|
Several
McAllister descendants in our line served in Canadian or British warships
in World War II. The record for longest service belongs to Petty Officer
William Lawrence (Laurie) McAllister (J34-3-3-4-3-1), who served aboard
two Canadian destroyers, HMCS Columbia and HMCS Saskatchewan,
from 1940 to 1945. He spent the war years in these ships battling German
U-boats in the North Atlantic and later took part in the "Longest
Day"--the D-Day invasion in Normandy on June 6, 1944--and the attack
on the German submarine base at Brest in France. Others who served include
our heroic cousin Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray (J34-3-3-4-5-2), who won
the Victoria Cross and gave his life in the closing days of the war against
the Japanese while serving aboard HMS Formidable, an aircraft carrier
in the British Pacific Fleet. And there was our cousin Lieutenant George
Eric McAllister (J34-3-3-9-6-1), who also waged the battle in the Atlantic,
aboard HMCS Suderoy V, protecting the convoys against the menace
of the submarines. The pictures in this exhibit of the McAllister Gallery
are their record--those who guarded our sea frontiers during the grim days
of World War II and carried the war home to our enemies. In the words of
British naval tradition--Well Done, Lads.
Petty Officer William Lawrence (Laurie)
McAllister (J34-3-3-4-3-1)
Petty Officer Lawrence McAllister (second
from right, back row) with other men from Ontario aboard HMCS Saskatchewan
during World War II.
HMCS Saskatchewan glides toward
her mooring at St. John's, Newfoundland. Petty Officer Lawrence McAllister
was among the crew of the vessel when this photo was taken during World
War II.
HMCS Columbia at sea. Petty
Officer Lawrence McAllister served aboard the destroyer for two years during
the Second World War.
Lieutenant Robert Hampton (Hammy) Gray,
VC, DSC, RCNVR (J34-3-3-4-5-2)
Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair is thought
by many to be the best naval fighter of World War II. This aircraft bears
the same number and markings as the one flown by Lt. "Hammy"Gray during the war.
HMS Formidable had a distinguished
record with the British Pacific Fleet in World War II. Lieutenant R. H.
"Hammy" Gray was senior pilot of 1841 Squadron in the ship until
his death in action on August 9, 1945.
In a small boat, officers from HMS
Formidable return from a beach outing in the Philippines. Lt. R.
H. Gray is in the lower left corner of the photo. This informal snapshot
was taken shortly before his death in 1945.
Lieutenant G. Eric McAllister (J34-3-3-9-6-1)
in informal battle dress at the ship's helm. Behind him are the bins used
for storing signal flags on HMCS Suderoy V, the ship in which he
served during the Second World War.
The officers and crew of HMCS Suderoy
V. Lieutenant G. Eric McAllister (seated, second from left) was second
in command of the vessel.
Convoy duty aboard HMCS Suderoy
V on the North Atlantic during the war. The barrel of a gun points
seaward, and in the distance, the lean silhouette of a destroyer can be
seen.
This is why the North Atlantic is called
icy. The photo was taken aboard HMCS Suderoy V, the ship in which
Lieutenant G. Eric McAllister served. Convoy protection had to be accomplished
in fair weather or foul, and such accumulations of ice were common.
 Lt. Robert
Hampton Gray, VC, DSC 
Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray (J34-3-3-4-5-2) was
the Senior Pilot of 1841 Squadron in HMS Formidable, an aircraft
carrier in the British Pacific Fleet. He lost his life on August 9, 1945,
in the final moments of World War II, while sinking an enemy warship. In
World War II, he was one of only 16 Canadians to be awarded the Victoria
Cross, the highest British decoration for heroism. McAllisters take great
pride in his courage and in his life. To read his citation and learn more
about him, please visit the following site established by the Veterans
Affairs Department of the Canadian government:
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/citations/gray
Back to J34 McAllister Genealogy.
|