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Canadian Pacific Railroads
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The passage below has been reproduced from the files of the Tottenham and Edmonton Weekly Herald. The issue is dated 26 May 1944. It has been reconfigured using today's punctuation conventions on order to make it more easier to read. The actual service took place on 20 May 1944. THE
SS "BEAVERFORD TOTTENHAM
SCHOOL'S ADOPTED SHIP LOST MEMORIAL
UNVEILED. On
Saturday a memorial service was held at Downhills Central School,
Tottenham, to commemorate the gallant action of the SS "Beaverford"
which was lost with all hands on November 5th, 1940. The
"Beaverford", a 10,000 ton Canadian Pacific cargo liner, was
adopted by the school in 1936, and until the outbreak of the war
visits were made by the scholars to the ship when in dock and members
of the crew often visited the school. The
school hall was filled to capacity with parents, past and present
scholars, and relatives and friends of the crew to do honour to their
memory. Ald Morell JP, Chairman of the Tottenham Education Committee,
presided and spoke of the valuable work done by the Merchant Navy and
the debt we owe to them. He
introduced the speakers and referred to Mrs Pettigrew, the widow of
the late Captain High Pettigrew, as "a gallant mate to a gallant
Captain". After
the singing of "Eternal Father," Miss FAS Ward read selected
verses from Psalm 107 and prayers for those at sea. Mr
CF Strong MA, Director of Education, speaking on the subject of the
School and the British Ship Adoption Society, emphasised the value of
getting first hand information of various parts of the world, through
members of the crew, and thus making geography alive to children. FOUGHT
POCKET BATTLESHIP. Mr
Hemstock BSc, a former member of the staff, gave an account of the
School's association with the ship and read extracts from letters
received from members of the crew, ending with a stirring account of
the "Beaverford's" last fight with a German pocket
battleship. After
the destruction of the "Jervis Bay," the "Beaverford"
engaged the enemy for five hours and thus allowed the rest of the
convoy to escape. Mr
NS Mercer BA BComm, the headmaster, spoke of the inauguration of the
Memorial fund and the spontaneous response to the appeal. He thanked
all those who had helped with the arrangements, particularly Mr TW
Hancock, who had acted as Secretary. Capt
RN Stuart VC DSO RD ADC RNR referred to his friend, Captain Hugh
Pettigrew and his gallant crew of 76, and then called upon Mrs
Pettigrew, the widow, to unveil the Memorial. THE
MEMORIAL The
Memorial is a watercolour painting of the "Beaverford"
coming round the Nore into the Thames Estuary. Under the picture is a
bronze plaque bearing the inscription: SS
"Beaverford," Our
Ship, Lost
with all hands In
action. 5
Nov, 1940. Miss
FA Wilson, a former senior mistress at the school, welcomed the Old
Scholars present, and said she had received letters and donations from
Gibralter, Malta and Canada, as well from all parts of the British
Ilse. On
the platform with her was Radio Officer Emsen, an old scholar from the
school, whose interest in radio was aroused by his visit to the "Beaverford,"
and who had just returned from 27 months service in the Pacific. Miss
Wilson asked Mr Emson to make the presentation of a cheque for £125
to Mr FA Lyon, Secretary of the Seamans' Hospital Society. Mr Lyon
having suitably acknowledged the gift, the singing of the national
Anthem brought the proceedings to a close. In
Memory of
Taken from The Debt of Honour Register, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. |