Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Ernest Albert Pearce
In memory of:
Seaman Ernest Albert Pearce
November 23, 1941
North Atlantic
Military Service
21
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
S.S. Meridian (Panama) (1831)
Additional Information
March 13, 1920
Toronto, Ontario
Son of Lewis Edward Pearce and Florence Clare of Toronto, Ontario.
On 4 November 1941, the Meridian was trailing behind with convoy SC-53 heading for Hvaljford, Norway. On 11 November, at 23:35, U-561 fired four torpedoes at the Meridian and the ship quickly sank with its 26 sailors. The last ship to see her was HMCS Chambly (K116), Royal Canadian Navy, at about 17:30 on 11 November, position 52°50'N/33°20'W. This sinking was officially recorded on 23 November 1941, the date of the announcement of her disappearance.
Commemorated on Page 208 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 19.
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
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Details
Photo of ERNEST PEARCE – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Roll of Honour – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Roll of Honour – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Crest – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Roll of Honour – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Details
Roll of Honour – In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Details
Photo of Ernest Pearce – Sunk by U-561 Position 52.50N, 33.20W - Grid AK 8822 Complement 26 (26 dead - no survivors) Convoy SC-53 (straggler)Route New York (29 Oct) - Sydney (4 Nov) - Hvalfjord - Archangel Cargo Government stores and general cargo At 23.35 hours on 11 Nov, 1941, U-561 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the Meridian, observed one hit in the bow and heard another detonation at 23.41 hours. The ship was a straggler from convoy SC-53 and was reported missing after being seen for the last time by HMCS Chambly (K 116) (A/Cdr J.D. Prentice, RCN) at 17.30 hours on 11 November.
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