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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
DANBY, William Hardy, Sig, V8267, RCNVR, MPK - 05 Nov 1940, HMS JERVIS BAY - Son of Wilfred and Jamesina H. Danby, of Hamilton, Ontario.
Ordinary Signalman William H. Danby, reported as missing and believed in the Jervis Bay casualty list, wrote three weeks ago that he expected to be drafted to a British boat and promised his parents he would try and get a picture of it for them. That was the last William H. and Mrs. Danby, 296 Wellington Street North, heard of their son until today, when a messaged signed "Naval" was received. It announced that the young sailor was missing and believed killed, but there was no mention of the boat on which he was serving. "Three weeks ago when he wrote we understood he was in Halifax," said his mother tonight. "We didn't even know the boat he had been on, for in his letters he was never able to give much information," she added. Born in Hamilton, Signalman Danby was 20 years of age last March and had been with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve for eight months before he was called for active service last December 29. He attended West Avenue School and for five years before he donned the uniform had been an employee of Chipman Holton Knitting Company. Signalman Danby was a member of a family of twelve children and has a twin brother, Christopher. "We saw him last September when he came home on ten days' leave - it was the only leave he had since he started," recalled the father. Young Danby had been a lifelong pal of Walter Armes, Charles Street, who lost his life on the Margaree. As children they played together, and then when war came they offered their services.
Ships served in: RCNVR DIVISION HAMILTON - Enlisted 18 Jul 1939. Commenced Active Service 29 Dec 1939 HMS JERVIS BAY - Drafted to JERVIS BAY 11 Nov 1940 as an O/Sig, RCNVR
(WD01-WD04) Certificate of Service (WD05) Letter to O/Sig Danby's mother
Second World War Casualty Index
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