boys' Band for four years, playing the cornet and the euphonium. In London, Ont., while taking his basic naval training he was with the Station Band at HMCS PREVOST. He also served at HMCS HYACINTHE. Posted to HMCS MATANE, he was sent overseas on anti-submarine patrol.
Ships served in: HMCS PREVOST - Enlisted 26 Nov 1942. Commenced Active Service 11 Feb 1943 HMCS SHERBROOKE - Served in SHERBROOKE 12 Oct 1943 - 02 Nov 1943 as an O/Sig, RCNVR HMCS MATANE - Drafted to MATANE 27 Dec 1943 as an O/Sig, RCNVR. Rated Sig 11 Feb 1944
(DW01-DW02) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2 (DW03) Report of Casualty (DW04-DW05) Letters to Sig Waterhouse's mother
Second World War Casualty Index
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