Robert Law Collection: Royal Canadian Navy World War Two

Robert Law, standing at right, with crewmates.

This collection of World War Two items belonged to a young Canadian sailor from Edmonton, Alberta Canada by the name of Robert Law, who was the father of a colleague of mine at work. The colleague went up to Canada this year for her mother's funeral and brought back and donated her dad's WWII items to me to share with everyone for historical purposes, so here they are.

Law served as an Officers' Steward on a Royal Canadian vessel that I assumed was named the H.M.C.S. Naden during the war. However, further reseach indicates that H.M.C.S. Naden was a training area in Esquimault, British Columbia. Therefore, I am assuming he must have served on one of the following ships: the H.M.C.S. Chaudiere (destroyer), the destroyer H.M.C.S. Gatineau, of the H.M.C.S. Chilliwack, a corvette. The blue manual was his guide to preparing and serving meals for the officers on board ship. The newspaper clipping is from the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post, London, and tells of the sinking of a German U-Boat by the group of ships with which the Naden was sailing. Dated June 1, 1944. The U-Boat was sunk by the H.M.C.S. St. Catharines and its escorts. Ships named as being involved in this action include the H.M.C.S. Gatineau, the corvette H.M.C.S. Chilliwack, the H.M.S. Icarus, the H.M.C.S. Chaudiere, the corvette H.M.S. Fennel, and the corvette H.M.S. Kenilworth Castle.

Also interesting is Law's large collection of pin-up photos, most from the MGM studios. This collection includes large 8 by 10s as well as numerous 5 by 7s of various movie starlets at the time of the war. I have never seen so many pinups in such good condition, and I photographed and posted all of them because they are of great historical interest to readers.

Enjoy this collection, and thanks to Barbara Sweetland for donating them to me to share with historians everywhere.

Remembering a Wellington RCAF Crew

Wellingtons in formation (Photo courtesy of John Havers)

Friend and fellow aviation historian John Havers of England sent me an interesting story today showing that in England, the people still remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price in the war. He tells the following story:

"Vickers-Armstrongs Wellington X bomber HF485 of 82 Operational TrainingUnit, RAF Ossington, Notts returning from operations over the Brest area of France on 5 July 1944, suffered engine trouble.

A forced landing was attempted at 0245 hrs at Livermore Farm, Honiton, but during the final moments of the flight, the aircraft struck the farm house, killing the crew of 6; all were from the Royal Canadian Air Force:

Flight Lieutenant Frank Lorne Burston (30) London, Ontario

his brother, Flying Officer Glen Richard Burston (28) London, Ontario

Flying Officer Douglas Gordon Bush, DFC (21)Kelowna, British Columbia

Flying Officer Richard Vernon Doupe (31) London, Ontario

Sgt. Neil Scott Hurder (20) Saint John, New Brunswick

Sgt. Owen Miller (20) from Toronto.

All are buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, Surrey.

The crew was remembered at the Communion Service at St Michael's Church, Honiton yesterday; the 64th anniversary of the tragic accident. The church is but a very short distance from the crash site. We were happy to be at the service and to hear their names mentioned.

Their Name Liveth for Evermore"