Born in Avenmore , Ontario and raised in Ottawa,
David had participated in the Sea Cadets before signing up for the Navy. He had
served as the naval sentry on the National War Memorial in Ottawa,Ontario, the
Nation's Capital ,on Armistice Day prior to the Second World War.
He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Captain Stephenson who served
on ships in the 1800's navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic. His
Mother, Rachel Hawn was a Silver Cross Mother three times and placed wreaths at
the National Monument on behalf of all mothers who lost their children in war
on Armistice/Rememberance Day following the War. Her wreath was stolen on two
of the three occasions.
She had been told by survivors that David remained at his gun while the ship
sunk and that he continued to fire it as she went down. The telegram informing
of his loss at sea to his mother was delivered by a very young Lorne Green who
later rose to fame as the star of the television series, Bonanza. He stayed
with David's mother until David's older sister arrived to support her.
The photo shown above was taken in Halifax, Nova Scotia and
sent as a post card to his mother with the following comment... "Laugh at
this it is a good one. Haha"
|