Seaman Robert David James Hopson

Son of George Hopson and Wealthy Mable Irene Johnson of Bayfield, Ontario. During the First World War, George enlisted on 8 September 1915 in Toronto, Ontario, with the 84th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, service number 164250. On 11 August 1916 he was transferred to the 75th Battalion and on 5 November 1916 to the 11th Canadian Trench Motor Battery. On 25 February 1917, he was gassed on Vimy Ridge, France, and brought back to England. Repatriated on 18 July 1917, he was demobilized on 16 February 1918. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On 19 February 1941, the Empire Blanda was sailing with convoy HX-107 towards Grangemouth, England, when at 8.18 am, U-69 fired torpedoes in her direction 160 miles (258 km) south of Iceland. The explosion was so powerful that debris fell back onto the submarine. The Empire Blanda sank with her captain, 37 crew members, one gunner and a passage, position 60°45'N/18°36'W.