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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
Served in the RCNVR 1942 - 1946
Autobiography of Robert Morrow
MORROW, Robert G. - Another member of the greatest generation has gone off watch. Predeceased by his cherished wife Stacie in 2007, brothers Frank and Ken; survived by his sister Margie and his sons Roger, David (Sherri), Robert (Rennie), and grandchildren Tanya (Brock), Andrea (Rob), Matthew and Amanda, and two great-grandchildren Rylan and Lynden. Most of those of knew Bob knew him as an outstanding accountant and mentor. But he was much more than that; he was an able seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy, an owner of the old Tyax Lodge dude ranch near Goldbridge, BC, a tireless CGA and tax lecturer, a founding director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, a gentleman farmer, and a wonderful father and role model. Above all else, Bob was a gentleman in the greatest sense of the word. Having become fatherless at age 4, Bob grew up quickly in Nelson, B.C. selling newspapers to help the family make ends meet. In his teens he made his way to Vancouver to work in a meat processing plant awaiting the day that he became old enough to enlist in the Navy in March 1943. It was in the Navy that he really came of age and learned the true meaning of discipline and perfection. Even many years later, he could still tie a knot that could only be removed with a sharp knife. While he spoke little of that time, there were recollections of serving onboard his frigate HMCS Port Colborne for winter convoy escort duty from Scapa Flow to Murmansk, Russia. One of his many duties was chopping ice off the decks and guns in rolling seas to keep the ship from becoming top heavy and rolling over. A few days after D-Day, while carrying out night time anti-submarine patrol, his ship, HMCS Teme, was accidentally rammed by a British aircraft carrier tossing Bob into the sea. Luckily for his boys, their future father was plucked from the dark and oily water. After V-E Day, he volunteered to serve in the Pacific theatre in order to secure an early return home to Vancouver to marry Stacie. V-J Day occurred while they were on their honeymoon and they returned home to create lives for themselves. Once Bob settled on a career path, he became the youngest CGA to earn his designation, Certificate #75 in 1951.He went on to found two CGA firms, the second with two of his sons. It was difficult to distinguish his friends from his clients because almost all of his clients became his friends, such was his personal and caring nature towards not just their financial well being but also their personal well being. Bob never really retired until the loss of his beloved Stacie from which he never fully recovered. Bob passed without regretting the things that he hadn't yet done for there were none. Don't mourn his passing, but rather, raise a glass of Lamb's Navy Dark Rum in his honour. He'd like that. "Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill." (Vancouver Sun or The Province 27 Jan 2017)
Ships served in:
HMCS PORT COLBORNE
(RM001) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew member at Scapa Flow 1945 (RM002) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew members at Scapa Flow 1945 (RM003) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew members at Scapa Flow 1945. Robert Morrow is on the far right (RM004) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew members at Scapa Flow 1945. Robert Morrow is in the centre (RM005) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew members at Scapa Flow 1945. Robert Morrow is on the left
(RM006) HMCS PORT COLBORNE crew members at Scapa Flow 1945
HMCS TEME
(RM007) Damage to HMCS TEME after being rammed by the aircraft carrier HMS Tracker in the Bay of Biscay // From the collection of Robert Morrow // Courtesy of David Morrow (RM008) Damage to HMCS TEME after being rammed by the aircraft carrier HMS Tracker in the Bay of Biscay (RM009) Robert Morrow Survives Sea Ramming - Able Seaman Robert Morrow, aged 20, son of Mrs. Margaret Morrow, 1024 Latimer Street, was among survivors of the Canadian-manned frigate TEME when it was rammed amidships and almost sliced in half by an aircraft carrier. The ramming took place in the Bay of Biscay during sub-hunting operations of Canadian and British escort groups, it was announced from Ottawa Wednesday (RM010) Newspaper article on the ramming of HMCS TEME by the aircraft carrier HMS Tracker in the Bay of Biscay (RM011) HMS Tracker, the carrier that rammed HMCS TEME
(RM012) Robert Morrow on his gun on HMCS TEME K458
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