They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
FINLAY, Paul William, Lt, O-23650, RCNVR, MPK - 24 Dec 1944, HMCS CLAYOQUOT - Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Howard Finlay, of Three Rivers, Quebec.
Lt Finlay and 3 other officers that were off watch were killed instantly as they slept in their bunks when HMCS CLAYOQUOT was hit by a gnat torpedoed frire from U-806. They were Lieut. Hall Finlay, Montréal, navigating officers: Sub-Lt. A. W. Colbeck of Hamiota, Manitoba. Sub-Lt. William Munro, Huntingdon, Québec, and Sub. Lt. John D. Neil, St. Catharines, Ont., the chief engineer.
Lieutenant Paul William Finlay age 27, RCNVR is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Howard Finlay, Three Rivers, and Montréal, Québec. He was reported missing at sea as a result of enemy action. Born in Sorel, Québec, he joined the naval service in Montréal in April 1942. In Civil life he was assistant traffic manager of the Lake of the Woods Milling Company. Before joining the navy he served as a gunner in a battery of artillery in the Reserve Army. He is a graduate of Westmount High School.
Ships served in: MONTREAL DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 14 Apr 1942 HMCS MONTREAL - Appointed to MONTREAL 08 Jun 1942 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS KINGS - Appointed to KINGS 25 Jun 1942 For Training and Disposal 25 Jun 1942 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS ST HYACINTHE - Appointed to ST HYACINTHE 19 Oct 1942 as a SLt, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 25 Jan 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR, Add'l for Disposal HMCS NORANDA - Appointed to NORANDA 25 Jan 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR, Add'l for Training HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 16 Jun 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR, Add'l for Disposal HMCS GASPE - Appointed to GASPE 17 Jun 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR. Appointed Lt, RCNVR 26 Jun 1943. HMCS NANOOSE - Appointed to NANOOSE 07 May 1944 as a Lt, RCNVR HMCS KINGS - Appointed to KINGS 15 May 1944, add'l for Short (n) Course as a Lt, RCNVR HMCS CLAYOQUOT - Appointed to CLAYOQUOT 04 Aug 1944 as a Lt, RCNVR
(PF01-PF02) Record of Service (PF03) Appointment to HMCS CLAYQUOT (PG04) Report of Death (PF05) Telegram to Lt Finlay's father
(PF06-PF08) Letters to Lt Finlay's father
Second World War Casualty Index
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