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HMCS OTTER
S04
Armed
Yacht
HMCS OTTER
RCN Neg # IH 8575-09
Courtesy of the Naval Museum of
Halifax
OTTER arriving at Halifax under the Red Ensign as
Conseco. No photo of her as a naval vessel has been found. Photo
description from "Ships of Canada's Naval Forces
1910-1981" by Ken Macpherson & John Burgess
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Launched: 1921
Commissioned: 04
Oct 1940
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Fate:
Sunk on 26 Mar 1941 |
Named Conseco, she was built in 1921 by Robert Jacob,
City Island, NY. After acquired by the RCN, she was renamed OTTER. OTTER
accompanied MOOSE to
Quebec City for conversion and arming, returning to Halifax on 02
Oct 1940, to be commissioned two days later for service with
Halifax Local Defence Force. She was destroyed by accidental
explosion and fire off Halifax Lightship on 26 Mar 1941, with the
loss of two officers and 17 men.
Photos and Documents
Commanding Officers
Lt Dennis Sinclair Mossman, RCNR - 04 Oct 1940 - 26 Mar 1941
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
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ARMSTRONG,
Irvine C.
Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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BLYTH, John
M.
OS, RCNVR
killed - 26 Mar 1941 |
D'EON,
Gerald J.
VA, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
DARRACH,
Ronald M.
PO.MM, RCNR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
DAY,
Alexander E.
O/Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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DREW,
John G.
M.M., RCNR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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GILLIS,
Daniel E.
Chief MM, RCNR
killed - 26 Mar 1941 |
GRAHAM,
John E.
AB, RCNR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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JOHNSTON,
Beverley
Electrician, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
LAURIN,
Lucien J. A.
OS, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
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MABEY, Elmer
A.
Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
MASON,
Dudley H.
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
O'HARA,
Wallace I.
OS, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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PARKER,
Andrew F.
Ch Skpr, RCNR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941
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STUART,
Lionel E.
Sto 1c, RCNR
MPK - 26 Mar 1941 |
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THIBAUDEAU,
Placid
OS, RCNVR
killed - 26 Mar 1941 |
WALKER,
Alan M.
Lt, RCNVR
killed - 26 Mar 1941
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WALL,
Edward T.
Sto 1c, RCNR
killed
- 26 Mar 1941 |
WOODS,
Norman G.
OS, RCNVR
killed - 26 Mar 1941 |
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
(s)
- Survived the sinking of HMCS OTTER
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Bennett,
William T. (s)
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Bullock,
Harold L.
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Dearden,
Arthur N.
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Duncan,
James A.
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Guildford,
Thomas K. (s)
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Holmes,
Arthur G. (s)
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Jackson,
Ernest J.
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Kitchen, Cyril
F.
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Ward,
Thomas G. (s)
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White,
George E. (s)
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Woodbury,
Eric (s)
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Former Crew Members
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Clark,
William C., Stoker, RCNR (s)
Duberger,
Gerard A., OS, RCNVR (s)
Edwards,
Earl J., AB (s)
Hunter,
William E., Sig, RCNVR (s)
Martin,
Hilary J., O/Sig, RCNVR (s)
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Miller,
Murray B., LS, RCN (s)
Murphy,
Donald A., AB, RCNR (s)
Noade,
James J., Stoker, RCNR (s)
Russell,
Ernest, Prob. Steward, RCNR (s)
Slavin,
John J., OS, RCNVR (s) |
Snelgrove,
D.A., Ch Skpr, RCNR (s)
Stevens,
Leslie., LS, RCNVR (s)
Sutton,
James D., Cook (S), RCNR (s)
Valliquette,
James R., OS, RCNVR (s)
Welsh,
John E., MM, RCNVR (s) |
Photos and Documents
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HMCS OTTER
Source: The
Legion Magazine
Credit: Library and Archives of Canada
PA 139114
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HMCS OTTER Casualty List
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photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
(1)Newspaper Article on the Sinking of HMCS
OTTER
(2-3) Newspaper Article on the Sinking of HMCS OTTER (4) Article on the rescue of HMCS
OTTER survivors
Hamilton Spectator, 27 Mar 1941
Note
from the Canadian Virtual War Museum - A list of the 19 sailors who died
when an accidental explosion and fire destroyed the HMCS OTTER off Halifax,
Nova Scotia on March 26, 1941. Note: The list has combined information on
two of the sailors, Ronald Darrach and John Gibbs Drew. It should read
Ronald M. Darrach, Motor Mechanic A/1964, son of John Thomas Darrach and
Ethel Rose Darrach, of Halifax, Nova Scotia; husband of Ruby Roberta Darrach,
of Halifax. John Gibbs Drew, Motor Mechanic A/2183, (next of kin) George
Drew (brother), 112 Dunvegan Road, Toronto.
Source:
Canadian Virtual War Museum
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Article on the rescue of HMCS OTTER survivors
Globe and Mail, 29 Mar 1941
Source: Canadian Virtual War Museum
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Newspaper article on the sinking of HMCS OTTER
Globe and Mail 31 Mar 1941
Source: Canadian Virtual War Museum
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Romance Ends in Tragedy
HMCS OTTER Casualty due to be married
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Article on the death of OS John Blyth and O/Sig Norman
Woods
Courtesy of Operation Picture Me
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Burial of OS John Blyth and O/Sig Norman Woods takes
place in Winnipeg
Courtesy of Operation Picture Me
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Newspaper article on two survivors and four casualties
of HMCS OTTER
Survivors: William E. Hunter, Signalman of
Toronto, ON & William C. Clark, Stoker, of Oakville, ON.
Casualties: John G. Drew, Motor Mechanic, of Toronto,
ON: Lt Alan M. Walker, of Toronto, ON; Earle A. Day, Odinary
Telegrapher of Toronto, ON; and Dudley H. Mason, Stoker 1c, of Paris, ON
Courtesy of Operation Picture Me
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Newspaper articles on the loss of HMCS OTTER and her crew (casualties and survivors)
From the collection of William
T. Bennett, CPO.MM, RCNR
Courtesy of David Bennett |
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30 years ago ......
HMCS OTTER burns off Sambro Light
Halifax Mail-Star, Sunday, 03 Apr 1971, pg 7
Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury
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