|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BAILEY, Ronald Merlin - Ronald passed away peacefully in his sleep at Willow Cottage in Edmonton at the age of 91. He will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife of 64 years, Marion, his son and daughter- in-law Bill and Karen (Denver), his son and daughter-in-law Grant and Bonnie Rae (Ottawa), his grandchildren Pamela Aden (and Nick) (San Diego), Colin (and Kelly) (Denver), Daniel (and Catherine) (Denver), and Douglas (Ottawa). He is also survived by his younger brother and sister- in-law Don and Donna Bailey (Saskatoon). Ron was born and raised in Saskatoon, SK, the son of a Canadian Northern and Canadian National Railways locomotive engineer. After finishing high school he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy and proudly served his country during World War II as a radio operator on the HMCS Matane. Upon being discharged from the Navy in 1945 Ron enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan and graduated as a Civil Engineer in 1950. Shortly thereafter he commenced a distinguished 34 year career with Canadian National Railway. While a patient in Saskatoon City Hospital Ron met a young nurse and his future bride, Marion. They were married in Jasper on May 25, 1951. Ron's career with CN included postings in Smithers, Vancouver, Port Arthur, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and finally Edmonton where he spent 12 years as Regional Chief Engineer of the Mountain Region, presiding over a massive track rehabilitation and expansion program which continues to provide benefits to CN to this day. Ron is a recipient of the Arctic Star and an inductee into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame, recognized for his engineering contribution to the Canadian railway industry. In his spare time during his working career Ron enjoyed playing tennis and curling. He cherished spending time with family and friends at his father's cabin on Christopher Lake, at a shared camp with dear friends the Brown's on Lake Superior, and finally at Ron and Marion's treasured cabin on the shore of Moose Lake near Red Pass, BC. In retirement Ron earned his private pilot's license and flew a 1946 Cessna 140 out of Cooking Lake, AB. Ron and Marion continued to enjoy the cabin at Moose Lake, curling, cross country skiing, travelling, cousin's reunions, and visiting with sons and grandchildren in Denver, North Bay, and Vancouver. Prized possessions included his amazing player piano, his elaborate model railway, the brass number plate from steam locomotive 5140, and his 1965 Mustang convertible. Thanks to all the staff at Willow Cottage for their loving care in his final years. A celebration of a life well lived will be held for Ron at Westlawn Funeral Home, 16310 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 30. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dayspring Presbyterian Church. (The Edmonton Journal 24 Oct 2015)
Ships served in:
Ron Bailey, was a Telegraphist who served aboard HMCS MATANE in World War II. This is an excerpt from Grant Bailey's Remembrance Day project honouring his father's war service.
Arguably the most significant event in the life of the H.M.C.S. MATANE is well detailed in my Dad’s scrapbook through pictures, officer's reports, and naval messages. On May 13th, 1945 she set sail from Greenoch, Scotland to escort convoy JW67 to Murmansk, Russia. On May 16th Coastal Command received a message from the Norwegian destroyer Stord stating “Have met German convoy steering 230 degrees speed 10 knots in Vestfjord consisting of 16 U-boats and 5 merchant ships. They say they are routed Narvik to Trondheim. Is this in order?” Shortly thereafter, a message was received from Admiralty, “Captain (D)17th is to detach one escort group forthwith to intercept convoy of 16 German U-boats and 5 merchant ships reported in Vestfjord. U-boats are to be escorted to Loch Eribol and merchant ships to be directed to Trondheim."
EG 9, including the MATANE were split away from convoy JW67 and sent to intercept the subs. Though hostilities in Europe had ended just days before, it was unclear what reaction the German U-boats would have to being intercepted. As it turned out, there were 15 U-boats and five merchant ships.
Two of the merchant ships were quite notable, one being the Aviso Grille, Hitler’s one time personal yacht, and another being the Stella Polaris, a luxury Norwegian cruise ship that had been seized by the Germans in 1940. The Germans surrendered peacefully.
Boarding parties were arranged and surrender terms were dictated to the German crews. The Senior German Officer of the convoy was Captain Suhren (Iron Cross and Oak Leaf 39) who on request stated that he was Senior Officer Arctic and Barents Sea and that this was the last of his command. Under orders of the German High Command he was withdrawing his Command from Narvik and proceeding to Trondheim. The Canadian boarding officer from the MATANE asked if the Senior German Officer had read and understood the terms of surrender and if his U-boat commanders also understood these terms. Captain Suhren stated that all ammunition had been landed, no mines were carried, pistols were removed from all torpedoes and that Commanding Officers of the U-boats would comply with the terms of surrender. He was then ordered to inform his U-boat commanders that if any attempted to scuttle or submerge, the boat would be destroyed and no mercy would be shown to the crew. Captain Suhren was granted one last request. He sent a final message to all of the U-boat commanders, “Farewell my U-boats, we have worked well together, don’t be downhearted. Goodbye. Suhren."
(RMB001) HMCS MATANE's Mascot - Erffie (RMB002) Ron Young with Erffie on HMCS MATANE K444 (RMB003) Captain of HMCS MATANE boards German U-boat (RMB004) Roland Pettis and Junior Travers (RMB005) Red Yuill and Larry Ferguson
(RMB006) Yeoman Gene Toban with Erffie (RMB007) A few crew members of HMCS MATANE // Front Row - Left to Right: Nig Giesler, Bob Martin, Bill Parish, Junior Travers, Danny Scully, Flat Top Wilson // Back Row - Left to Right: Buck Rogers, Don Wilde, Jean Tobin, Bob Christie, Tam Jessiman, Mac McGurk, Red Yuill, Larry Ferguson, Mac MacDougal, Roland Pettis
(RMB009 - RMB012) The surrender of the German U-boats
(RMB013 - RMB016) The surrender of the German U-boats
Envelope from letter addressed to R. M. Bailey of Saskatoon, SK Stamp Cancellation 27 Nov 1945 Courtesy of David Upright
|
