Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Donald Luther
In memory of:
Able Seaman Donald Luther
February 25, 1943
North Atlantic
Military Service
28
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
S.S. Manchester Merchant (Manchester, England) (147439)
Additional Information
January 1, 1915
Sunnyside, Newfoundland and Labrador
Son of William Luther and Alfreda Newhook of Bay Bulls Arm, Newfoundland.
On 25 February 1943, at 8.17 am, U-628 fired four torpedoes towards convoy ON-166, which was 400 miles (644 km) east-south-east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. They hit the Manchester Merchant, which sank in 90 seconds in position 45°10'N/43°23'W. Of the crew 29 sailors and 6 gunners lost their lives. The captain, 27 crew members and 4 gunners were rescued by the Royal Navy's HMS Montgomery (G95) and the Canadian corvette HMCS Rosthern (K169). They were disembarked in St. John's, Newfoundland. One sailor died on board the corvette.
Commemorated on Page 178 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 23.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Digital Collection
-
Details
Merchant Navy Monument in St. John's, NL -
Details
Dedication
Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.
- Date modified: