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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
MCNEIL, John James, Sto 2c, V59518, RCNVR, killed - 29 Apr 1944, HMCS ATHABASKAN - Son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence McNeil of New Victoria, Nova Scotia.
Stoker McNeil died when his ship, HMCS ATHABASKAN, was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on 29 Apr 1944. He survived and was captured by German Naval Forces and was brought ashore at Landéda, France, but died of his injuries soon thereafter. He was buried in the Landéda Communal Cemetery, Finistere, France.
John MacNeil Missing, now reported dead - New Waterford, Sept. 14 - John MacNeil, R.C.N.V.R., was reported missing on H.M.C.S. Athabaskan when it went down in the English Channel in April, is now officially reported dead, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Laurence MacNeil, New Victoria.
The prominent New Victoria couple received the word this week that their son is dead and is buried in France. His body was recovered from the sea on April 29th and he was buried in France the same day. This news was confirmed by an R.C.N.V.R. officer, recently returned from France, who saw his grave.
A coincidence is the fact that the boy's uncle is also buried in France. He was killed in France in the first battle in which he fought in the last war. This was also the young sailor's first battle, and he, like his father's brother, now likewise lie buried in France "in a spot that shall be forever Canada."
The twenty-year old had been in the Navy only one year previous to his passing. He was educated at St. Joseph's School, New Victoria and worked in No 18 Colliery before enlisting in the Navy in April 1943. He sailed overseas in January 1944.
Besides his bereaved parents, Mr. and Mrs. Laurence MacNeil, New Victoria, he is survived by one sister, Margaret, and two brothers, Michael and Paul, all at home.
His father is serving in the Veterans Guard of Canada, but is now home on leave, having been called home by the sad news concerning his son. (Transcription from article below)
Ships served in: HMCS STADACONA - Enlisted 20 Apr 1943 as a Sto 2nd Class, RCNVR HMCS PROTECTOR II - Drafted to PROTECTOR II 25 Apr 1943 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 09 Jun 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 14 Aug 1943 HMCS YORK - Drafted to YORK 06 Nov 1943 HMS PERSIAN (Royal Navy Algerine Class Minesweeper) - Drafted to PERSION 25 Nov 1943 HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 23 Jan 1944 HMCS ATHABASKAN - Drafted to ATHABASKAN 11 Feb 1944
(JM01) Source: VAC CVWM. Submitted by: Douglas E. MacLean, Sydney, NS (JM02) In Memoriam - John Joseph McNeil by Scott Young, Globe and Mail 13 March 1974 (JM03) Documents from the Service File of John McNeil
Second World War Casualty Index
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