They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Murray Allan Cowan

 

Leading Stoker, 21586, RCN

 

Born: 01 Apr 1921, Rokeby, Saskatchewan

 

Died: 10 Feb 1942 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

COWAN, Murray Allan, L/Sto, 21586, RCN, MPK - 10 Feb 1942, HMCS SPIKENARD - Son of Robert T. and Isabel G. Cowan, Churchbridge, Saskatchewan.

 

L/Stoker Cowan died when his ship, HMCS SPIKENARD, which was on convoy escort duty for convoy SC-67, was torpedoed and sunk by U-136 approx 465 nautical miles west of Malin Head, Ireland. There were only 8 survivors of her crew. She sank so quickly that the other escorts did not realized she had been sunk until the morning of 11 Feb 1942.

 

Leading Stoker Murray Allan Cowan was born at Rokeby, SK, on April 1, 1921, where he lived until he joined the Navy in April, 1939, at Esquimalt, BC. He was unmarried, and was survived by his parents.  His mother passed away 01 Aug 1942.

 

Awards and Decorations: 1939-45 Star;  Atlantic Star;  CSVM and Clasp;  War Medal 1939-45

 

Ships served in:

HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 24 Apr 1939 as a Sto 2c, RCN

HMCS ST LAURENT - Drafted to ST LAURENT 29 Jul 1939 as a Sto 2c, RCN

HMCS ASSINIBOINE - Drafted to ASSINIBOINE 23 Nov 1939 as a Sto 2c, RCN

* Rated Sto 1c 20 Mar 1940

* Rated A/L/Sto 01 Jun 1941

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 15 Jul 1941 as an A/L/Sto, RCN

HMCS ST CROIX - Drafted to ST CROIX 25 Jul 1941 as a A/L/Sto, RCN

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 15 Aug 1941 as an A/L/Sto, RCN

HMCS SPIKENARD - Drafted to SPIKENARD 29 Nov 1941 as an A/L/Sto, RCN

 

MC01

MC02

(MC01) Stoker 2c Murray Cowan

(MC02) Documents from the Service File of Murray Cowan

 

(MC03) Colourized photo of L/Sto Murray Cowan

 

MC04

MC05

(MC04-MC05) Articles on the death and memorial service of L/Stoker Murray Cowan

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

HOME PAGE     SHIP INDEX      CONTACT