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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SLADE, Richard Stanley, Lt, RCNVR, MPK - 18 Mar 1945, HMCS GUYSBOROUGH - Son of George and Helen L. Slade, of Toronto, Ontario.
Lt Slade 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.
Lt Slade's father, Chief Petty Officer George M. Slade, also served in the Navy during the Second World War.
Lieut. Richard Stanley Slade, who was the only original officer other than the captain aboard the ship, left in the second year of commerce and finance course at University of Toronto to enlist in the ranks early in 1940. He was awarded his commission in 1943, thereby stepping ahead of his father, Chief Petty Officer George Slade, 1133 Dovercourt Rd., a navy veteran of the last war, who enlisted as able-bodied seaman in 1939. Lieut. Slade, 23, went through the entire D-Day invasion and had leave at home before embarking on his fatal voyage. His father left his ship in England on special leave to return home after his only son's death. Besides the parents, a sister, Mrs. Doreen Kirby, survives.
Richard Slade was born on 16 Aug 1921 to George and Helen L. Slade of Toronto, Ontario. He left his second year of commerce and finance course at the university of Toronto to enlist in the RCNVR in early 1940. He was awarded his commission in 1943 and at the time of the sinking of HMCS GUYSBOROUGH was one of two of the original officers appointed to HMCS GUYSBOROUGH; the other being her Commanding Officer. (Source: "Ultimate Sacrifice" by Robert P. D'Aoust)
The following is an excerpt from the Fred Seeley's account of his survival of the sinking of HMCS GUYSBOROUGH on 17 Mar 1945. Fred Seeley was an Able Seaman ASDIC operator at the time. "One of the officers, Lt Slade, was a hero. They tried to pull him onto the rafts that were tied together, but he refused until everyone else was saved. We took the belts from our life vests and tied him to the rafts. After few hours, he untied himself and swam away - he was one of those that were lost." (Source: Telephone interview with Fred Seeley on 12 Jan 2015)
When the GUYSBOROUGH was sunk, the 2nd torpedo destroyed the two ship's boats which had already been lowered and only 5 carley floats were left. This was not enough for all the men who were in the water. Lt Richard Stanley Slade was a hero. He put the men of HMCS GUYSBOROUGH ahead of his personal safety and ultimately his life - refusing to be pulled onto the floats until everyone else was saved. It was the courage and sacrifice of men like him who helped ensure victory in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Ships served in: TORONTO DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 13 Jun 1941. Commenced Active Service 16 Jun 1941 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 25 Nov 1941 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS BADDECK - Drafted to BADDECK 07 Apr 1942 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 10 Apr 1942 as an OS, CNVR HMCS COLUMBIA - Drafted to COLUMBIA 11 Apr 1942 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 25 May 1942 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS ALGOMA - Drafted to ALGOMA 26 May 1942 as an OS, RCNVR * Rated AB 16 Jun 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 30 Jun 1942 as an AB, RCNVR * Discharged - Promoted to Commissioned Rank 14 Feb 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA 15 Feb 1943 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS KINGS - Appointed to KINGS 25 Feb 1943 for Training and Disposal as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS 27 Jul 1943 for Divisional Course as a SLt, RCNVR (seniority 15 Mar 1943) HMCS YORK - Appointed to YORK 09 Aug 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR HMCS GUYSBOROUGH - Appointed to GUYSBOROUGH 01 Nov 1943 as a SLt, RCNVR * Appointed A/Lt 15 Feb 1944 * Appointed Lt 14 Sep 1944 (seniority 15 Feb 1944)
(RS01) Documents from the Service File of Richard Slade (RS02) Article from the Globe and Mail 26 Apr 1945
Second World War Casualty Index
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