Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Halifax Naval Memorial | Panel 18. NS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Fred Turner was born about 1900 and is the son of William Crosby Turner and Margaret Ann Bridge, of Liverpool, Lancashire, England.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The Second World War 1939-1945, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: SS Vancouver Island |
| Action : SS Vancouver Island, Sinking of |
"At 21.54 hours on 15 Oct 1941 the unescorted Vancouver Island (Master Eric Lacey Roper) was spotted by U-558, which was searching convoy SC-48 west of Ireland. Due to her high speed of about 15 knots the U-boat immediately went on full speed to get into a favorable attack position and fired a spread of three torpedoes from about 2000 meters at 22.49 hours, hitting the ship with two of them after 144 seconds. The vessel was hit in the fore part and amidships and stopped but did not sink. Because Krech wanted to continue the search for convoy he fired two coups de grace from more than 1000 meters at 23.08 and 23.17 hours, hitting the ship fore and aft and causing her to sink fast by the stern. The Germans had observed how the crew abandoned ship in lifeboats after the first hits, but HMS Dianthus (K 95) (LtCdr C.E. Bridgman, RNR) sent to her assistance from the dispersed convoy ON-24 did not find any survivors. The master, 64 crew members, eight gunners and 32 passengers were lost."
Detail :
Probably Chief Steward Fred Turner, Canadian Merchant Navy died 15 October 1941 with the loss of the Steam Ship Vancouver Island (Montreal), ex SS Sud Americano, ex SS Yakima Star, ex SS Wesser. He was lost at sea and is commemorated on panel 18 of the Halifax Navel Memorial.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Royal Standard No. 398 E.C. | Montreal & Halifax |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
- | - | - |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley