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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
DEMERS, Honore Wilfrid Joseph, EA 4c, V39334, RCNVR, MPK - 20 Sep 1943, HMCS ST CROIX - Son of J. Ovide and Marie-Jeanne Demers, of Drummondville, Quebec, Canada; husband of Elizabeth C. Demers, of Melrose, Massachusetts, USA
Joe maintained the ship's gyro and was nicknamed "Gyro Joe".
Electrical Artificer Demers died when HMCS ST CROIX was sunk on 20 Sep 1943 by U-305. Of her crew of 149, there was only 1 survivor. HMCS ST CROIX was sunk on 20 Sep 1943 and the survivors were picked up by HMS ITCHEN K277 which was in turn sunk on 23 Sep 1943. Other than a couple crew members that were identified by the sole survivor of ST CROIX as having been on ITCHEN it is not known which crew members died in the sinking of ITCHEN so all ST CROIX crew are listed as having died on 20 Sep 1943.
Ships served in: HMCS MONTREAL - Enlisted 11 Jun 1942 * Commenced active service 29 Jun 1942 as an Electrical Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR HMCS CORNWALLIS (HMCS STADACONA for) - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 30 Jun 1942 HMCS ST CROIX - Drafted to ST CROIX 21 Nov 1942
(HWJD001) Petty Officer Electrical Artificer Joe Demers (HWJD002) Service file for Joe Demers // Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
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