They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
CALLAN, William Edward, Lt, RCNVR, MPK - 24 Nov 1944, HMCS SHAWINIGAN - Son of William Callan, and of Minnie A. Callan, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Lt Callan died when HMCS SHAWINIGAN was sunk by U-1228 on 24 Nov 1944. Of her crew of 91, there were no survivors. Callan Lake (54 B/2), northeast of Shamattawa, Manitoba was named after him in 1962.
Lieutenant William Edmund Callan of Winnipeg was 30 years old and is commemorated at the Halifax Memorial. He was the son of William and Minnie A. Callan of Winnipeg, who was officially reported missing when H.M.C.S. Shawinigan on which he was serving was lost November 24, 1944, has now been reported presumed dead. Lieutenant Callan had been on active service on the Pacific and Atlantic for most of WWII. He enlisted with the R.C.N.V.R. in May, 1940, as an Ordinary Seaman Service number V9875. He was promoted to Sub-Lieut. on January 01, 1943. He was born in Winnipeg and attended Lord Roberts and Kelvin schools, also Success Business College and the Angus School of Commerce. He was a member of the Winnipeg Yacht club. Prior to enlistment, he was employed as a bookkeeper by Neaman's Fur Company. Besides his mother he is survived by a sister, Rita. (The Winnipeg Tribune December 07, 1942).
Ships served in: WINNIPEG DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 31 May 1940. Commenced Active Service 05 Jul 1940 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 21 Sep 1940 * Rated Ordinary Signalman, RCNVR 14 Nov 1940 VANCOUVER DIST - Drafted to VANCOUVER DIST 16 Jan 1941 * Rated SIGNALMAN 14 Jun 1941 HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 14 Nov 1941 NOIC PRINCE RUPERT - Drafted to NOIC PRINCE RUPERT 09 Dec 1941 HMCS CHATHAM - Drafted to CHATHAM 01 Apr 1942 HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 06 May 1942 Discharged 09 Aug 1942 - Promoted to Prob. Sub-Lieutenant, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Appointed to NADEN 10 Aug 1942 HMCS KINGS - Appointed to KINGS 20 Aug 1942 for Training and Disposal HMCS SHAWINIGAN - Appointed to SHAWINIGAN 15 Dec 1942 * Appointed Lieutenant, RCNVR 10 Aug 1943 * Appointed Executive Officer HMCS SHAWINIGAN 11 Oct 1943 * Appointed Commanding Officer HMCS SHAWINIGAN 15 Mar 1944 * Appointed Executive Officer HMCS SHAWINIGAN 06 Jun 1944
(WC01) Lt Callan presumed dead - The Winnipeg Evening Tribune (WC02) Documents from the Service File of William Callan
Second World War Casualty Index
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