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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
STRACHAN, Edward Eloi, Tel, V50046, RCNVR, MPK - 07 May 1944, HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Son of Alexander and Helen Strachan, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Telegraphist Strachan died when his ship, HMCS VALLEYFIELD, was torpedoed and sunk on 07 May 1944 by U-548. Of her crew of 163, there were only 38 survivors.
Telegraphist Edward Eloi Strachan, V50046, 20 years old, the son of Mrs. Helen M. Strachan of Winnipeg. Edward was the namesake of his uncle Edward who was killed in the trenches of World War I at St. Eloi in France, hence his second name of Eloi. Edward attended George V School on Grey Street in Elmwood and later Lord Selkirk High School where he excelled in the Manual Arts. After school, he joined the Remington Typewriter Company as a repairman. Later, when he was of age to join the armed forces, Edward met with the Air Force recruiters, but he was turned down because of his eyesight. However, when he went down to the Winnipeg Division to join the Navy, he was accepted. Initially he served in H.M.C.S. Halifax; however in the spring of 1944, he was later transferred to the Valleyfield. Strachan Lake, south east of Kasba Lake was named after Telegraphist Strachan in 1972. (Ultimate Sacrifice by Robert D'Aoust)
Ships served in: WINNIPEG DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 27 Oct 1941 * Commenced Active Service 29 Dec 1941 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS ST HYACINTHE - Drafted to ST HYACINTHE 18 Feb 1942 Rated Ordinary Telegraphist, RCNVR 18 Apr 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 01 Jul 1942 HMCS HALIFAX - Drafted to HALIFAX 02 Jul 1942 * Rated Telegraphist, RCNVR 29 Dec 1942 * Rated Wireless Telegraphist (Trained Operator) 23 Jan 1944 HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Drafted to VALLEYFIELD 17 Apr 1944
Service file for Edward Strachan Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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