Ralph Edward Patterson - Able Seaman
Ralph Edward Patterson was born in Falmouth, Nova Scotia and attended the local country school. He worked on farms and later was a transport driver. Ralph joined the Airforce, Fleet Air Arm in 1939-40. He transferred to the navy in 1943, taking his training at Protector II at Sydney and HMCS Cornwallis. He was drafted to HMCS Columbia, a United States ship, transferred to the RCN in Sept. 1940. Stationed at St. John's, Newfoundland they patrolled the shipping lanes north until February 25, 1944, when due to fog and faulty radar they rammed a cliff in Motion Bay, Newfoundland. Ralph returned to Halifax for further studies in torpedo, where he joined the crew of HMCS Nene and sailed with them for the duration of the war. Returning home Ralph married Harriet Hennigar and raised six children, Gloria, Garnet, Brian, Terry, Kevin and Robin. He worked with Stedmans & Stedman-Gamble-McLeod as stock manger. Later Ralph worked at the Masonic Home for seniors until his retirement. Harriet passed away in 1990. Ralph married Hazel Maclnnis and they now reside in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He has been doing some wood working for a hobby and an extensive research in genealogy.