LESLIE – Born 14/10/1924 at Chatham, ON. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Parker. Prior to his enlistment in the he was a ‘coal passer’ on the “Alexander Leslie”.

Donald enlisted in The RCNVR in February 1942 serving on HMCS Gilford and HMCS Ottawa on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. He was discharged in November of 1945.

Donald enlisted in The RCNVR in February 1942, he was only 17 years old serving on HMCS Gilford and HMCS Ottawa on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Stoc. Parker  was one of three Kent County men aboard the destroyer HMCS. “OTTAWA” in the sinking of a German U-boat in concert with the Canadian destroyer HMCS Kootenay and the British corvette HMS Statice. 

The CDN 2/04/43 reported that Don’s parents received a cable Stoker Parker had arrived with a “working party” had arrived in England. Don had two brothers in the Navy Gordon in Halifax and Jack in London, all three were stockers. 

Prior to the war he had worked in the commercial fishing for a while and on the coal ship S.S. Alexander Leslie which he rejoined after the war. He left the work on the lakes and later worked for the Birmington Construction Co. as a hoist engineer.

He married Mildred Punnett and they had five children.

It was reported in the CDN 31/12/42 that Donald had spent his New Years holiday with his parents before returning to “the coast”.

The CDN 27/10/44(P) reported that “The action was a measure of revenge for the first Canadian destroyer of that name was torpedoed off Newfound land in 1942.” The two other ratings AB  Percy Drewery of Chatham and AB Dick Laurie.   

The CDN 12/01/45 reported that he had “seen service for the past year overseas, took part in D-Day operations helping to convoy to the three floating docks over to the coast of France.” He had spent three years on board a Canadian warship.

He was discharged in November of 1945.

Donald passed away 3 June, 2011 at the age of 86 years old.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

BNT-Obit (15/06/11), BFL-B, LM-LP, RCL-OC, MVL

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