For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar 

 

Glendon Austin Oliver

 

RCNVR

 

Born: 12 Aug 1925          Died: 18 Jun 1995

 

Ships served in:

HMCS JOLIETTE

 

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(1) Seaman Oliver  (2) "The Georgie, 1943" - A dance in Glasgow  (3) Glendon Austin Oliver G1256  (4) Chick and I (Glendon Oliver) at training centre in Fredericton, NB  (5-6) A postcard from Bermuda  (7) St. John's, NFLD  (8) Fishing Schooner out of St. John's, NFLD

 

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(9-11) Postcards from Edinburgh

 


 

In Memory of HMS Jervis Bay

 

 

Memorial service at sea at the spot where she was sunk

 

Photos of a memorial service held on board the Armed Merchant Ship Voltair for the officers and men who were lost in the sinking of HMS Jervis Bay.

 

Historical Note:  HMS Jervis Bay was an armed merchant cruiser and was the sole escort for the 38 ship Convoy HX-84 from Halifax to the UK. On 5 Nov 1940, the convoy encountered the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.  Hopelessly outgunned, Captain Fegen of the Jervis Bay gave the order for the convoy to scatter, and the Jervis Bay attacked the Admiral Scheer in order to give time for the convoy to escape. Captain Fegen went down with the Jervis Bay and three days later 68 survivors of her crew of 254 were picked up by a neutral Swedish ship Stureholm. Three of the survivors later died of their injuries. The sacrifice of made by the Jervis Bay and her crew allowed the convoy time to escape and Admiral Scheer managed to sink only 5 merchant ships.

 

Captain Fegen was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross as a result of this action. The citation for his award reads: "for valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect. On the 5th of November, 1940, in heavy seas, Captain Fegen, in His Majesty's Armed Merchant Cruiser Jervis Bay, was escorting thirty-eight Merchantmen. Sighting a powerful German warship he at once drew clear of the Convoy, made straight for the Enemy, and brought his ship between the Raider and her prey, so that they might scatter and escape. Crippled, in flames, unable to reply, for nearly an hour the Jervis Bay held the German's fire. So she went down: but of the Merchantmen all but four or five were saved."

 

Courtesy of Keith Oliver

 


 

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