James Peter Clarke, Ordinary Seaman, V77951, RCNVR

They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

James Peter Clarke

Ordinary Seaman, V77951, RCNVR

Born: 15 Jan 1925, Ottawa, Ontario

Died: 18 Mar 1945 at sea

Book of Remembrance

CLARKE, James Peter, OS, V77951, RCNVR, MPK - 18 Mar 1945, HMCS GUYSBOROUGH - Son of Cecil R. and Una Clarke, of Ottawa, Ontario.

OS Clarke died when his ship, HMCS GUYSBOROUGH, was torpedoed and sunk by U-868 in the Bay of Biscay with the loss of 53 of her crew. He survived the sinking but succumbed to the cold waters off Halifax before HMCS SARNIA arrived to rescue survivors.

Ordinary Seaman James Peter Clarke ship H.M.C.S. Guysborough was torpedoed and sunk. He survived the torpedo, but after clinging to a raft for a period of time he succumbed to the cold and drowned. He was 20 years old. He was born at 566 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario to Cecil Clarke and Una Fletcher (both immigrants from Barbados). His sister is the only surviving member of the family. He also had a brother in the Airforce and a brother in the Army. His sister was 7 years younger, but she remembers he was a nice boy.

James brothers, Flying Officer R.M. Clark, RCAF and Infantryman F. Clarke, RCEME were both serving overseas when James died.

Ships served in:

HMCS CARLETON - Enlisted 02 Feb 1944. Commenced Active Service 04 Feb 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

HMCS MONTCALM - Drafted to MONTCALM 08 Feb 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 15 Mar 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

HMCS ST HYACINTHE - Drafted to ST HYACINTHE 03 May 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 21 Jul 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

HMCS PROTECTOR - Drafted to PROTECTOR 27 Jul 1944 as an OS.VS, RCNVR

* Transferred to Seaman Branch 20 Jul 1944

HMCS VEGREVILLE - Drafted to VEGREVILLE 04 Oct 1944 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS PROTECTOR - Drafted to PROTECTOR 21 Oct 1944 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SCOTIAN - Drafted to SCOTIAN 10 Feb 1945 as an OS, RCNVR