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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
HAWN, David Emmanuel, LS, V6247, RCNVR, MPK - 05 Nov 1940, HMS JERVIS BAY - Son of Rachel Hawn, of Ottawa, Ontario.
Born in Avenmore, Ontario and raised in Ottawa, David had participated in the Sea Cadets before signing up for the Navy. He had served as the naval sentry on the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, the Nation's Capital ,on Armistice Day prior to the Second World War.
He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Captain Stephenson who served on ships in the 1800's navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic. His Mother, Rachel Hawn was a Silver Cross Mother three times and placed wreaths at the National Monument on behalf of all mothers who lost their children in war on Armistice / Rememberance Day following the War. Her wreath was stolen on two of the three occasions.
She had been told by survivors that David remained at his gun while the ship sunk and that he continued to fire it as she went down. The telegram informing of his loss at sea to his mother was delivered by a very young Lorne Green who later rose to fame as the star of the television series, Bonanza. He stayed with David's mother until David's older sister arrived to support her. ( source: hmsjervisbay.com )
Ships served in: RCNVR DIVISION OTTAWA - Enlisted 09 Mar 1934 as a Bugler, RCNVR HMCS SAGUENAY - Served in SAGUENAY 27 May 1934 - 16 Jun 1934 as a Bugler, RCNVR HMCS SAGUENAY - Served in SAGUENAY 28 May 1935 - 31 May 1935 as an OS, RCNVR RCNVR DIVISION OTTAWA - Served in OTTAWA DIV RCNVR 01 Jan 1936 - 31 Dec 1936 as an AB, RCNVR HMCS ST LAURENT - Served in ST LAURENT 01 Jun 1937 - 14 Jun 1937 as an AB, RCNVR HMCS SAGUENAY - Served in SAGUENAY - 29 May 1938 - 15 Aug 1938 as an AB, RCNVR HMCS SKEENA - Served in SKEENA 10 Jan 1939 - 31 Mar 1939 as an AB, RCNVR HMCS ST LAURENT - Served in ST LAURENT 01 Apr 1939 - 28 Apr 1939 as an AB, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 30 Sep 1939. Lent to HMCS SAGUENAY 09 Sep 1939 HMCS SAGUENAY - Served in SAGUENAY 01 Oct 1939 - 03 May 1940 as an AB and A/LS, RCNVR. Rated A/LS 01 Jul 1940. HMS JERVIS BAY - Drafted to JERVIS BAY 08 Jul 1940 as an A/LS, RCNVR
(DH01-DH04) Certificate of Service (DH05) Report of Death
Second World War Casualty Index
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