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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
BRETT, Walter Bretwalda, ERA, V10403, RCNVR, MPK: 20 Sep 1943, HMCS ST CROIX - Son of Ernest Ethelbert Bretwalda Brett and Emma Elizabeth Brett, of Manchester; husband of Hilda Brett, of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Engine Room Artificer Brett died when HMCS ST CROIX was sunk on 20 Sep 1943 by U-305. Of her crew of 149, there was only 1 survivor. 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.
Ships served in: RCNVR DIVISION REGINA - Enlisted 09 Jul 1940 as a Stoker 1st Class RCNVR * Commenced Active Service 10 Jul 1940 as a Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 14 Jul 1940 * Rated Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR 10 Jul 1940 SS PRINCESS ELIZABETH - Drafted to PRINCESS ELIZABETH 19 Sep 1940 for boiler room training HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 20 Oct 1940 HMCS ALBERNI - Drafted to ALBERNI 03 Feb 1941 Tug BERSEMIS - Drafted to BERSEMIS 19 Apr 1941 * Rated Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, RCNVR 10 Jul 1941 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 23 Jan 1942 HMCS ST CROIX - Drafted to ST CROIX 25 Jan 1942 * Rated Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class, RCNVR 11 Jul 1942
(WBB001) Article from the Regina Leader Post Oct 1943 on Saskatchewan sailors lost on ST CROIX // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me (WBB002) Service file for Walter Brett // Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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