They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Henry Purvis

 

Ordinary Seaman, 3585, RCN

 

Born: 21 Jan 1921, Ryton, Durham, England

 

Died: 01 Dec 1940 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

PURVIS, Henry OS, 3585, RCN, killed - 01 Dec 1940 - HMCS SAGUENAY - Son of Henry and Ellen Louisa Purvis, of New Westminster, British Columbia.

 

OS Purvis was killed when HMCS SAGUENAY, while escorting convoy HG.47, was torpedoed by the Italian submarine Argo 300 miles west of Ireland. With her bows wrecked and 21 dead, SAGUENAY made Barrow-in-Furness largely under her own power, and was under repairs until 22 May 1941. His body was recovered and he was buried in Barrow, Lancashire, England on 14 Dec 1940.

 

Ordinary Seaman Henry Purvis tried to enlist into the navy two times in 1937 but was not accepted until January 15, 1940. He was born in County Durham England and the family move to British Columbia, in 1928 and settled in Merrett. He was educated at Merritt Public and High School, Merrett, B.C. He was unmarried and is survived by his mother, Mrs. E. L. Purvis, New Westminster, B.C.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 15 Jan 1940.

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 09 Jul 1940 as an OS, RCN

HMCS SAGUENAY - Drafted to SAGUENAY 10 Jul 1940 as an OS, RCN

 

HP01

HP02

HP03

HP04

HP05

(HP01) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2

(HP02) Letter to OS Purvis' mother

(HP03-HP04) - Letters to OS Purvis' father

(HP05) Headstone for OS PURVIS in the Barrow-in-Furness Cemetery

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

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