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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
MCGIBBON, John Donald, OS, V65055, RCNVR, MPK - 07 May 1944, HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Son of George Arnold McGibbon and Bessie Emma McGibbon, of Gagetown, New Brunswick.
Born: 14 Mar 1928. John was 15 years old when he joined the RCNVR and had lied about his age so he could enlist. John's father joined the army during the First World War while underage. He reluctantly signed the paperwork to allow him to join. John turned 16 on 14 Mar 1944 - and lost his life less than 2 months later when HMCS VALLEYFIELD was torpedoed on 07 May 1944. While his service records give his date of birth as 14 Mar 1925, John's family has confirmed his date of birth to be 14 Mar 1928.
John Donald (Don or Donnie) McGibbon. Born on 14 Mar 1928 in Gagetown, NB to George Arnold and Bessie Emma (Allen) McGibbon. Don attended The Gagetown Grammar School from 1934 until 1943 when he left school after the Christmas break. He joined the local cadet corps in his area until April when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. Don was a very good student and while at school, was considered a very promising young artist. He did many paintings for local people in the village. As well as being a great young artist, he, being an admirer of boats and anything nautical, built several models of boats of all descriptions. Don also followed the directions of his parents, particularly his mother, and attended church regularly. There is a plaque with his photo hanging in the Parish Hall of the St. John's Anglican Church that served also as the Sunday School acknowledging Don for having a perfect attendance record for 7 yrs. Don also played local sports, namely hockey and softball and because of him being mature for his age, excelled in both. Don was the eldest of the family and it seemed that every 2 or 3 years, there arrived a new sister. This happened four times and by then he was quite unhappy about the fact that it appeared that he was not to have a brother! He must have said a few prayers during all those years in Sunday School because on January 29th, 1941, his first brother arrived. That was me! My mother told me that he immediately went out to the shed and built me a boat. In April of 1943, Don signed up for the Canadian Navy. He was able to visit his father's relatives in Scotland in the short time he was at sea. His ship, HMCS VALLEYFIELD was torpedoed on May 7, 1944 off the coast of Newfoundland and he died at sea. (Submitted by John's brother Alex McGibbon.)
John's siblings: Jean Elizabeth, Joyce Irene Ester, Margaret Emma, Nora Louise, James Alexander (Alex), Harry Franklin, George Robert (Bob) and Charles Richard (George and Charles were born after John died).
Ships served in: HMCS BRUNSWICKER - Enlisted 28 Jun 1943. Commenced Active Service 05 Jul 1943 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 25 Aug 1943 HMCS BEAVER - Served in BEAVER 23-29 Oct 1943 for training while drafted to CORNWALLIS HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 06 Nov 1943 HMCS HOCHELAGA II - Drafted to HOCHELAGA II 27 Nov 1943 HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Drafted to VALLEYFIELD 08 Dec 1943
(JM01) Letter from Lt A.I.P. Tate to John's parents (JM02) John McGibbon as a cadet prior to enlisting (JM03) Memorial at John's church that lists his 7 years perfect attendance (JM04) Documents from the Service File of John McGibbon
Second World War Casualty Index
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