This memorial tree was planted in memory of Able Seaman William James Hefferman, killed during a training exercise during the Second World War.
William James Hefferman was born in 1913 in Wales. He emigrated to Canada in 1928 and following completion of his education, was employed as a millwright in Almonte, ON, before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940. He served at sea on HMCS ASSINIBOINE but was sent to the military hospital in St. John’s, NL, to recuperate after being wounded during a battle with a German U-Boat. After his convalescence, he was assigned to HMCS SOREL. On 26 January 1943, HMCS SOREL was conducting workup training following a major overhaul. Depth-charges were launched as part of the workups but something went terribly wrong and a depth-charge exploded prematurely, spraying the ship with shrapnel. Able Seaman Hefferman was hit in the back and neck, causing massive trauma. He died en-route as the ship desperately raced to Halifax to save his life. He was buried at the Clayton United Church Cemetery in Clayton, ON.
