River Adur, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex January 6, 1942

On January 6, 1942, the West Nova Scotia Regiment was carrying out military manoeuvres on the River Adur, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. Seven men from No. 12 Platoon, ‘B’ Company, died as the result of a training accident when a boat capsized while crossing the River Adur. Nine men in one boat left one bank to cross to the other. The Commanding Officer wanted to make the exercise realistic. He threw a thunder flash and it exploded right beside the boat. Some in the boat stood and and they all went into the river. Water temperature and current made rescue difficult and six of the men drowned. Corporal Walter Marshall died on February 15, 1942 from medical complications following the accident. The seven are all interred at the Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, England.

Howard Thomas Farnsworth Rank: Private Service Number: F/40335 Date of Birth: December 23, 1910 Place of Birth: Mt. Pleasant, Digby Co. NS Date of Enlistment: March 27, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Aldershot, NS Address at Enlistment: Mt. Pleasant, Digby Co. NS Age at Enlistment: 29 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Married Religion: United Next of Kin: Mrs. Mary Eliza Farnsworth (wife), Digby NS Age at Death: 31 Grave Reference: Plot No. 37, Row C, Grave No. 1 Son of Thomas (Deceased at the time of his enlistment) and Orlinda Farnsworth of Marshalltown, Digby Co., NS; survived by 7 children. Commemorated on Page 72 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 17 Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Joseph Elise Gaudet Rank: Officer Cadet Service Number: F/41665 Date of Birth: January 7, 1921 Place of Birth: Concession, Digby Co., NS Date of Enlistment: October 31, 1939 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Address At Enlistment: Belliveau’s Cove, Digby Co., NS Age at Enlistment: 18 Trade: Labourer Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Son of Adolphe and Lena Gaudet of Belliveau’s Cove, Digby Co., NS Age at Death: 20 Grave Reference: Plot No. 36, Row C, Grave No. 10 Commemorated on Page 75 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 19

Arthur Stuart Jaquest Rank: Private Service Number: F/39912 Date of Birth: November 28, 1908 Place of Birth: Nettleton Rd, New Cross, London, England Date of Enlistment: November 23, 1939 Place of Enlistment: Bridgewater, NS Address at Enlistment: Bear River, Digby Co., NS Age at Enlistment: 30 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: Mary Elizabeth (Alice) Farrer (Mother), 7 Cardiff Rd, Luton, Bedfordshire, England Age at Death: 33 Grave Reference: Plot No. 37, Row C, Grave No. 2 Commemorated on Page 84 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 23

Robert Harold MacDonald Rank: Private Service Number: F/29957 Date of Birth: December 13, 1914 Place of Birth: Halifax, NS Date of Enlistment: February 29, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Address at Enlistment: Halifax, NS Age at Enlistment: 25 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: Robert D. & Mary MacDonald, West Hants Co., NS Age at Death: 27 Grave Reference: Plot No. 37, Row C, Grave No. 3 Commemorated on Page 92 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 27

Walter Murray Marshall Rank: Corporal Service Number: F/41573 Date of Birth: May 1, 1913 Place of Birth: Freeport, Digby Neck, Digby Co., NS Date of Enlistment: September 21, 1939 Place of Enlistment: Bridgewater, NS Address at Enlistment: Digby, NS Age at Enlistment: 26 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Married Religion: United Next of Kin: Mary Esther Marshall (wife) Age at Death: 28 Grave Reference: Plot No. 36, Row F, Grave No. 4 Son of George and Genster Marshall; husband of Mary Esther Marshall, of Digby, NS; survived by 2 children, Florence Edith & Joan Marie Marshall Commemorated on Page 94 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 28 & 29

William John McLean Rank: Lance Corporal Service Number: F/44874 Date of Birth: May 9, 1920 Place of Birth: New Glasgow, NS Date of Enlistment: September 29, 1939 Place of Enlistment: New Glasgow, NS Address at Enlistment: New Glasgow, NS Age at Enlistment: 18 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Margaret McLean (mother) Age at Death: 22 Grave Reference: Plot No. 36, Row C, Grave No. 9 Commemorated on Page 98 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 2

Edward Charles Melanson Rank: Private Service Number: F/41660 Date of Birth: September 19, 1919 Place of Birth: Ashmore, Digby County, NS Date of Enlistment: October 31, 1939 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Address at Enlistment: Amherst, NS Age at Enlistment: 20 Trade: Laborer Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Mrs. Beatrice Dugas Melanson (mother), Weymouth North NS Age at Death: 22 Grave Reference: Plot No. 36, Row C, Grave No. 8 Commemorated on Page 98 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 2 Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sources: Veterans Affairs Canada