|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
PERKINS, J. David - 69, of Riverport passed away suddenly in Riverport, N.S. on Sunday, August 13, 2006. Born in Oshawa, Ontario, he was the son of the late John and Eva Perkins. In 1954 at the age of seventeen-and-a-half he joined the Royal Canadian Navy as an Ordinary Seaman in the old Torpedo Detector branch. While serving in the destroyer HMCS Haida he went for a day trip aboard the British submarine HMS Alderney off Bermuda and got hooked on submarines. He then went to England where he served aboard HM Submarines Solent, Scythian and Alliance. While serving in England he met and married his wife, Patsy in 1958. Then in the spring of 1961 they journeyed to Canada. He joined the Canadian O-class submarine HMCS Ojibwa in 1966 where he remained in the first Canadian Submarine Squadron until retiring from the Navy in 1979. At that time he was a Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, Weapons Underwater Technician. While working as a Project Manager for Industrial Services in the Naval Dockyard at Halifax, he started researching Allied submarines in Halifax during World War Two. This led to five years of research that culminated in his first book, Canada's Submariners, 1914-1923. Then he self published two of his own titles, The Canadian Wartime Submariners, and, Submarine Sailor. In 2000 his second trade book, The Canadian Submarine Service in Review was published. After working for an engineering consultancy firm as an Engineering Technician for over twelve years, Dave quit his office job in the summer of 2002 and he and his wife moved to Riverport and set up the Backman House Bed and Breakfast. His free time was divided between answering naval history questions on the internet and constructing a model railway layout and rolling stock. He loved all aspects of nature, especially birds, and enjoyed many happy times watching them on his walks with his dog, Amber. David is survived by his wife, Patsy, daughters, Nicky (Sue), Lesley, Gillian (Daryl), son, Malcolm (Helen), grandchildren, Brooke, Malcolm, Kayla and Heidi and his brother Peter (Trish). There will be a memorial service on Saturday, August 19th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Middle LaHave. Following the service a reception will be held at the family's home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Riverport Volunteer Fire Dept.
Ships served in: HMCS HAIDA - Served in Haida 1955-1956 as ABTD3, RCN HMS SOLENT HMS SCYTHIAN
|
