Boatswain William Fleet

Son of William Fleet and Rachel Penny, of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Brother of Mrs. S. Moore, of New Westminster, British Columbia.

During the First World War, he enlisted on 12 February 1916 in Edmonton, Alberta, with the 194th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 904105. On December 28, 1916, in England, he was transferred to the 49th Battalion. On 30 October 1917, he was wounded in action in France by shrapnel to the left hand. Returning to action on 28 November 1917, on 30 September 1918 he was again shot in the lower jaw and gassed. Evacuated to England on 21 December, he was repatriated to Canada on 22 March 1919 and demobilized on 9 June.

On 10 December 1941 the Nereus, which left St Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, with ore, was sailing alone when it disappeared at sea. No German submarine claimed to have sunk her. Her wreckage has never been found. Sometimes coal boats accidentally caught fire from coal residue accumulated in the hold.