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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
SWALES, Leroy Stilson, Stwd, V17781, RCNVR, MPK - 07 May 1944, HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Son of Stilson and Mary Mildred Swales, of Watford, Ontario.
Steward Swales died when his ship, HMCS VALLEYFIELD, was torpedoed and sunk on 07 May 1944 by U-548. Of her crew of 163, there were only 38 survivors.
Steward Leroy Stilson Swales was born in London, Ontario in January of 1920. His family lived in Komoka, Ontario. He had brown hair and blue eyes. His mother was Mary Mildred Ayres Swales. His father was Stilson Swales, better known as 'Chip', because of his reputation as a great ball player with the Strathroy Royals. His younger brother Howard was born in October of 1921. Both boys, especially Leroy, were also called 'Chip' or 'Chippy' by their friends. Stilson was an army veteran of the Great War, and he worked for the Canadian National Railway as a station agent in Komoka. In the early 1930s, Stilson was transferred to Strathroy, and the family moved to James Street, later moving to North Street. Leroy completed his grade school education in Komoka, and later attended Strathroy Collegiate Institute. Like his father, Leroy enjoyed playing baseball. For several years, he worked at Canadian Canners Limited.
Ships served in: LONDON DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 28 Aug 1941 * Commenced Active Service 28 Aug 1941 as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 13 Oct 1941 HMCS FREDERICTON - Drafted to FREDERICTON 26 Dec 1941 * Rated Able Seaman, RCNVR 28 Aug 1942 * Transferred. Rated Probationary Steward, RCNVR 18 Mar 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 09 Apr 1943 S.N.O. PICTOU - Drafted to S.N.O. PICTOU 18 Jul 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 18 Nov 1943 HMCS HOCHELAGA II - Drafted to HOCHELGA II 30 Nov 1943 HMCS VALLEYFIELD - Drafted to VALLEYFIELD 07 Dec 1943 * Rated Steward, RCNVR 18 Mar 1943 (Back dated)
Service file for Leroy Swales Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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