Captain John Robert Townshend served in the Royal Canadian Artillery during World War Two. Born in the United Kingdom in 1903, he emigrated to Canada where he made his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
John was the son of Albert and Hannah Townshend. After moving to Canada, he married Mabel Beatrice Townshend of London, Ontario. They had three children – John Townshend, Patricia Townshend, and Robert Townshend.
On 21st April 1941, the SS Nerissa departed Halifax, Nova Scotia. SS Nerissa was a troop ship carrying Canadian soldiers to the United Kingdom. John was one of the many passengers on his way to join to war in Europe.
The crew of U-552 return to base in Saint-Nazaire. From the French port, they wreaked havoc on the Atlantic, sinking many ships off the coast of Ireland under the command of Erich Topp. Here, the VIIC class submarine flies four victory flags. Copyright unknown.
SS Nerissa sank en-route to Liverpool, England 9 days later. A torpedo from U-Boat U-552 struck the troop ship, which sank in under 4 minutes. Under the command of Erich Topp, the type VIIC submarine – The Red Devil – was deadly in the Atlantic Ocean. SS Nerissa was one of many confirmed sinkings by U-552 including the USS Reuben James.
It would be the only ship to lose Canadian men on their way to England during the course of the war. Of the 290 passengers and crew on board, only 84 survived. Captain Townshend was one of the many fatalities. His body washed ashore in Co. Antrim.
Captain Townshend’s grave is in Plot 2, Grave 16 of Bonamargy Cemetery, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. His name is on page 47 of the Canadian Second World War Book Of Remembrance.