They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

BAXTER, Richard Alexander, PO, 2570, RCN, MPK - 25 Jun 1940, HMCS FRASER - Son of Thomas Baxter, and of Elizabeth Baxter, of Vancouver, British Columbia.

PO Baxter died when his ship, HMCS FRASER, was in a collision with HMS CALCUTTA 12 miles due west of Pointe de la Coubre light at the Gironde River mouth and sank as a result with the loss of 65 of her crew.

Ships served in:

HMCS NADEN - Enlisted 19 Jan 1931 as a Boy Seaman, RCN

HMCS VANCOUVER - Drafted to VANCOUVER 01 Jan 1932

* Rated Ordinary Seaman, RCN 15 Jan 1932

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 30 Apr 1932

HMCS VANCOUVER - Drafted to VANCOUVER 09 Aug 1932

* Rated Able Seaman, RCN 15 Jul 1933

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 05 Jan 1935

* Rated Seaman Gunner 22 Nov 1935

HMCS SKEENA - Drafted to SKEENA 10 Jan 1936

HMCS DRAGON - Lent to DRAGON from SKEENA 21 Mar 1936 - 13 Apr 1936

HMS APOLLO - Lent to APOLLO from SKEENA 14 Apr 1936 - 23 Jul 1936

HMCS NADEN - Lent to NADEN from SKEENA 24-27 Jul 1936

* Rated Acting Leading Seaman 01 Nov 1936

HMS EXCELLENT - Drafted to EXCELLENT 17 Aug 1937

* Rated Gun Layer 29 Oct 1937

* Rated Leading Seaman 01 Nov 1937

HMS FAULKNOR - Drafted to FAULKNOR 01 Jan 1938

HMS CRUSADER - Drafted to CRUSADER 02 Apr 1938

HMS EXCELLENT - Drafted to EXCELLENT 02 Jul 1938

* Rated Acting Petty Officer, RCN 01 Jan 1939

* Rated Gunner's Mate 13 Mar 1939

HMCS NADEN - Drafted to NADEN 25 Mar 1939

HMCS FRASER - Lent to FRASER from NADEN 23-30 Jun 1939

HMCS FRASER - Drafted to FRASER 01 Jul 939

* Rated Petty Officer 01 Jan 1940

Documents from the Service File of Richard Baxter

Second World War Casualty Index