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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
FAREWELL, Elmo Retlaw, OS SD, V16395, RCNVR, MPK - 07 Dec 1941, HMCS WINDFLOWER - Son of Retlaw and Maude L. Farewell, of Swan River, Manitoba. Brother of Albert Farewell and Irene Lillian Farewell (Wilson/Petruk)
Elmo was born in 1922 in Creelman, Saskatchewan but lived most of his life in Birch River and Swan River, Manitoba. He was the youngest of three children (brother Albert who served in the army and sister Irene) of Maude and Retlaw Farewell. He was a prominent hockey and baseball player in Swan River during his high school years. A newspaper article describes him as “a well respected and likable lad, having a cheery disposition”. Prior to enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserves (R.C.N.V.R.), he worked in Flin Flon and was employed by North Star Fuel and Ice as a teamster. Elmo was among 23 Canadians lost at sea when the HMCS Windflower was rammed by a freighter off the Grand Banks in dense fog. His Lieutenant, Frank A Bryan, described him as a “splendid lad”.
Ships served in: PORT ARTHUR DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 28 Apr 1941. Commenced Active Service 30 Apr 1941 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 17 Jun 1941 *Rated Submarine Detector, RCNVR 23 Aug 1941 HMCS WINDFLOWER - Drafted to WINDFLOWER 11 Sep 1941
(ERF001) Ordinary Seaman Elmo Farewell // Courtesy of Shirley McMeeken (ERF002) Article on the death of Elmo Farewell // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me (ERF003) Service file of Elmo Farewell // Source: Library and Archives of Canada
(ERF004) Portrait of Seaman Elmo Farewell (ERF005) Letter dated 06 Jul 1941 from OS Elmo Farewell to his mother. This was the last letter he wrote before leaving Halifax
(ERF006) Telegram to OS Farewell's mother informing her that her son is missing at sea (ERF007) Letter to OS Farewell's mother from Lt Frank A. Bryan, RCNVR Barracks Port Arthur (ERF008) Letter to OS Farewell's mother - confirming that OS Farewell is missing presumed killed (ERF009) Condolences from the King and Queen to OS Farewell's mother
(ERF010) Articles on the death of OS Farewell. Articles posted individually to the right
(ERF011) Relaxation aboard ship - Sailors mentioned in the article: Michael Cusshner of Calgary; Jack Berry of Moncton; Georges Charrier, MID of Montreal; Mel Brooks of Winnipeg; Harold Sullivan of Callander; Arthur Theriault of Winnipeg
Photos: ERF004 - ERF011 courtesy of Darcey-Lynn MacArthur via the Naval Museum of Halifax
Second World War Casualty Index
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