Canadian Forces

Athabaskan's Leading Stoker Albert Dion

gsellars

In Memory of Leading Stoker ALBERT JEAN GERMAIN DION V/3373, H.M.C.S. Athabaskan., Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve who died age 24 on 29 April 1944 Son of Emile and Josephine Dion, of Limoilou, Province of Quebec. Remembered with honour HALIFAX MEMORIAL Jean was born in Quebec City and volunteered in 1938 to escape the Great Depression of the 1930's. This gallant young French-Canadian was 24 years of age when he sailed with Athabaska on her last voyage. He first became a "Bandsman", shore duty was not his style so he took the stokers course to qualify for sea duty. He served on a boom defense vessel for about a year and then took a commando course in time to join the invasion force of Sicily and Italy. Dion was wounded during this campaign when his landing-craft was hit and sunk. He was taken to Niobe and hospitalized till he was fit and able to join Athabaskan.