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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
MCGRATH, Joseph, AB AAIII, V11616, RCNVR, Died - 28 Aug 1943, HMCS ATHABASKAN - Son of Margaret McGrath, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The province of Saskatchewan honoured Able Seaman McGrath by naming McGrath Lake in his honour.
AB McGrath died of wounds received in action when HMCS ATHABASKAN was struck by a glider bomb in the Bay of Biscay. He was buried at sea.
"While on patrol in the Bay of Biscay Patrol area at 13:00 hours on August 27, 1943, H.M.C.S. Athabaskan was attacked by eighteen enemy Dornier-217s. H.M.S. Egret (British Sloop) was sunk. A glide bomb hit H.M.C.S. Athabaskan at the junction of "B" gun-deck and the wheel-house. It passed under the plot room, through the Chief Petty Officer's Mess, and out the starboard side. It exploded barely a few feet beyond and bomb fragments pierced H.M.C.S. Athabaskan's side and bridge in a number of places. The Captain, Commander Miles was knocked down by the blast and several officers, including Lieutenant-Commander Dunn Lanthier and Sub-Lieutenant John A. Brebner had severe leg injuries. Able Seaman Joseph McGrath, a bridge lookout, died the next day."
Ships served in: SASKATOON DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 02 Jan 1941. Commenced Active Service 30 Apr 1941 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 12 Aug 1941 HMCS SANS PEUR - Drafted to SANS PEUR 21 Oct 1941 * Rated Able Seaman, RCNVR 28 Jan 1942 HMCS GIVENCHY - Drafted to GIVENCHY 06 Mar 1942 HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 29 Apr 1942 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 10 May 1942 * Rated AA III 02 Jul 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 04 Jul 1942 HMCS HOCHELAGA - Drafted to HOCHELAGA (Manning Pool) 20 Aug 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 22 Aug 1942 HMCS NIOBE - Drafted to NIOBE 29 Oct 1942 HMCS ATHABASKAN - Drafted to ATHABASKAN 04 Feb 1943
(JM01) Portrait of Seaman Joseph McGrath (JM02) Article from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix on the death of AB Joseph McGrath (JM03) Documents from the Service file of Joseph McGrath
Second World War Casualty Index
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