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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
BYDWELL, Leslie Wellington, ERA, V25270, RCNVR, MPK - 20 Sep 1943, HMCS ST CROIX - Son of Frederick and Alice Bydwell, of Montreal, Province of Quebec; husband of Rita Annette Bydwell, of Saint John, New Brunswick.
Engine Room Artificer Bydwell died when HMCS ST CROIX was sunk on 20 Sep 1943 by U-305. Of her crew of 149, there was only 1 survivor.
Note: HMCS ST CROIX was sunk on 20 Sep 1943 and the survivors were picked up by HMS ITCHEN K277 which was in turn sunk on 23 Sep 1943. Other than a couple crew that were identified by the sole survivor of ST CROIX as having been on ITCHEN it is not known which crew members died in the sinking of ITCHEN so all ST CROIX crew are listed as having died on 20 Sep 1943.
Citation for Mentioned in Despatches:
BYDWELL, Leslie Wellington, Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer Third Class, V25270, Mention in Despatches, RCNVR, HMCS ST CROIX - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 28 November 1942 and London Gazette of 25 November 1942
"For good services and devotion to duty in maintaining a high speed when chasing enemy U-Boat, thus materially assisting in its eventual destruction."
Ships served in: MONTREAL DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 01 Feb 1940 as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, V5681, RCNVR * Discharged 20 Feb 1940 MONTREAL DIVISION RCNVR - Re-enlisted 12 Mar 1940 * Commenced Active Service 12 Mar 1940 as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, V25270, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 12 Mar 1940 HMCS ST CROIX - Drafted to ST CROIX 24 Sep 1940 * Rated ERA 3rd Class, RCNVR 12 Mar 1942. Seniority adjusted to 17 Jan 1942 HMCS AVALON - Drafted to AVALON 07 Jun 1942 HMCS ST CROIX - Drafted to ST CROIX 23 Jun 1942
(LWB001) Article on Leslie Bydwell // The Saint John Telegraph Journal // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me (LWB002) Service file for Leslie Bydwell // Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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