Shirley Ellis (Shirl) Colburn, Able Seaman Radar Operator 3rd Class, RCNVR

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

Shirley Ellis (Shirl) Colburn

Able Seaman Radar Operator 3rd Class, V25587, RCNVR

Born: 03 Jul 1920, Oxford, Nova Scotia, Canada

Died: 12 Jun 1996, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada

Served in the RCNVR 06 Aug 1940 - 26 Nov 1945

Awards and Decorations: 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star and Clasp Star, Pacific Star, CVSM and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Hero of the Soviet Union medal

COLBURN, Shirley Ellis (Shirl) - 75, Tatamagouche, died June 12, 1996, in Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital, Tatamagouche. Born in Oxford, he was the eldest son of the late A.D. (Bob) and Ola E. (Hills) Colburn. Educated at Margaret King School Pugwash Junction, he moved to Tatamagouche with his family in 1939 and soon after joined the Canadian Navy. His war service took him to many theatres of war from the Battle of the St. Lawrence to the Pacific. Being one of the youngest radar operators in the Canadian Navy he transferred to the British Navy where he served on the HMS Jamaica and the HMS Sheffield which took him into the Russian campaign on the famous Murmansk Run. At the height of the war he sailed from England to New York on the Queen Mary as a guard for Sir Winston Churchill on his way to meet President Franklin Roosevelt and Josef Stalin. His final ship was HMCS Uganda, Canada's only cruiser which took part in the pacific campaign. Following the war, he built and operated Colburn's Restaurant on Main Street, Tatamagouche. Later he joined the provincial government as a Registry of Motor Vehicles Examiner and Driver Improvement Officer. Following retirement, he pursued his hobby of wood carving and his carving productions are well known. He was co-founder of Willow Lodge Nursing Home and served on the board for many years. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 64 Tatamagouche; a member of HMCS Uganda Association; a member of Nova Scotia Retired Employees Association; a supporter of the Presbyterian Church and the Parkinson's Foundation Truro Chapter. Surviving are his wife, the former Margaret Lockerby; daughter, Shirley Anne and husband, Alfredo Pietrini, Edmonton, Alta; sons, Alan D. and wife Donna, Amherst; Paul, Tatamagouche; grandchildren, Denise, Allison, Adam, Erin, Eric, Antonio; sister-in-law, Kathryn Lockerby, Tatamagouche; brother-in-law, Alan Lockerby and wife Grace, Tatamagouche; sister, Gloria Randall, brother, George Edwin, both of Tatamagouche; cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother, Arthur; sister, Donalda Colburn. Cremation has taken place. Committal service will be held Saturday, June 22, 1996, 11 a.m. in Lockerby Memorial Cemetery, Tatamagouche, Rev. David Stewart officiating and the Royal Canadian Legion branch 64 will hold a tribute service at 2 p.m. Saturday in the legion hall, legion president Alden Fisher and Rev. Dr. W.J.O. Isaac officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice would be gratefully received. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Coulters Funeral Home, Tatamagouche. (The Halifax Chronicle Herald 14 Jun 1996 page D16 / Researched by George Newbury)

Shirl's younger brother, George Colburn, served in the RCN after the Second World War.

Ships served in:

* Commenced Active Service as an Ordinary Telegraphist, RCNVR

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 06 Aug 1940

* Transferred. Rated Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR 08 Oct 1940

HMCS SANKATY - Drafted to SANKATY 21 Oct 1940

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 10 Jan 1941

HMCS SAMBRO - Drafted to SAMBRO 28 Oct 1941

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 10 Nov 1941

* Rated Radio Direction Finder Operator 2nd Class, RCNVR 24 Mar 1943

HMCS SUMMERSIDE - Drafted to SUMMERSIDE 03 Apr 1942

* Rated Able Seaman, RCNVR 21 Feb 1942 (backdated)