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They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
TREMAINE, Leonard Ray, L/Tel, V25009, RCNVR - HMCS STADACONA - Husband of Marjorie M. Tremaine, of Rockingham.
Acting Leading Telegraphist Tremain died in hospital in Kentville, Nova Scotia, from tuberculois that he contracted while serving in HMCS ROSTHERN.
Leonard Ray Tremaine was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on August 20, 1906. He was the son of Mary Strachan and Charles Tremaine.
The 1911 census shows Leonard 4 living at 262 Pleasant St in Halifax with his parents Charles 36 (Lawyer) and mother Mary 30, and siblings Wylton 11, Robert 10, Hadly 7, Leonard 4, Helen 3, and grandmother Zaidee Tremaine 64.
The 1921 census finds Leonard 14 living in Rockingham (Halifax) with parents Charles 46 (barrister) and Mary 43, and siblings Wilton 20, John 19, Hardy 17, Lenard 14, Hellen 12, Dorothy 9.
Leonard married Marjorie Clark on July 7, 1927 at "The Rectory" in Bedford, NS (Halifax). Leonard was a gasoline station operator at the time of his marriage. The couple moved to Boston aboout 1926.
The 1930 U.S. census shows Leonard 24 living in Boston, Massachusetts, with wife Marjorie 24 and son Donald 1 (1+10 mos). Leonard is working as a salesman for an oil supply company. Their second child Marilyn would be born there in 1931. The family returned to Nova Scotia in 1931.
The 1931 Canada census captures the family back in Nova Scotia, with Leonard 24, salesman, Marjorie 26, and Donald 2; daughter Marilyn is not found in this census.
In September 1939 Leonard enlisted with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR). His attestation paper states he is 33, married, and the owner of a trucking business in Rockingham (Halifax).
His training began at HMCS Stadacona in Nova Scotia, specializing in telegraphy.
His first posting was aboard the HMCS Acadia, Dec 1939朚ar 1941, a repurposed survey ship built in 1913, with the rank of A/Tel. (Acting Telegraphist).
In February 1941 Leonard re-qualified to A/Ldg Tel (W/T3) and was assigned to the newly built HMCS Rosthern, a corvette, then undergoing sea trials. The Rosthern was built in Thunder Bay, launched November 1940, and commissioned in Montreal June 17, arriving in Halifax June 26, proceeding to St. John's to join Newfoundland Command. On October 7, 1941 she departed on her first Atlantic crossing as convoy escort. The Rosthern made many crossings and survived the war. Had Leonard not become sick he might well have been aboard.
Leonard's service record shows he served aboard the Rosthern until July 26, 1941. The next significant event is an entry stating "Sick Bay: 13𥑲1." Then in October 1941 Leonard was diagnosed with tuberculosis ("place of origin: at sea. cause: infection"). He was sent to the sanitarium at Kentville, NS for rehabilitation. He was discharged from service February 10, 1942 as medically unfit, having served the RCN for three years, with over 500 days at sea.
Leonard died at Kentville, Nova Scotia on July 15, 1942. He was buried at Halifax (St. John's) Cemetery. His death officially a casualty of service. He was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, The Atlantic Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and the War Medal.
Source / Credit: The biographical history of Leonard Tremaine was researched and submitted to For Posterity's Sake by Mark Suggitt
Ships served in: SPECIAL SERVICE COMPANY RCNVR - Enlisted 15 Sep 1939 as an Ordinary Telegraphist, RCNVR HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 15 Sep 1939 * Rated Acting Telegraphist, RCNVR HMCS ACADIA - Drafted to ACADIA 08 Dec 1939 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 03 Feb 1941 * Rated Telegraphist (Trained Operator), RCNVR 11 Feb 1941 * Telegraphist 3rd Class, RCNVR 08 Mar 1941 HMCS ROSTHERN - Drafted to ROSTHERN 28 Apr 1941 * Rated Acting Leading Telegraphist, RCNVR 20 Feb 1941 (Back dated) * Sick Bay 13 Sep 1941 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 11 Feb 1942 * Medically Unfit (due to Tuberculosis) 16 Feb 1942. Discharged to the Nova Scotia Sanitarium, Kentville, NS - * Died at the Nova Scotia Sanitarium, Kentville 15 Jul 1942 * Buried in the St. John's Cemetery, Halifax, NS
Service file for Leonard Tremaine Source: The Library and Archives of Canada
Second World War Casualty Index
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