Lieutenant Glassco replied to this letter with a full and detailed description of how each man met his death. Stating, “Although the Navy records these men as missing, they are in fact dead,” and he would continue to refer to his men as deceased. The letters were accepted as written and forwarded on March 11.
The following letter was received at the Beck family home in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia:
It is with deepest sympathy that I write to you regarding the death of your husband.
Moyle was killed whilst carrying out his duties at action stations during an attack on the Ship by an enemy submarine.
During my short association with him I soon came to appreciate his qualities as a Seaman. He was at all times cheerful and efficient in carrying out his duties, and his loss is deeply felt by all of the Ship’s Company.
Due to the nature of the attack, it was not possible to recover the bodies of the casualties sustained during the action.
It is very difficult on occasions such as this to adequately express one’s feelings and those of the Ship’s Company but you will, I know, feel proud that Moyle died bravely in the service of his Country.
The Ship’s Company join with me in sending you our sincere sympathy. [25]
For the crew of Trentonian, the voyage home began on March 8, 1945. They boarded the troopship Aquitania (a converted ocean liner) at the Clyde. Stoker Bill Shields recalls that, although this was a voyage home on one of the greatest liners of the time, they were still sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy and there was still a war to be fought, so each man was assigned watches and duties during the seven-day crossing.[26]
On arrival at Halifax, the Trentonians from Nova Scotia were sent home. The remaining men were to return home by train. The crew was given a private coach for the trip. They stopped in New Brunswick and Quebec to allow the men from those areas off. When it arrived at Toronto, the crew was dispersed to the rest of Canada for their survivors’ leave.[27]
On March 17, the families of the six men killed were sent a letter from the secretary of the Navy Board. The Catherine family in Windsor, Ontario received the following letter:
Further to my letter of the 25th of February, 1945. I regret to inform you that in view of the length of time which has elapsed since your son, Robert Thomas Cathrine, Able Seaman, Royal Canadian Naval Voluntary Reserve, was reported missing from H.M.C.S. TRENTONIAN, the fact that all circumstances surrounding the mishap have been carefully reviewed, and as no information has since been received of his having survived, the Canadian Naval Authorities have now presumed his death to have occurred on the 22nd of February, 1945.
H.M.C.S. TRENTONIAN, a Royal Canadian Navy corvette was torpedoed and sunk by an enemy U-boat, while on convoy escort duty.
One Officer was killed in action and five ratings, including your son, were lost at this time, with 95 Officers and men, including injured, having survived the disaster.
The news of the sinking of this ship is being released shortly, but it is requested that you will regard this information as confidential until an official announcement is made.
May I express sincere sympathy with you in your bereavement on behalf of the Minister of National Defence for Naval Services, the Chief of the Naval Staff and the Officers and men of the Royal Canadian Navy, the high traditions of which your son has helped to maintain.
News of Trentonian’s loss was released two days later, on March 26, 1945. The citizens of Trenton first heard the tragic news of their ship at the same time as the rest of Canada through a press release.[28]
Mayor Cory ordered the flags lowered to half mast in the city as a mark of respect to the men who had been killed and sent the following cable to Lt. Glassco:
Just heard news of sinking of Trentonian with loss of one officer and five ratings, also heroic attitude of the men during the ordeal, Trenton is proud of the record of her ship and crew which has been followed by the citizens, mourns with the families of the brave boys who were lost and rejoice with those who were saved.[29]
On March 28, 1945 official notification of Trentonian’s loss was sent to the city:
The department of National Defence for Naval Services regrets to announce the loss of H.M.C.S. Trentonian, whose sponsorship the citizens of Trenton had so graciously undertaken.
The Department takes this opportunity to express its sincere thanks for the kindness and generosity of the good people of Trenton in providing for the comfort and welfare of the crew of this corvette.[30]
The citizens of Trenton had sent a considerable amount of gifts to the ship since before it was commissioned and had continued to enthusiastically support Trentonian. Several crates of gifts were still in transit to the ship when it was lost.
With Trentonian no longer able to receive shipments, the authorities sent them to the person marked on the crates, “Attention Lieutenant Commander Harrison.” The parcels were received by Trentonian’s first commanding officer and distributed to the crew of his new ship, Joliette.[31]
Lieutenant Glassco returned to Canada and, after his survivors’ leave, was promoted to lieutenant-commander and given command of Star, the Naval Reserve Unit in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario.
From Hamilton, Glassco sent his final letter to the City of Trenton:
At the time of writing to you on March 9th I was, for security reasons, unable to mention anything concerning the sinking of Trentonian. Since then, it has been announced from Naval Service Headquarters, so I should like very much to once again thank you and your committee for your generosity and kindness to the Ship’s Company since Trentonian was commissioned.
The newspaper accounts have given a very full and accurate account of the action, and you may well feel proud of the way the Officers and Men conducted themselves under stress.
I know that you will be interested in continuing with your support, and in this connection there are two men who are in the Royal Cornwall Infirmary at Truro, Cornwall, both of whom are quite severely wounded, and both of whom, would I am sure, be glad to hear from you.
These are: Petty Officer Edwin Thorogood, RCNVR, Stoker, Sidney C. Atkinson, RCNVR.
It is expected that both men will be in hospital for some little time and, would therefore be most appreciated of any comforts such as cigarettes, candy, etc., which you could send to them.
P.S. May I also say that your kind letter to my wife was much appreciated.[32]
Stoker Sidney Atkinson would require five surgeries over the next two years for his wounds.[33]
Some of the other wounded men required extended hospital stays as well; OS Doug Campbell remained in hospital with a head injury for many weeks and returned to Canada later. Campbell’s cousin had asked several young ladies from his work in Ottawa to write and help cheer his cousin up. On return to Canada, Campbell met one of his pen pals and they were later married. Campbell suffered for many years from the headaches associated with his injury.[34]
The bond between the crew of Trentonian and the community of Trenton did not end with the loss of the ship. Support for the men in hospital continued, and months after the sinking, the following letter from Ed Thorogood was published in the local newspaper.
Thank you very much for the excellent parcel of candy and cigarettes which I much appreciated. Please convey my very sincere thanks to the pupils of Grade 12.
It was very good of Lieutenant-Commander Glassco to forward my name. Although it will be some considerable time before I am fully recovered, I expect to be moved from here to a Canadian Base Hospital in the very near future, from where I can be repatriated by hospital ship.
I shan’t mind completing my cure in Canada one bit. I have been well treated over here, and before my accident had a good time visiting relatives of mine in this country; but all the same I am looking forward to getting back home.
Thank you again for your kind thoughts and wishing all in Trenton High School all the very best.
For many months the Trenton paper published stories about Trentonian and
the connection between ship and community, reflecting the sense of loss shared by a community that was so closely involved in the support and welfare of their ship and the men who sailed in her.
One of the final articles published in the Trenton Courier Advocate sums up this story and the special relationship in a single poignant statement:
Trenton — yes, all of Canada is proud of them, for they upheld the finest traditions of the Navy.
Epilogue
Over the years that followed Trentonian’s sinking, many of the men who served in the ship would visit the local Legion whenever they passed through Eastern Ontario to express their gratitude first hand.
The Corvette Committee was dissolved, but the support for the navy continued through the local branch of the Navy League of Canada. During the war, a Sea Cadet Corps was formed, called Royal Canadian Seas Cadet Corps Trent. In 1993, a Navy League Cadet Corps was formed for younger children and named after the community’s own ship, Navy League Cadet Corps Trentonian. Both cadet corps remain active today.
The crew members themselves kept in touch with each other in the years following the war. But it was not until 1979, when the City of Trenton invited their adopted sons home, that the crew of Trentonian had an official reunion.
Prior to the reunion, Walter Gregory and Mike Ticehurst interviewed many members of the crew, gathering as much information as they could, and wrote a book titled, Memories of HMCS TRENTONIAN, Trenton’s Own Ship. The book was published by Branch 110, Trenton, Royal Canadian Legion, and was presented to the crew.
A second reunion took place in 1985 to coincide with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy. The third reunion of the crew was in 1990, and at that time the City of Trenton unveiled a memorial stone at the local cenotaph dedicated to Trentonian and the six men killed on February 22, 1945.
The last reunion of Trentonian took place during the summer of 2002 in Trenton. The highlight of the weekend was a memorial service and parade through the streets of Trenton involving over 250 military personnel. The parade was headed by the National Naval Reserve Band of Canada and included the sea cadet band and colour party from HMCS Ontario in Kingston, and the Air Cadet Band from Trenton. A contingent of regular forces members from CFB Trenton and Naval Reserve members from Cataraqui in Kingston, as well as local sea cadets and Navy League cadets were also in attendance. Many of the crew commented that seeing the various cadet corps names on the cap tallies of the cadets reminded them of their own days as sea cadets prior to joining the navy.
The Cenotaph in Trenton has a memorial stone dedicated to HMCS Trentonian. This picture was taken during the reunion of its crew in 2002. A sailor’s cap was placed by a survivor of Trentonian on the memorial stone, in memory of each man killed.
Photo courtesy Corporal Jim Jordan.
Rear-Admiral David Morse, commandant of the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, represented the Canadian Navy and laid a wreath at the stone dedicated to the ship. Five black sailors’ caps and one officer’s cap were placed on top of the memorial stone by a member of the crew, as the name of each man killed was called out. The brass bell from NLCC Trentonian was rung six times, once for each man, in a moving ceremony to honour the sacrifice made by their shipmates.
The wreck of Trentonian lies in the English Channel near Falmouth and has been well-marked on charts. The wreck is protected under the international laws concerning war graves. In 2004, a British dive team under diver Nick Jewson was able to survey the ship.
The Royal Canadian Navy celebrated its one hundredth anniversary in 2010, and during that year presented each community in Canada that had a ship named for it a plaque honouring the ship and the community. The city invited the crew of Trentonian to accept the plaque on the community’s behalf and four Trentonians were able to attend. The plaque is proudly displayed at the entrance to council chambers at Quinte West City Hall.
Trentonian crew members attending the 2002 reunion in Trenton. Front row (left to right): Stoker Bill Shields , AB Gordon Simpson, AB Eric Muff, Stoker Bruce Keir, and Signalman Jack MacIver. Back Row (left to right): AB James Rickard, A/RA Joe Gosskie, AB Gordon Gibbons, Telegraphist Tom Farrell, PO James Erwin, Vince Callandar (HMCS Lindsay), Signalman Jack Harold, and Stoker Sid Coates.
Photo courtesy Rhonda Litwiller.
The painting on the cover of this book has been presented to the citizens of Trenton by the artist, Marc Magee. It will be displayed for everyone to enjoy at the main Branch of the Quinte West Public Library in Trenton.
For additional information on HMCS Trentonian, please visit the White Ensign Flying webpage at www.rogerlitwiller.com.
This brings the story of Trentonian to the present. The future has not yet been written. The numbers of the crew have steadily dwindled, with many having joined their shipmates. But with the Royal Canadian Navy looking to the future and new construction of ships, it is possible that once again a Royal Canadian Navy ship will bear the proud name of Trentonian.
When that day comes, the heart and soul of the new ship will gather its strength from the men who served with pride, dedication, and sacrifice in His Majesties Canadian Ship Trentonian, for they truly have upheld the finest traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy.
During the one-hundredth Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy in 2010, the RCN gave each community in Canada that has had a ship named for it a plaque in recognition of the cooperation and heritage between the navy and the communities. The City of Quinte West, which Trenton is now part of, invited the crew of Trentonian to the ceremony and to accept and unveil the plague. Four Trentonians were able to attend, (left to right): AB Gordon Gibbons, AB Eric Muff, Stoker Bill Shields, and PO Jim Erwin.
Photo courtesy Rhonda Litwiller
Honour Roll
Leading Seaman Moyle Kitchener Beck, RCNR
From: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Age: 28
Status: Missing, Presumed Dead, February 22, 1945
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Able Seaman Robert Thomas Catherine, RCNVR
From: Windsor, Ontario
Age: 19
Status: Missing, Presumed Dead, February 22, 1945
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Leading Seaman John Alfred Founier, RCNVR
From: Windsor, Ontario
Age: 21
Status: Missing, Presumed Dead, February 22, 1945
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Leading Seaman Colin Bancroft Harvey, RCNR
From: Seal Cove, New Brunswick
Age: 23
Status: Missing, Presumed Dead, February 22, 1945
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Stoker John McCormick, RCNVR
From: Belleville, Ontario
Age: 19
Status: Missing, Presumed Dead, February 22, 1945
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Lieutenant Gordon Kent Stephens, RCNVR
From: Toronto, Ontario
Age: 24
Status: Killed in Action, February 22, 1945
Buried: Falmouth Cemetery
Photo courtesy of the Family of Maurice Campbell.
Leading Seaman Aubrey Calland Wells, RCNVR
From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Age: 29
Status: Deceased, November 16, 1944
Buried: Cardiff Western Cemetery
Photo credit: A. Singleton, courtesy of Jack Harold.
Appendix 1: Medals and Awards
Acting Temporary Lieutenant-Commander William Edward Harrison, RCNVR
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The King has been graciously pleased on the Occasion of the Celebration of His Majesty’s Birthday to give orders for the following awards for gallantry or outstanding service in the face of the enemy, or for zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters, and for setting an example of wholehearted devotion to d
uty upholding the high tradition of the Royal (Canadian) Navy.
Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class Douglas Excell, RCNVR
Mention-In-Dispatches
Following the torpedoing of his ship HMCS Trentonian, this rating remained behind at risk of his own life to assist in the removal of the wounded men from the quarterdeck. This action is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Acting Engine Room Artificer George Goar, RCNR
Mention-In-Dispatches
After the torpedoing of HMCS TRENTONIAN, this rating showed extreme courage in helping the wounded survivors from the ship to a Carley float, and then took charge of the party until rescue was effected. Although a non-swimmer, he showed disregard for his own safety throughout. His bravery and gallantry are well worthy of commendation.
Warrant Engineer Hamilton Francis Hindle, RCN
Mention-In-Dispatches
As engineer Officer of HMCS Trentonian when she was torpedoed in February, 1945, Mr. Hindle displayed integrity and zeal to a marked degree. In clearing the engine room of all its personnel after the order “Abandon Ship” had been given, he remained until the last moment without thought of personal risk.
Lieutenant William Burnley Kinsman, RCNVR
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