| Rank | A/B. |
| Service # | V31033 |
| Unit # | RCNVR |
Born17/02/1924 in Leamington, Essex Co., ON. The son of Gordon and May (Lamarsh) Pickering. The brother of Larry, Keith, Gerald and Donna. The husband of Lila May (nee Butcher), father of Diane (Dorion), Bonnie (Rotshenk), Doreen (Hewitson) Dan predeceased children Bob, infants Peggy and David.
Robert joined the RCNVR one month after his 18th birthday, 8/04/1942 at Windsor, ON. He had a younger brother who joined the Army (underage) and a sister joined the RCAF.
His first ship was HMCS Iroquois (G89) a Tribal Class Destroyer attached to the 3rd Flotilla – Home Fleet. There were three enemies was “the weather, submarines and aircraft. During a crossing in December of 1942 a North Atlantic storm sprung rivets from metal plates and two men were lost overboard.
Transferred overseas to Ireland where he joined the crew of the rescue corvette HMCS Gifford K402 from Nov. 43 to May 1944. Robert helped rescue a dozen survivors of HMCS Valleyfield which was sunk 7/05/1944 by U-boat (U-548) action. CDN 0/04/10.
Curator’s note: HMCS Valleyfield (K329) was a River class frigate with a complement of 172 all ranks. After parting company with convoy ONM 234 on 7/05/44 Escort Group C-1 was making their way to St. John’s, Nfld.
Robert spent twenty minutes in the water helping the numbed almost paralyzed victim to safety, his actions were graphically reported in dispatches. AB W. C. Irwin, V54304, of Wallaceburg was lost on the Valleyfield.
38 survivors were rescued by the crew of HMCS Gifford, however five of those rescued died within five minutes of being brought aboard, likely due to hypothermia and they were buried at St. John’s Newfoundland. Also lost on the sinking “Valleyfield” were Commander John Bryon (RNR) and Captain Lt. Cmdr. D. T. English.
The German submarine U-548 captained by Kptlt. Eberhard Zimmernan fired two GNAT (acoustic torpedoes) at 04:35 at five of the escort ships departing. One of the torpedoes struck the port side boiler room splitting the Valleyvield into two pieces. She sank in under four minutes. She sank 50 nautical miles from Cape Race at 46-03 N / 52-24 W. William Charles IRWIN of Wallaceburg was ‘Lost at Sea” aboard the Valleyfield..
HMCS Giffard after breaking off the search for U-548 rescued 43 men from the frigid waters, 5 of the men died later. JRH.
The last eight trips across the ocean in 1944 was by far the most harrowing and controversial. The HMCS Gifford was sailing “about half a mile astern of the Valleyfield when he heard an explosion” Bob reported in the CDN 6/05/2000 to reported Kate McCrindle. Bob was getting ready to go on ‘night watch when he saw the little light on lifejacket floating in the water. He thought the ship must have sunk in “30 seconds for her to go down”. After the Gifford completed her search for the submarine she returned to the area of the blast to search for survivors.
Robert tied himself to a heaving line, held by O/S. John ‘Jack’ H. Erickson (V19507) of Chatham was holding the other end of the line. Bob could still remember the smell and slickness of bunker oil from the sunken ship and how it was suffocation to the men in the water and made them so hard to get a hold on. The lifejackets of the day were also a problem either too loosely done up or not done up at all. He discovered that if you could get them to “a straddle position over ones arm.” That would help. Bob also swam out to men to weak to come towards the ship. While doing all this he was very mindful that the sub might like to take the Gifford too. He said “You just don’t have time to think. Your training kicks in.” The memory of the rescue many years later still haunted him. “To see people reaching up the scrambling net and sliding right through their life jacket ….. it really doesn’t hit you until after” he said.
He also served on HMCS Iroquois G89 (Destroyer), from Nov. 1942 to Feb. 1943; and Kenogaui K125 (Corvette) Jul. 44 to VE-Day 1945. After 40 months at sea in the war’s longest battle, he remembers the sweet victory that day brought. John was discharged from the Navy at HMCS Provost 14/11/1945, age 21 years address 101 Park Ave. East, Chatham,ON.
Robert returned to Chatham married Lila Mae (nee Butcher) in 1946 CDN-4/09/46 and they had twin daughters in January of 1949 CDN 18/01/49. Bob spent the next 34 years working at International Harvester/Navistar. CDN 30/04/10.
Bob was involved in many things, a member of the Legion Branch 642 R.C.N.A. in Chatham. He was involved in minor hockey and the Chatham Junior Maroons, many Lodges, Kent Housing Authority and church.
Robert passed away 12 February, 2016 at the age of 92 years old. CDN-Obit 13/02/16
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | CFF-FD44, CDN (20/05/44(H)), CDN-Obit 3/01/15 (wife), Discharge card (copy) IODE-IS(P), CDN 6/06/44, CDN 20/05/44(H), CDN 6/05/2000(P), Janet V. L. Lucas, IODE-IS, BNT 21/0542. , IODE-IS(P) (CDN), 28/04/10 |
| Next of Kin | Wife Lila May Pickering |
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