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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Donald Barwis

In memory of:

Able Seaman William Donald Barwis

September 20, 1943

Military Service

Service Number:

V/30612

Age:

22

Force:

Navy

Unit:

Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Division:

H.M.C.S. St. Croix

Additional Information

Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. A. Barwis, of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 134 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada

Grave Reference:

Panel 9

Location:

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:

1914-1939
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.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Artifact– C.W.A. Barwis, Esq. 2/70th Burma Rifles. I found this box in a barn in Proctor, B.C. The barn was built around 1913. I think originally it was the Harrington Fruit Ranch, West Arm, Kootenay Lake. Unfortunately, the lid is missing. I am not sure of the connection to any other Barwis but I thought it might be of interest. I would guess this box might be from WW1. There is a monument to WW1 Veterans in the village of Proctor. I will check to see if there is a Barwis on that. Rbs

    Details

    Artifact
    Artifact – C.W.A. Barwis, Esq. 2/70th Burma Rifles. I found this box in a barn in Proctor, B.C. The barn was built around 1913. I think originally it was the Harrington Fruit Ranch, West Arm, Kootenay Lake. Unfortunately, the lid is missing. I am not sure of the connection to any other Barwis but I thought it might be of interest. I would guess this box might be from WW1. There is a monument to WW1 Veterans in the village of Proctor. I will check to see if there is a Barwis on that. Rbs
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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