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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
STEPHEN, Gordon Kent, Lt, O-69750, RCNVR, killed - 22 Feb 1945, HMCS TRENTONIAN - Son of John and Ellen F. Stephen, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lt Gordon Stephen is buried in the Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall, England.
Lieut. Gordon K. Stephen, 24, Toronto naval officer whose death in action has been reported to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stephen, Whitmore Ave. had postponed his wedding planned for last Christmas and was to have been married at Easter. This was revealed today by his fiancée, Miss Julia Quentin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Quentin, Glengrove Ave. "We were engaged just a year ago when Gordon had a two-day leave in Toronto", said Miss Quentin, a registered nurse and physiotherapist. "We planned originally to be married last Christmas, but Gordon couldn't get back to Canada on leave and we changed the wedding date to Easter," stated Miss Quentin. Lieut. Stephen was born and educated in Toronto. He played rugby for Vaughan Road Collegiate and was a well-known athlete at Trinity College. He joined the R.C.N.V.R. in late 1942. Assigned to a ship the day after his graduation from King's College, he took part in D-day operations. A member of St. Michael's and All Angels Anglican Church, he formerly was secretary of service guild and the young people's Bible class, and a soloist in the choir. Also surviving is a brother, Lieut. J. Stuart, commander of a Canadian Fairmile. He was buried with full naval honours at Falmouth, Cornwall, England, with his brother officers acting as pallbearers. R.C.N. padres Cecil Swan and Ernest Foote conducted the burial service.
Gordon's brother, John Stuart Stephen, also served in the RCNVR during the Second World War.
Ships served in: HMCS YORK - Enlisted 16 Oct 1942. Commenced Active Service 01 Jul 1943 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS 08 Sep 1943 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS KINGS - Appointed to KINGS 17 Jan 1944 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS TRENTONIAN - Appointed to TRENTONIAN 17 Jul 1944 as SLt, RCNVR. Appointed A/Lt 01 Jul 1944. Appointed Lt 13 Dec 1944.
(GS01) Portrait of SLt Gordon Stephen (GS02-GS03) Record of Service (GS04) Appointment to HMCS TRENTONIAN (GS05) Telegram to Lt Stephen's father informing him of his death
(GS06) Article on the death of Lt Stephen - The Toronto Star 24 Mar 1945 (transcribed above) (GS07) Summary of witness statement on HMCS TRENTONIAN'S casualties (GS08-GS09) Letter's to Lt Stephen's father and the death and burial of his son
(GS10-GS13) Naval funeral for Lt Gordon Stephen at the Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall, England
(GS14-GS16) Naval funeral for Lt Gordon Stephen at the Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall, England
Second World War Casualty Index
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