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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
KOWBEL, Harry, AB, 3293, RCN, killed - 25 Jun 1940, HMCS FRASER - Son of Anton J. Kowbel and Mary Kowbel, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
AB Kowbell died when his ship, HMCS FRASER, was in a collision with HMS CALCUTTA 12 miles due west of Pointe de la Coubre light at the Gironde River mouth and sank as a result with the loss of 65 of her crew. His body was recovered and he was buried in the Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England.
Born 14 Sep 1919, son of Anton J. and Mary Kowbel of Saskatoon, SK. Able Seaman Harry Kowbel was lost on the Fraser, a destroyer, went down in a collision with the cruiser H.M.S. Calcutta during the evacuation of France. Harry enlisted on October 03, 1938 at Esquimalt, British Columbia with his neighbour Douglas Carlton. Both boys went down with the Fraser and there is a memorial plaque in their honour at Knox United church, Bladworth, Saskatchewan. Harry's brother Morris Kowbel died in the sinking of HMCS Alberni. Harry's parents originally homesteaded southeast of Smuts, Saskatchewan, later moving to a farm at Blucher, Saskatchewan and eventually retiring to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Harry is buried in the Weston Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, England.
Ships served in: HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 03 Oct 1938 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCN HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 05 May 1939 HMCS NADEN - Lent to NADEN from FRASER 25-30 May 1939 *Rated Able Seaman, RCN 19 Feb 1940
(HC01) Portrait of Seaman Harry Kowbel (HC02) Article on the death of Douglas Carlton and Harry Kowbel (HC03) Documents from the Service File of Harry Kowbel
(HK04) Harry Kowbel with classmates at HMCS NADEN
Second World War Casualty Index
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