They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

ROWSE, Edward Grant, LS, 2926, RCN, MPK - 22 Oct 1940, HMCS MARGAREE - Son of Edward Henry and Ida Gertrude Rowse, of Calgary, Alberta.

Leading Seaman Rowse died when his ship, HMCS MARGAREE, was struck by the freighter SS Port Fairy while in convoy and was sunk. 143 of her crew were lost, 86 of them were survivors of HMCS FRASER.

Leading Seaman Rowse was a survivor of the sinking of the destroyer Fraser. He was rescued in that disaster and spent his leave in England until placed on the Margaree. Born in Moose Jaw he moved to Calgary with his family when quite young. He attended Connaught public school and graduated from Central High school. He joined the navy in May, 1937, and trained at Esquimalt.

Ships served in:

HMCS NADEN - Enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman, RCN

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 28 Dec 1937

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 22 Apr 1938

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 06 Aug 1938

* Rated Able Seaman, RCN 07 Oct 1938

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 05 Jul 1939 for Torpedoman course

* Rated Seaman Torpedoman, RCN 15 Sep 1939

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Drafted to RESTIGOUCHE 16 Sep 1939

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 01 JAN 1940 for Leading Torpedoman course

* Rated Leading Torpedoman, RCN 10 Feb 1940

* Rated Acting Leading Seaman, RCN 15 Feb 1940

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 11 Mar 1940

* Survived the sinking of HMCS FRASER on 25 Jun 1940

HMCS MARGAREE - Drafted to MARGAREE 06 Sep 1940

* Commissioning crew

Service file for Edward Rowse

Source: The Library and Archives of Canada