Oiler John William Skeard

Son of Thomas Skeard and Susan B. Cole of Channel, Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. Thomas served in the Merchant Navy during the First World War. Husband of Dinah Ann Grace Kendell of Channel. Father of Susannah Grace, John Enos. Marc Lewis, Freeman Germain M. Thomas Norman, of Private Victor Helven Skeard, regimental number F-605229, of the 61st Canadian Army Basic Training Camp, who died of illness at Channel, Newfoundland, on 26 October 1945, Maisie Helena, Rhoda Elmia, James Phillip, William Albert, Alice Mary and of Dina Catherine Skeard.

On 14 October, 1942, at 3:21 a.m., the ferry Caribou was hit by a torpedo launched by U-69 25 miles (40 km) from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. She sank in the Cabot Strait in 1,600 feet (488 m) of water with 136 people (crew, passengers and military) in position 47°19'N/59°29'W. The 101 survivors were recovered by the escort ship HMCS Grand-Mère (J258) and landed in North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This sinking would be Canada's worst maritime tragedy in terms of human lives during the Second World War.