They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Henry Albert Sciban

 

Able Seaman Layer Rating 3rd Class, 3097, RCN

 

Born: 13 Sep 1919, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

 

Died: 25 Jun 1940 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

SCIBAN, Henry Albert, AB, 3097, RCN, MPK - 25 Jun 1940, HMCS FRASER - Son of Michael and Josephine Sciban, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

 

AB Sciban 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.

 

Able Seaman Henry Albert Sciban, age 29 was killed aboard the Canadian destroyer HMCS Fraser, was one of three Saskatoon brothers serving in the Royal Canadian Navy. Parents of the sailor are Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Sciban who arrived in Saskatchewan from Poland in 1907. Able Seaman Sciban brothers are Edward F. Sciban, age 19, stationed at the Pacific Coast with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve and Stanley, age 23, on active service. Lieutenant Commander H. F. Balfour, former commanding officer of the R.C.N.V.R. is a brother-in-law, now serving on the west coast. Henry was a student when he enlisted on September 13, 1913 at Esquimalt, British Columbia on his 18th birthday. (transcription from article on the death of AB Sciban)

 

Ships served in:

HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 13 Sep 1937 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCN

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 30 May 1938

* Rated Able Seaman, RCN 13 Dec 1938

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 19 Jun 1939

HMS EXCELLENT - Drafted to EXCELLENT 30 Jun 1939

* Rated Layer Rating 3rd Class 26 Sep 1939

HMS VICTORY - Drafted to VICTORY 13 Oct 1939

HMCS ASSINIBOINE - Drafted to ASSINIBOINE 18 Oct 1939

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 22 May 1940

 

HS01

HS02

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HS04

HS05

(HS01-HS04) Articles on the death of AB Henry Sciban

(HS05) Documents from the Service File of Henry Sciban

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

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