|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
ADEY, Kenneth J. (Gordon) - age 94, passed away on July 22nd, 2020 In Creston, B.C. Family Service in Winnipeg, Manitoba at a later date. In lieu of flowers friends and family can make a memorial contribution to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 26 1380 Bertram Street, Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 2G1. Gordon's ashes will be spread at sea at a later date by the RCN.
ADEY, Kenneth Joseph (Gordon) - It is with great love and sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Gordon Adey. Gord passed away peacefully at the age of 94 in Creston, British Columbia, with his daughter Linda by his side. He was survived by his children, Donna Monney (John), Valerie Adey (Peter), Gwendolyn Peers (Arthur), Robert Adey, Linda Lashbrook (Arthur), Michelle Adey and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gord is sadly predeceased by his mother Agnes Adey (nee Parsons, born in Guernsey, Channel Isles), his father Marmaduke Adey (born in Adeytown, Newfoundland), his first wife Leonie Adey (nee Loiselle) and second wife Alice Adey (nee Plamondon). Gordon was born and lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba for many years. He served in the Navy during the Second World War, where he was a submarine detector on the HMS Liscombe and the HMCS Trail in the North Atlantic. After the war, he and Leonie were married at Holy Cross Church, in St. Boniface. He was active in this community and served as a founding board member at the St. Boniface museum. Gord later moved to Kelowna, BC, where he and Alice were married. He was a branch manager of a large general insurance company for 40 years, retiring in Kelowna in 1985. Gord was active member of the Kelowna Naval Veterans Society, the Nordic Ski Club, the Kelowna Naturalist Club and many other organizations. Gordon was an active outdoors person; he loved skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. He enjoyed working out regularly at the gym, starting at the Reh-Fit Centre in Winnipeg, and continuing in BC until he was in his early 90s. Grandpa was quick to laugh, loving and affectionate. We will always remember his stories about the war, hiking with him on Dilworth Mountain and our many games of Chase the Ace. Condolences may be sent to the charity of your choice. (Winnipeg Free Press 08 Aug 2020)
Ships served in:
The First Midshipman In Canada by Kenneth (Gordon) Adey, RCNVR
My name is Kenneth J. Adey but everyone calls me Gordon... figure that one out? I joined the RCNVR in Winnipeg where we lived. It was at the "stone frigate" HMCS Chippewa. I was 17 years and 6 mos old.
The navy was not unfamiliar to me, as I had been in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets as an ordinary seaman and worked my way up to an A.B., L.S., P.O., and coxswain. Then they made me a mid Shipman. (a snotty). I was the first mid shipman in Canada, and after the war was over, I went back to the cadet movement as a Sub Lt.
Now when I joined the RCNVR, I went back to being an ordinary seaman. We took the train along with many other recruits to HMCS Cornwallis in Nova Scotia for basic training. We arrived at St. John and took the ferry across the Bay of Fundy to Digby and then on to Cornwallis.
After basic training our group was assigned to become gunners, stokers, etc. I was chosen to be a submarine detector. (Asdics) and when I was finished that training, I was sent on a one-man draft to Louisburg, N.S. to pick up a Royal Navy Minesweeper, the HMS Liscomb. We sailed south to Boston where we took on supplies. Then on to St. John's Newfoundland for North Atlantic convoy duty.
On one convoy, we were escorting six slow ships to mid Atlantic where we would be relieved by other ships that would then take them to England. On the way, I picked up a strong echo or "ping", and action stations were called. We continued the run and all of a sudden the echo faded and disappeared. It was obvious to me I had picked up a huge school of fish, likely cod as we were off the Grand Banks area. So I called up to the Bridge to disregard- almost immediately the stern rail depth charges were dropped and tremendous explosions of water rose up. The convoy was supposed to remain in formation but as soon as they heard and saw the explosion, they dispersed as fast as they could go!
There was an informal inquiry as to why the depth charges were dropped and the Rating said he heard me yell up the voice pipe to "ditch the charge"! I'd really said, "Disregard". He said it was "just another colonial who couldn't speak the King's English"! A year later when we went into Halifax harbour I was drafted off the Liscomb and picked up HMCS TRAIL, a Canadian Corvette where I remained until the end of the war.
I was the only Canadian on the Liscomb but they all treated me real well, and just like one of them. My only regret is that I never got any of their England addresses and I would sure like to know where they are and what they are doing.
K.J. Adey
|
