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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
MCINTYRE, Thomas James L/Ck, V83944, RCNVR killed - 16 Apr 1945, HMCS ESQUIMALT - Son of James and Margaret McIntyre, of Victoria.
LS McIntyre died when his ship, HMCS ESQUIMALT, was torpedoed and sunk by U-190 off the approaches to Halifax harbour. His body was recovered and he was buried in the Veterans Cemetery, Esquimalt, British Columbia
Halifax, May 08 (CP) - Men died unflinchingly that their comrades might have a chance to live, when HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed and sunk last month near Nova Scotia. Such a one was leading cook John McIntyre of Victoria. McIntyre, his shipmates related, joked and jollied the almost-naked, shivering survivors as they reach the Carley float he was on. He helped them scramble aboard with a word for each. "He promised us all T-bone steaks as the boys were getting on" said writer Terence Manuel of Fredericton. Later he fell off, or perhaps slipped off so someone else would have more room on the crowded raft. McIntyre clung to the side about half an hour, then said goodbye, waves and winked feebly, and drifted off to his death, said Manuel quietly. (transcribed from article below)
Thomas' brother, CPO Angus McIntyre, served in the RCN during the Second World War.
Ships served in: HMCS GIVENCHY - Drafted to GIVENCHY 15 May 1942 as a Seaman Cook, Fishermen's Reserve F.R. Vessel SEINER - Drafted to SEINER 30 May 1943 as a Seaman Cook, Fishermen's Reserve * Transferred to the RCNVR as a Cook (Seamen) HMCS CHATHAM - Drafted to CHATHAM 10 Feb 1944 as a Cook (S), RCNVR * Rated L/Cook (S) 11 Feb 1944 F.R. Vessel SEINER - Drafted to SEINER 10 Feb 1944 as a L/Cook (S), RCNVR F.R. Vessel LOYAL I - Drafted to LOYAL I 15 Jun 1944 as a L/Cook (S), RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 03 Jul 1944 as a L/Cook (S), RCNVR HMCS STADACONA II - Drafted to STADACONA II 05 Aug 1944 as a L/Cook (S), RCNVR HMCS ESQUIMALT - Drafted to ESQUIMALT 15 Oct 1944 as a L/Cook (S), RCNVR
Documents from the Service File of Thomas McIntyre
The Globe and Mail 09 May 1945
Second World War Casualty Index
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