November 5, 1997: Jervis Bay - Ross Memorial Park: Heritage Resources Saint John

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"Memorial Prayer"

"Eternal God and Father of us all, we praise your Holy Name for the victory you gave us in the world wide struggle for liberty and freedom in the Second World War.

We remember our gallant comrades aboard His Majesty's A.M.C. Jervis Bay who turned their converted freighter toward the enemy despite the tremendous odds in both size of vessel and firepower - not counting the cost, but daring to shield their convoy with human courage and prayerful trust that their effort would help the convoy elude the Nazi pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.

With thankful remembrance we give tribute to Captain E.S. Fogarty Fegen and crew members of the Jervis Bay who paid the supreme sacrifice. We also remember with gratitude the armed freighter Beaverford and the full complement of Captain Hugh Pettigrew and crew who took up the struggle and held the German battleship for a further five hours but at 10:45 sank with all hands.

Finally, Father we thank you that the Swedish freighter Stureholm braved the rescue of 65 survivors from the Jervis Bay of whom Robert Squires is an honoured member of our Legion Branch. Amen."

Rev. Ernest Lake reads the prayer while Capt. Charles Stark, Merchant Navy, looks on.

"Wreath Laying Ceremony"

Bob Squires, survivor of HMS Jervis Bay, lays a wreath on behalf of ship and crew.

Wally Joyce, President RCL#53, layed the wreath on behalf of the Legion. Here, he watches Sonny Thomas, RCL#53 lay the wreath on behalf of the Main Brace Association.

Fred Cobhan lays the wreath on behalf of the Merchant Navy Association.

The HMS Jervis Bay Memorial.

"Presentation of HMS Jervis Bay Bunting"

While HMS Jervis Bay underwent refit in Saint John during the summer of 1940, many of the crew struck up friendships with the dockyard workers and were entertained in their homes. Such was the case of the Boswain's Mate who became friends with Thomas Hooley and visited his home many times.

Refit completed, the Jervis Bay was recommissioned with due ceremony and in the Royal Navy tradition was issued with "new bunting". The following day she sailed into history.

The Boswain spent his last night ashore with his friend Tom and after dinner presented the Jervis Bay's "old bunting" (the White Ensign and Union Flag) to Tom in appreciation of his hospitality.

In 1961 when Tom was packing for a move, he wished to place the bunting in the care of someone who would appreciate them. Having read in the paper that Alex P Gregory had been appointed the National President of the Naval Officers Association of Canada, he offered them to Mr. Gregory. Needless to say, they were received with due delight.

In the ensuing years the White Ensign has been loaned for display in several Jervis Bay Memorials and also used to cover the caskets of former shipmates. Mr. Gregory states it will be used to cover his before finding a final home with RCL Branch #53.

On November 5, 1997, Mr. Gregory (right) presented the Union Flag that the Jervis Bay flew while in drydock to RCL Branch #53. Accepting on behalf of the Legion was Mr. Robert Squires (seated) who served under it, and Mr. W.R. Joyce (left), President RCL Branch #53.

"Website Launch"

Following the cermony at Ross Memorial Park, the official launching ceremony of this website was conducted at RCL Branch #53. Pictured here is Rev. Lake and J.E.Marriott, Instructor of Computer Programming Technology, NBCC-SJ, Website Developer.

Website Tells Story of Heroic Jervis Bay

By BOBBI-JEAN MacKINNON Times Globe staff writer
As Reported in the «Evening Times-Globe», Wed. Nov.5, 1997

The New Brunswick Community College Saint John campus will be helping people around the world to recognize the contributions of some local veterans.

Using the latest in technology, Webmaster and Computer Programming Technology instructor Joe Marriott has developed a website for the Jervis Bay Legion, Branch No. 53.

It will be officially launched tonight in honour of the 57th anniversary of the sinking of the HMS Jervis Bay, which was sunk by a German ship while it escorted a convoy of ships through the North Atlantic during the Second World War.

"I'm pleased to be able to do a memorial to the veterans," said Mr. Marriott, who has worked on the website during his spare time since last summer. "I think it's something we should definitely not forget. "

The site is a complete virtual tour of the Ross Memorial Park, which was created by a handful of Legion members about six years ago. It includes photographs of all the monuments at the Victoria Street park and a historical explanation about their significance.

"It's something I would like to share with the world," said Mr. Marriott, a self professed history buff who was inspired by the impressive monuments and the amount of work done by the Legion members.

Mr. Marriott, whose father was in the military and is a past president of a Legion branch in Nova Scotia, also listed links where additional information can be found on the Internet.

J.C.(Sonny) Thomas, past president of Branch No. 53, is excited about the site. "I didn't know Joe was going to do it up that big", said Mr. Thomas, who first met Mr. Marriott in the park last summer. "I'm very impressed with it and I've been telling people about it. "

The launch of the website will be tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Jervis Bay Legion, Branch 53, following a wreath-laying ceremony with surviving crew member Bob Squires at Ross Memorial Park around 7 p. m. For those who can't attend, but want to visit the site, the address is: www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/~JervisBay/

Mr. Marriott also created a general site about Canada's wartime involvement at www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/~WeRemember/

The British merchant ship Jervis Bay had been in dry dock in Saint John in 1940. But it left after a refit as an armed merchant ship to help escort the convoy to Britain. Encountered by the Admiral Scheer, a German convoy raider, the Jervis Bay managed to save all but three of the other 38 ships in the convoy by diverting the enemy away before it was shelled and sunk by the Scheer. Of 255 crew members of the jervis Bay, only 65 survived.

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