Murray Francis Wilson Able Seaman, Seaman Torpedoman HMCS Valleyfield, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Number: V56565 Date of Birth: October 12, 1924, Place of Birth: Gays River, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia Enlistment: March 12, 1943 (Halifax, NS) Date of Death: May 7, 1944 Age: 20 Memorial: Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia Reference: Panel 11 Commemorated on Page 480 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 13 Murray was the son of James Mackenzie Wilson (1894-1952) and Muriel Margaret (Spares) Wilson (1898-1941) of Enfield, Hants Co., Nova Scotia, and the brother of James Stuart Wilson (1922-1973), Ralph Hanlon Wilson (1932- 2015), Annie Marguerite Wilson (b. 1928) and Irene Elizabeth Wilson. Murray’s brother Ralph was employed as a munitions inspector with the Canadian Department of National Defence. Prior to enlistment, Murray had completed the 9th grade in school at 17. He was employed as an erector with Halifax Shipyard Ltd. and hoped to work as a truck driver after the war. He lived at 95 Queen St in Dartmouth, NS. Ships served in and postings: April 20, 1943, Commenced Active Service as an Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR April 20, 1943, Drafted to HMCS Stadacona shore establishment, Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR April 25, 1943, Drafted to HMCS Protector II, shore establishment, Sydney, NS as an OS, RCNVR June 9, 1943, Drafted to HMCS Cornwallis, shore establishment, Digby Co. NS as an OS, RCNVR September 11, 1943, Drafted to HMCS Stadacona 11 Sep 1943 as an OS, RCNVR November 8, 1943, Rated Seaman Torpedoman November 26, 1643, Drafted to Hochelaga II (Manning Pool) as an OS, RCNVR December 8, 1943, Drafted to HMCS Valleyfield as an OS, RCNVR April 20, 1944, Rated Able Seaman On May 7, 1944, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) frigate HMCS Valleyfield was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-548 approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. While returning to St. John's as a convoy escort, the ship was struck in the port-side boiler room by a GNAT acoustic torpedo, causing it to break in two and sink in just 4 minutes. Because the vessel went down so rapidly, no distress signal was sent, which tragically delayed rescue efforts by the HMCS Giffard. The sinking resulted in the deaths of 125 crew members, making the Valleyfield the only River-class frigate lost by the RCN during the Second World War. Although 43 men were initially pulled from the frigid North Atlantic waters, five later succumbed to hypothermia, leaving only 38 survivors. Having died at sea with no known grave, Murray is remembered on Panel 11 of the Halifax Memorial within the grounds of Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, NS. The lost crew members are also honoured at a dedicated monument in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. HMCS Valleyfield Service File: Murray Francis Wilson