Saved By A Clerical Error

Heroes Remember

Saved By A Clerical Error

Transcript

That was a streak of luck. I was posted to the Ville de Québec and just as I was preparing to go up the gangway on board with my hammock and kit, a jeep driven by a WREN, pulled up in the jetty and said, “Don't go aboard, you are required back at the field school in Halifax right away!” I didn't qualify for a torpedo man when I was posted to the ship but when the nurse, the WREN took me back to the torpedo school, I was told they were very sorry but they didn't include one phase of my course's marks, therefore, it was indicated I had failed but I really hadn't failed, I had passed the course. I was going aboard the Ville De Québec as an ordinary seaman and being a torpedo man then, I wasn't required. I believe shortly after that the Ville De Québec got sunk.

Description

Mr. Boicey describes being held back from boarding HMCS Ville Du Quebec, because a mistake had been made in his paperwork. Shortly thereafter she was sunk.

Orville Boicey

Orville Boicey was born in 1924 in Almont, Ontario. His father, a First World War veteran, spoke of his experiences so his children might better understand patriotism. Mr. Boicey completed grade nine in 1941, and in August, 1942 enlisted in the navy. He trained as a torpedo man at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and then joined the crew of the corvette, HMCS Nanaimo. Nanaimo protected convoys in the Western North Atlantic, on what Mr. Boicey calls “the triangle run”. This refers to the three Atlantic ports of origin for convoys, St. John's, Halifax and New York. He discusses anti-sub tactics and a probable sinking of a submarine. Mr. Boicey pursued his career in the RCN after the war, sailing on all three of Canada's aircraft carriers, HMCS Warrior, HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Bonaventure, as well as the destroyers HMCS Wallaceburg and HMCS St. Croix. He retired with the rank of Petty Officer.

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