Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

His full name is Alfred Andrew W. Plank. He was named after her mother’s surname.

Son of John ? and Mary Ann Plank from Burin, Newfoundland. Husband of Edith Elizabeth Clarke from North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

During the First World War, he enlisted on 7 August 1914 with the 94th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force Reserve, and was then transferred to the 66th Overseas Battalion, regimental number 489378. On 9 March 1916, he arrived in France with the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. On 17 May 1916 he was shot and wounded by machine gun fire on 5 October 1916. On 7 June 1917, he returned to Canada and was demobilized on 30 November 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He re-enlisted on 11 April 1918 with the 94th Regiment (Argyle Highlanders), regimental number 1723, and was discharged on medical grounds. On 9 September 1918, he returned to the recruiting office and signed up with the 94th Canadian Garrison Regiment, regimental number 2700465. On the same day, he was discharged on medical grounds.

At 01 :38 am on 15 Jan 1942 the unescorted Dayrose was torpedoed and sunk by U-552 southwest of Cape Race. Altogether, the U-boat fired five torpedoes of which two struck the vessel and broke her in two. The master, 31 crew members and six gunners were lost in the position 46°32’N/53°00’W. Four crew members (two by each destroyer) were picked up by USS Ericsson (DD 440) and USS Stack (DD 406) and landed at Argentia, Newfoundland.

Commemorated on Page 265 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.