For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 

They made the Ultimate Sacrifice 

 

Gordon Hayes Morrell

 

Leading Seaman, 15709, RCN

 

Born: 31 Oct 1944, Alberton, Prince Edward Island

 

Died: 03 Dec 1969

 

Book of Remembrance

 

MORRELL, Gordon Hayes, LS, 15709, RCN, died - 03 Dec 1969, HMCS BONAVENTURE - Son of Leonard and Gertrude (nee Smith) Morrell of Alberton, PEI; rother of David, William, Garry, Eugene, Blair, Lorne, Robert, Sidney, Perry and Donald; husband of Diane Josephine Morrell and father of Lee-Anne and Lisa Morrell of Halifax, NS.

 

On 03 Dec 1969, during the ship’s decommissioning cruise, the aviation fuel tanks (AVGAS) on HMCS BONAVENTURE were required to be emptied and cleaned. Tragically, one fuel tank did not vent properly, and the first two sailors who entered the fuel tank were overcome by deadly fumes. A second pair of sailors lost their lives during the rescue attempt.

 

LS Morrell is buried in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville, NS

 

Ships served in:

HMCS BONAVENTURE

 


 

In Service of Canada - RCN Peacetime Casualty Index

 

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