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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
MacLEAN, Donald Archibald - On February 11, 2006 Don MacLean passed away peacefully beside his loving family at the age of 81. Don will be lovingly remembered by his loving wife Yolande; children Jack (Laureen) MacLean, Brian (Claudette) MacLean, Cheryl (Brian) Strain, Michelle MacLean (Al Reese), Yolanda (Greg) Engel; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild. A Prayer Service will be held Tuesday, February 14, 2006, 8:00 p.m. at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church, 9420 - 163 Street. The Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 10:30 a.m. at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, 10985 - 124 Street, T5M 0H9, or the Kidney Foundation of Canada, #101, 10642 - 178 Street, T5S 9Z9. Howard & McBride Westlawn Chapel 484-5500
Don was born in Lloydminster Alberta. He joined the Navy in Sept 1941 in Saskatoon. As he was underage, a pharmacist with whom he was acquainted with modified his birth certificate from 1924 to 1923. However he wasn’t called up until Feb 1942. He reported to HMCS Unicorn in Saskatoon with the RCNVR. After basic training and Seamanship classes, they were posted to Naden for Gunnery training, marksmanship and close combat for about 4 months. They then went to the town of Prince Rupert then Vancouver with Combined Ops. After about 6 months he was sent to Victoria to join HMCS Prince Rupert. She departed almost immediately for the east coast to Halifax via Panama. Among seamanship duties, Don was assigned to the 4-inch gun to supply ammo. When training was completed they joined the convoys between Newfoundland and Londonderry Ireland. Fifteen crossings were made without being attacked once until they were near the Azores when they joined the hunt for U-575.
After the war he faithfully attended the Prince Rupert shipmate reunions. After one of the last reunions he attended he brought back a CD with a song written by one of the former crew members (whose name is no longer remembered) called The Fighting P.R.
Submitted by Donald's son, John (Jack) MacLean
Ships served in: HMCS PRINCE RUPERT - Donald was serving in PRINCE RUPERT when she took part in the sinking U-575 on 13 Mar 1944 north of the Azores.
(DM01-DM03) Donald MacLean
DM04 (DM04) Article on sailors from HMCS UNICORN drafted to the west coast
(DM01) Tot issue on HMCS PRINCE RUPERT K324 (DM02) PRINCE RUPERT sailors in from of The Glenn Inn, est 1785 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland (DM03-DM04) The sinking of U-575 (DM05) Excerpt from an unknown book on the sinking of U-575 and a problem with the Jimmy
DM10 (DM10) Don's Physical Training and Recreational Instructor Course. Don is in the back row, 2nd from the right
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