Canadian Virtual War Memorial
John Duff
In memory of:
Carpenter John Duff
July 18, 1941
Military Service
60
Merchant Navy
Canadian Merchant Navy
S.S. Pilar de Larrinaga (Liverpool, England) (142675)
Additional Information
August 21, 1880
Port Hawksbury, Cap-Breton, Nova Scotia
His full name is John George Tuttle Duff.
Son of William Duff and Sarah Lydia Hilda Rhoode, of Port Hawksbury, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Husband of Elizabeth Metcalf, of Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Father of Lillian and Gertrude Agnes Duff.
On May 4, 1917, the Pilar de Larrinage was torpedoed by UC-65 on her way from Galveston, Texas, to Manchester, England. She sank with 20 crew members two miles (3 km) south-south-east of Tuskar Rock, Wexford, Ireland, position 52°10'N/06°08'W. He probably died from injuries sustained in the wreck. There is no indication of where he died, but at sea.
Commemorated on Page 129 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 18.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Digital Collection
Do you have photographs or personal memorabilia relating to John Duff that you want included in our digital collection?
Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.
- Date modified: