They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

Robert McKay Harrison

 

Able Seaman, V14344, RCNVR

 

Born: 03 Sep 1921, Medicine Hat, Alberta

 

Died: 08 Aug 1944 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

HARRISON, Robert McKay, AB, V14344, RCNVR, MPK - 08 Aug 1944, HMCS REGINA - Son of John W. and Kathryn M. Harrison, of New Westminster, British Columbia; husband of Mary Rita Harrison, of New Westminster.

 

Able Seaman Robert McKay Harrison was born in Medicine Hat and attended the Windsor Street School in Burnaby. He played for the Junior Adanac Lacrosse team and South Burnaby Juveniles. He joined the navy September 03, 1939 and was on the PRINCE ROBERT when she captured the merchantman Weiser, and was also on the REGINA when she sunk a German submarine in 1943. His wife lives in Halifax.

 

AB Harrison died when HMCS REGINA was torpedoed and sunk off Trevose Head, Cornwall, England by U-667 while she was aiding a merchant vessel in distress. Thirty of her crew were lost.

 

Robert's brother John Ryan Harrison was an AB in the RCNVR serving at Prince Rupert, BC when Robert died.

 

Ships served in:

VANCOUVER DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 18 Apr 1939.  Commenced Active Service 04 Sep 1939

HMCS NADEN for Cole Island - Drafted to Cole Island 04 Sep 1939 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 11 Mar 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SALTPETER - Drafted to SALTPETER 13 Mar 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SPARTEN III - Drafted to SPARTEN III 18 Mar 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 26 Apr 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS ARMENTIERES - Drafted to ARMENTIERES 29 Apr 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 24 May 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SANS PEUR - Drafted to SANS PEUR 06 Jul 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 03 Aug 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS PRINCE ROBERT - Drafted to PRINCE ROBERT 12 Sep 1940 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 15 May 1941 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS PRINCE HENRY - Drafted to PRINCE HENRY 08 Aug 1941 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 30 Dec 1941 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS AVALON - Drafted to AVALON 23 Jan 1942 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS SHEDIAC - Drafted to SHEDIAC 03 Jul 1942 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 08 Aug 1942 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS REGINA - Drafted to REGINA 14 Aug  1942 as an OS, RCNVR

* Rated AB 04 Nov 1942

 

RH01

RH02

RH03

RH04

(RH01) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2

(RH02) Report of Death

(RH03-RH04) Letters to AB Harrison's wife

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

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