Born 2/02/1924 in Chatham Twsp., Kent Co. ON. Son of Earl and Leah (Poole) Irwin, of Elizabeth St., Wallaceburg, Ontario.

William enlisted in the RCNVR in Windsor, ON. on 4/02/1943. He trained at HMCS Hunter (Windsor), HMCS York (Toronto) St. Hyacinth PQ. and HMCS Cornwallis (Halifax) and Stadacona (NS). He was assigned to HMCS Valleyfield 27/01/1944. Bill was taking a course of Radar Artificer. Most of his primary schooling in Windsor at Hugh Beaton and King George school, Central Public School and Wallaceburg High School before he enlisted. He received his Sr. Matriculation before his enlistment.

HMCS Valleyfield was commissioned 7/12/1943 had a compliment of 8 Officers and a Crew of 133. She was sailing as part of Canadian Escort Group C1 had been escorting convoy ONM-234.  The WN 27/01/44 reported that AB. Irwin was aboard HMCS Valleyfied sailing out of Halifax NS.

On 7/05/1944 Bill’s ship was patrolling in the Atlantic approximately eighty miles north east of  Cape Race, Newfoundland (at position 46.03 degrees N, 52.24 degrees W) when it was struck by a Gnat torpedo fired by German U-Boat U-584. The Valleyfield had a crew of 141 offices and ratings 125 were lost at sea. A/S Irwins body was never recovered.

Age:  20 LAS – Date of Death: 07/05/1944, on HMCS Valleyfield: sunk. 

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 11.

A memorial service was held at Trinity United Church for AB. William ‘Bill’ Irwin. Attendance included the acting mayor, RCNVR officer and Cadets along with the congregation. WN 26/10/44 (P).

The CDN 1/06/44(P) reported that Ordinary Seaman William Charles Irwin was reported ‘missing’ as a result of the torpedoing of the HMCS “Valleyfield”. The CDN 9/09/44(P) reported that AB. W. C. Irwin “is now presumed dead for official purposes”. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Settlement on the Sydenham – Allan & Frank Mann., Index of Overseas Deaths, Unsung Courage 1939-45 by Arthur Bishop
Supplemental Information	Born 2/02/1924 in Chatham Twsp., Kent Co. ON. Son of Earl and Leah (Poole) Irwin, of Elizabeth St., Wallaceburg, Ontario. Son of Earl and Leah Irwin, of Windsor, Ontario. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 11. Memorial: HALIFAX MEMORIAL.

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