Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Harold Edward Tyrrell
In memory of:
Able Seaman Harold Edward Tyrrell
January 19, 1942
Military Service
16
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
RMS Lady Hawkins (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (155047)
Additional Information
April 15, 1925
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Son of Frank Harold Tyrrell and Violet Ruth Moore from Parrsboro, Cumberland, Nova Scotia. Cousin of Flying Officer Arnold Jeffers Tyrrell who died on February 4, 1945 while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
During the First World War, Frank enlisted on 28 March 1916 in Parrboro, regimental number 901847, with the 193rd Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Transferred to the 42nd Battalion on 5 December 1916, he landed in France the same day. Posted to the 4th Entrenchment Battalion, then to the 85th Battalion, he was wounded in action on 29 April 1917 in the Vimy sector. On 29 September 1918, he was again wounded in action by bullets. Repatriated on 25 May 1919, he was demobilized on 2 June. He was awarded the Good Conduct Badge, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
The Lady Hawkins was torpedoed on 19 January 1942 at 7:43 am by U-66 and sank east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA, position 35°N/72°30'W. The attack caused the death of 251 people and left 71 survivors. The master, 86 crew members, one gunner and 163 passengers (including four DBS) were lost. The chief officer, 20 crew members and 50 passengers were picked up after five days by the Coamo and landed at San Juan, Puerto Rico on 28 January.
Commemorated on Page 243 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 22.
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
Memorial – Remembering cousins lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022 -
Details
Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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