While Graham Walford and his father were members of the crew of the SS Kafiristan, this cargo ship was torpedoed at 3:55 pm on 17 September 1939 by U-53 350 miles (563 km) west of Cape Clear, Ireland, position 50°16'N/16°55'W. At 4.14pm, the ship received its coup de grace and six sailors were killed. The father rescued his son who was trying to cling on to three overturned lifeboats because Walford couldn't swim. The survivors were rescued by the SS American Farmer, which landed them in New York on 24 September. Back in Canada, Walford enlisted on the Elisha Walker while his father joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto, Ontario. Because of a bad set of teeth, he was discharged before trying his luck with the British Army.
Graham Walford fell overboard from the Elisha Walker and, unable to swim, drowned in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia.
PROSPECT CEMETERY Ontario, Canada
Pour plus d’informations, visitez la Commission des sépultures de guerre du Commonwealth (site disponible en anglais seulement).
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