​HISTORY
MILITARY ACTIVITY
WW II
SOME BELL ISLAND WORLD WAR II VETERANS
by Gail Hussey-Weir
​Created February 2020; updated November 2024
Photos and information on Bell Island's WW2 veterans will be added as they become available. Please send photos and/or information to "[email protected]" or post to the Facebook Group: "Historic Wabana Nfld".

If you know any of the following information, please send it along to the above email address:
Veteran's full name and nickname.
Veteran's branch of the armed forces and rank.
Date enlisted and demobbed. 
Veteran's birth and death dates. If killed in action, give date and place, and place buried.
Veteran's parents' names.
James (Jim) Grant Archibald. 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. 

July 14, 1918 - February 13, 1983.

​In 1939, after returning to the Royal Military College in Kingston, ON, for his final year, he enlisted in the 1st Canadian Division. He was seconded to the Anti Aircraft Command for the Defense of Britain. He served with the 2nd Light Anti Aircraft Regiment in the Italian campaign in 1943, and through France and Belgium to the liberation of the Netherlands and VE Day in May 1945. He was discharged with the rank of Major in 1946.

​Submitted by his daughter, Ruth Archibald.
Thomas (Tom) Bartlett (left), with friend, Don unknown, Royal Navy.

​Submitted by his granddaughter, Joannie Boland-Pearl.
William Bartlett, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his grand-niece, Joannie Boland-Pearl.
Austin is on the left in the photo above with an unknown friend. Below is his ID tag.
Austin Bennett, Royal Air Force #339859.
1915-1954
Son of Phyllis & William H. Bennett.
​Submitted by his daughters, Janet Bennett Fitzpatrick & Austina Thompson.

The photo below was taken in India in WW2. 
Edward Bennett, Merchant Navy.

​Submitted by his son, Sandy Bennett.

​​No photo available.
Harold Bennett, Royal Air Force.

1912-1995

Son of John H. & Amelia Bennett.
​
​Submitted by Marylyn Emberley.



​Hubert Bickford, Royal Navy.

Submitted by Sherry Lynn Power.
Ralph Bickford, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his daughter, Marilyn Bickford Tremblett.

​​No photo available.


​Albert Edgar Blackmore, Royal Navy Engineers, Eighteenth Contingent, #316605.

​​Submitted by his niece, Karen Good.
Frederick Malcolm (Mac) Blackmore, Royal Navy, Deep Sea Rescue Tug Service, RTP/R300642. Served on HM Storm King and other tugs.

Son of Victor William Blackmore (RNR WWI) and Thelma Louise Sheppard.
​
Submitted by his son, Wayne Blackmore.
Stephen (Harrison) Nathanial Blackmore, Royal Navy, Eleventh Contingent, #JX220981.

Served from 1940 to 1946.

Son of Victor William Blackmore (RNR WWI) and Thelma Louise Sheppard.

​Submitted by his nephew, Wayne Blackmore.
William Blackmore, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by Bev Crane Widmeyer.




​
​Fred Brown, Army.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Elaine Fillier.




Jack Brown, Royal Navy.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Elaine Fillier.

​
​



Ron Brown, Merchant Navy.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Elaine Fillier.





​Sheila Brown (married name: Clarke), Royal Canadian Air Force.

​Submitted by her daughter, Elaine Fillier.




William (Bill) Bursey. ​
​
​Submitted by his niece, Glenda Bursey.
Frederick D. Butler, Royal Navy.

1918-2005

​Lived West Mines. Worked in DOSCO Main Office.
​
Submitted by his daughter Cathy Butler.




​Gerald Byrne, Royal Navy.
Killed June 12, 1942 at age 17 while serving on the British Destroyer, HMS Grove.
​
Son of James Byrne, Lance Cove.​

Submitted by his nephew, Howard Byrne.

​​No photo available.

On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Gerald Byrne's name is the 1st on the right-hand side. #JX315673.


​Richard (Dick) Clarke, Royal Navy, HMS Drake.
​
​​Submitted by his niece, Elaine Fillier.

​
Norman Davis. 

​Submitted by his grand-niece, Sherry Davis-Elliott.
Michael Donnelly.
Submitted by Sharon Cook Murphy.

​No photo available.
​Thomas Donnelly.
Submitted by Sharon Cook Murphy.

​​No photo available.
Vincent Francis Dwyer, Merchant Marine on the S.S. Gragpool.
Died in Buenos Aries, Argentina January 3, 1941.

He is in the middle of the photo on the left. Below is the Canadian war memorial in Buenos Aries. 

Submitted by his grandson, Vince Dwyer.




Alexander (Alex) Eveleigh, Royal Navy.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Rosalind Foley.



​Augustus (Gus) Eveleigh, Royal Air Force.
​
​Submitted by his daughter, Rosalind Foley.

​​




Leo Ezekiel, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his daughter, Isabella Ezekiel-Walsh.

​​
William James Fillier (1919-1942): Canadian Merchant Navy, S. S. Rose Castle, Fireman. 

​He was born December 1919 to Martha (1892-19??) and William John Fillier (c.1876-1948?), a fisherman, in Harbour Grace, NL. Sometime before 1935, the family moved to Bell Island. It has been said that James joined the crew of the ill-fated ore carrier, S.S. Rose Castle, anchored in the Tickle off Bell Island, the evening prior to that ship being sunk in the early morning of November 2, 1942 by the German submarine, U-518. The 22-year-old was working as a fireman on the ship. His body was never recovered.

​The photo on the left is from the book, The Enemy on Our Doorstep, by Steve Neary, 1994, p. 132.

​Submitted by Gail Hussey-Weir.
Bernard J. Fitzpatrick, Royal Navy, JX208837.
Died April 9, 1942 on HMS Hermes.

​Submitted by his niece, Roberta Coombs.

On the Bell Island War Memorial (below), Bernard Fitzpatrick's name is the 9th on the left-hand side. #JX208837.


William Harrison French, Royal Air Force, Flight Crew.
​
​Submitted by his son, Bob French.
Leo Galway, Royal Navy.
​Submitted by his daughter, Marian O'Toole.
Edgar (Jackie) Clarence Garland, West Nova Scotia Regiment, served in Italy & North Africa.

Born Bell Island c. 1927 to Olivia (aka Lavinia? nee Avery) and John Garland.
​
Died January 17, 1996, Wolfville, NS.

​No photo available.






​Kenneth George, Royal Navy
Killed June 12, 1942 on British Destroyer, HMS Grove.

​​On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Kenneth George's name is the 7th on the right-hand side. JX315674.
Picture


​
William (Bill) George, Royal Navy.
​
​Submitted by Michael Kennedy.
Francis Gosine, Royal Navy.

Submitted by his nephew, Gary Gosine.
George Gosse, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment.

Submitted by his nephew, Gary Peddle, and niece, Carol Ann Normore.




​Clayton Harvey, Royal Navy. Lost at Sea. 

Son of John (Jack) Harvey.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Diane Harvey.

​No photo available.

On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Clayton Harvey's name is the 5th on the right-hand side. #JX316615.
Albert Hawco, Gunner, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment.

Submitted by his nephew, Gerome Jerry Hawco & niece Helena Hawco Highmore.
The wooden box above contains Albert Hawco's medal For Loyal Service (close-up below left), and his Catholic Prayer Book "for the use of Catholics serving in the defence forces of the Crown in time of war." Open prayer book below. Front of box below left. The inscription above the medal says: "Mr. Albert Hawco. My great great-uncle received this medal For Loyal Service in the Royal Newfoundland Artillery during World War II (1940-1945). He served in Scotland, England and Holland. Albert was from Bell Island, Newfoundland and volunteered for service in 1940. Chadd Kennedy, Mark Kennedy."
Joseph (Joe) Hawco. Royal Newfoundland Regiment Militia, 1st Coastal Defence Battery. 

Below is his Newfoundland Regiment Militia 1st Coastal Defence ID card.

Submitted by his granddaughter, Jeanette Hawco-Ricketts.
​
John Frederick Hibbs, Royal Navy.

​Submitted by his granddaughter, Nadine Butt.



​Richard (Dick) Hiscott, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.

​Submitted by his daughter, Rosalind Bradbury.
​Photo submitted by his daughter-in-law, Debbie Kavanagh.
Roy Hookey, 166th 57 Battalion, North Africa and Italian Campaigns.
​​
​Submitted by Ken Hookey.
​Arthur Stanley (Stan) Hussey, Royal Newfoundland Regiment Militia, 1st Coastal Defence Battery. 

August 12, 1921 - April 27, 1961.

​Son of Winnifred and John Hussey.

Photo taken on his wedding day, October 28, 1943.

Submitted by his daughter, Gail Hussey-Weir
​Maxwell (Max) Hutchings,  Royal Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, July 2, 1941-January 8, 1946.

1909-1960.

Submitted by Maureen Dawe.

Photo below submitted by Bob French.
Graham Janes, Royal Navy.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Coleen Boland.
​Bill Jardine.
​
​Submitted by Bob French.
Jack Kavanagh.
​
Submitted by his nephew, Gerome Jerry Hawco.

​​Photo not available.
Leo Kennedy.
​
Submitted by Michael Kennedy.

​​Photo not available.
​On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Richard Kennedy's name is the 8th on the left-hand side. #JX250117.
Richard Augustine Kennedy, Royal Navy, HMS Snapdragon.
Killed in action December 19, 1942. Son of Leo Kennedy, Lance Cove. 
Joseph P. Kent, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, 1939, C/173294.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Eileen Kavanagh.







​
Kevin P. Kent, Royal Navy.
Killed June 12, 1942 on British Destroyer, HMS Grove.

​​On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Kevin P. Kent's name is the 4th on the right-hand side. JX315763.​
Richard Kent, 59th Royal Artillery.
​
Submitted by Eileen Kavanagh.
​Henry Clarence King (1916-1942): Canadian Merchant Navy, S. S. Rose Castle, Able Seaman. 

He was born December 1916, Bell Island, NL, to Matilda (Nee Normore, c.1883-1920) and Bartholomew (AKA Bertram) King (1888-19??). Henry was an Able Seaman aboard the S.S. Rose Castle on November 2, 1942 when that ship was torpedoed in the Tickle off Lance Cove, Bell Island, by the German submarine, U-518. It is not clear if his body was recovered, but in the old Anglican Cemetery atop Beach Hill, Bell Island, where Gregory Normore and other early settlers are buried, and next to Henry's mother Matilda's grave, there is a headstone which reads: 

In Loving Memory of Henry C. King who was killed by Enemy Action Nov. 2nd 1942. Aged 26 years. Beloved son of Captain Bert and the Late Matilda King.

The photo on the left is from Steve Neary's 1994 book, The Enemy on Our Doorstep​, p. 132.

​Submitted by Gail Hussey-Weir.
James Leo King, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his daughter, Mary Bridget King Malvar.

​​Photo not available.
​Robert Maxwell (Max) Kitchen, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, C/173305.

Photo below submitted by family friend, Karen Good.
Photo below cropped from group photo of 1st Naval Contingent, p. 131 of Herb Wells' book, Under the White Ensign, V.1, 1984.​
Michael (Mike) Lahey, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, C/173306.

​Submitted by Diane Lahey.
​
Photo cropped from group photo of 1st Naval Contingent, p. 131 of Herb Wells' book, Under the White Ensign, V.1, 1984.
Richard Lahey, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his nephew, Maurice Lahey.
​Robert Joseph Lahey, Royal Navy, HMS ​Grove. 
​Killed June 12, 1942. 

​Submitted by his niece, Diane Lahey. 
On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Robert Lahey's name is the 2nd on the right-hand side. #JX315676.
William E. Lindsay, Royal Canadian Air Force.

​Submitted by his daughter, Heather Lindsay.
Dermott Luffman, Royal Navy, 4th Naval Contingent, D/187459.
​
and his brother:

John (Jack) Luffman, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, C/173310. (Jack's wife, Bridie)

​Submitted by their niece, Brenda Sweeney.


​Ernest (Ern) Miller. Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 166th (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment.
​
​Submitted by Douglas Miller.
Cyril Moakler. 166 Infantry.
​ 
​He was one of the first 400.

​Submitted by his daughters, Jude and Anna Moakler.
Mary Ann Morgan, Canadian Women's Army Corps (C.W.A.C.). 

​Served in Washington, D.C. with the British Secret Service.

Submitted by her daughter, Gail Sheppard.
Myles Alphonsus Murphy, Royal Air Force, Volunteer Reserve, 570 Squadron, Flight Sergeant, Flight Engineer, #798722.
​
Killed when shot down over France, July 29, 1944, age 22. Buried Orleans Main Cemetery, France.
Son of John & Gertrude Murphy. 

​Submitted by his niece, Debra Johnson-McDonald.
On the Bell Island War Memorial, Myles Murphy's name is the 13th on the right-hand side. #798722.
Edward Myers, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his nephew, Kevin Myers.

​​Photo not available.
​Arthur Neville, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, JX173331, HMS Avenger.
Killed November 15, 1942.
On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Arthur Neville's name is the 6th on the right-hand side. #JX173331.
William Joseph Neville, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, JX173321, HMS Lady Hawkins.
Killed January 19, 1942.
On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), William Neville's name is the 9th on the right-hand side. #JX173321.
Frederick Noftall.
​
​Submitted by his granddaughter, Rosemary Newman.

​​Photo not available.
​Jack Noftall.
​
​Submitted by his grandniece, Rosemary Newman.

​​Photo not available.
​Robert (Bob) Noftall.
​
​Submitted by his grandniece, Rosemary Newman.

​​Photo not available.
​
​Edward P. Nolan, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, JX173330, HMS Avenger.
Killed November 15, 1942.
​On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Edward Nolan's name is the 8th on the right-hand side. #JX173330.




Aleston and Brendan O'Brien (brothers), Royal Navy. 
​
Submitted by their nephew, Al O'Brien.


Fred O'Brien, Royal Navy. 
​​
​Submitted by his son, Fred O'Brien Jr.
James (Jim) Parsons, served with an Ontario regiment.
​
Submitted by his niece-in-law, Bea Parsons.

​​Photo not available.
Roland Parsons, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by Debbie Parsons.
Walter Parsons, Royal Navy.
​
​Submitted by Bea Parsons.
Albert (Bert) Peddle (seated at left), Royal Navy. 

​Submitted by his nephew, Gary Peddle.
​Clarissa (Reesie) Petrie, Canadian Women's Army Corps (C.W.A.C.). She joined in Halifax.

Daughter of John and Ellen (Gouthro) Petrie.

​Submitted by her nephew, Bill Cantwell.
Harvey W. Pitts, Royal Navy, 15th Naval Contingent, #277319.
​
Photos submitted by Eileen Kavanagh.
Walter Power, Royal Navy, Thirteenth Contingent, #247978.
​
Submitted by his nephew, Wayne Power, and Michael Kennedy.

No photo available
Arthur (Art) Proudfoot.
​Lorne Proudfoot.

​Betty Speedy (married name Rees), Royal Air Force, and Peter (Pete) Somerton Rees, Royal Air Force, Sergeant #339829.

Peter Rees attested in R.A.F. July 17, 1940.
​Served overseas from July 29, 1940 to March 16, 1946.
Discharged July 16, 1946.

Submitted by their daughter, Marylyn Emberley.
Chelles Alvin Rees, Royal Navy, #LTJX208976.
​
Served from 6 June 1940 to 29 November 1945 on the following ships: HMS W Brady, HMS Asbury, HMS Canada, British Yacht Mine Sweeper 2037, HMS Hektor, HMS Armand.

Campaign medals included 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45.

Mentioned in Despatches "London Gazette 35399 of 1 January 1942.
Received the Royal Humane Society Bronze medal on 25 January 1942.

Chelles was born April 9, 1922, the son of Ralph and Emma Rees of Lance Cove. He was married to Ethel Rees; they had 5 children. He    died December 18, 1975 and is buried in St. Mary's Anglican Cemetery, Bell Island.

Submitted by his daughter, Christine Rees Tucker.
Eldred Joseph Rees, Newfoundland Regiment.
​
Submitted by his daughter, Kathleen Rees.
​
​No photo available.
​Frank Rees (c. 1926-1986): Merchant Navy and Royal Newfoundland Regiment Militia's 1st Coastal Defence Battery.

​He was working aboard ore carriers in The Tickle on the occasion of the two U-Boat attacks in the Fall of 1942 and survived both times. 

​He was born Bell Island May 14, 1926, the eldest child of Jane (Davis, c.1906-1937) and Ernest Rees (c.1904-1943), a miner. He was 16 years old and a crewman on the ore carrier S.S. Lord Strathcona when that ship was torpedoed while at anchor off Bell Island on September 5, 1942. Two months later, at 3:30 a.m. on November 2, 1942, Frank was a crewman on board the ore carrier S.S. Rose Castle, which was at anchor in The Tickle when U-518 sank it. Read how he escaped both attacks at ​https://www.historic-wabana.com/r.html. 

​Submitted by his niece, Gail Hussey-Weir.
FRANK GODDEN REES (1924-2020) Navigator/Pilot Officer of Mosquitos in the RCAF 409 Squadron - the Nighthawks.  

​Survivor of three plane crashes.

Info from his obituary, Globe and Mail.

Submitted by Gail Hussey-Weir.
Right side of photo:

Gerald Hampden Rees, Royal Air Force, #339846.

1912-1992. Buried Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Left side of photo:

John (Jack) Clayton Rees, Royal Navy, Seventeenth Contingent, #315764.

1922-1995.

Sons of Ananias and Gertrude Rees.

​Submitted by their niece, Anna-Clare Guest.



William A. Rees, Royal Canadian Air Force #339833. ​

​Submitted by his niece, Marylyn Emberley.
​John W. Reid, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, P/174385.

​
Norman Reynolds, Royal Navy, Leading Seaman Gunner Class A.
​
Submitted by his niece, Coleen Boland.
Albert Gordon Rose, Royal Navy.
​​
​Submitted by his daughter, Coleen Boland. 
Llewellyn Rose, Royal Artillery.
​
​Submitted by his niece, Coleen Boland.
Naaman Ryan, Combat Engineers.

Submitted by his granddaughter, Anne G. Ryan Jr.
Benjamin (Ben) Searle, Royal Navy.

Submitted by Shirley Murphy.
James (Jim) Shea, Royal Navy. 

Served on HMS Anson.

​Submitted by Ray Rees.




Freeman Skanes, Royal Navy. 
​​
​Submitted by his niece, Bonnie Highmore Kyle.
Lemuel Skanes, Royal Navy, 1st Naval Contingent, P/174366, HMS Transylvania.
​
Killed August 10, 1940.
​On the Bell Island War Memorial (right), Lemuel Skanes' name is the 1st on the left-hand side. #JX174366.

​
Melvin Skanes, Royal Navy. 
​
​Submitted by his niece, Bonnie Highmore Kyle.
​​Francis (Frank) Douglas Snow, Royal Artillery, Lance Bombardier, #970698. 
Killed in North Africa, April 12, 1943. 

​On the Bell Island War Memorial (below), Frank Snow's name is the 10th on the right-hand side. #970698.
Pictured on the left is the Death Metal of his uncle, Douglas Kennedy Snow, who was killed July 1, 1916.
​
​Submitted by his cousin, Glenda Bursey. 




Bernice Somerton (married name: Skanes), Army Women's Corps. 

​Submitted by her niece, Bonnie Highmore Kyle.
Jacob (Jake) Squires, 166th 57 Battalion, North Africa and Italian Campaigns.​
​
​Submitted by his daughter, Sylvia Roop.
James Rooney Stewart, Royal Air Force.

1907-1967.

Son of John C. and Mary Stewart.

​Headstone in the Presbyterian Cemetery between Kavanagh's Lane and Woods Avenue.

Submitted by Gail Hussey-Weir.
Adrian Ralph Taylor, Royal Air Force Ferry Command Gander Unit. J21309.
Killed in Action on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when his aircraft was shot down southeast of Caen, France. Buried in St. Valery-en-Caux Franco-British Cemetery near Dieppe.

1919-1944. 

Son of Charles F. and Mary Taylor.

​Submitted by military historian, Darrell Hillier.
George Sinclair Tucker, Royal Navy, JX315679.
Killed June 12, 1942 on British Destroyer, HMS Grove.
​
Son of J.J. and Martha Tucker.

Submitted by his niece, Heather Lindsay.

​​On the Bell Island War Memorial (left), George Tucker's name is the 3rd on the right-hand side. JX315679.
Peter Warren.
​
​Submitted by his sister-in-law, Jean Levac.

​​Photo not available.
Albert Whalen, Royal Navy.
​
Submitted by his son, Frank Whalen.

​​Photo not available.
Photos and information on Bell Island's WW2 veterans will be added as they become available. Please send photos and/or information to "[email protected]" or post to the Facebook Group: "Historic Wabana Nfld 2.0".