WEYBURN – Edmonton-based poet Garth Ukrainetz has penned a poem to mark the anniversary of the sinking of HMCS Weyburn, which occurred on Feb. 22, 1943 near the Rock of Gibraltar.
He’s provided some background history about the sinking of the corvette, one of several to serve. During the Second World War the North Atlantic Ocean was the critical supply route for the Allied forces in their fight against Hitler. Canadian shipyards quickly and skillfully built a large fleet of Corvette warships that were assigned to escort supply ships across the ocean.
The corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy played an extremely important role defending the supply convoys. Hitler’s U-boats were at constant attack in the North Atlantic, for if he could cut off the supply lines he had a better chance of winning the war.
Out of a total of 123 Canadian Corvettes, only seven were christened with the names of Saskatchewan communities: Saskatoon, Kamsack, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Rosthern, Regina, and Battleford.
After the war ended only five of these vessels returned to Canadian ports. HMCS Regina and HMCS Weyburn never made it back home. Regina was torpedoed and sunk off the south coast of England. Weyburn sailed into a naval mine and sank off the north coast of Africa.
“Years later, in observance of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, I decided to write poems in tribute to the seven ‘Saskatchewan Corvettes’ as my personal way of saying ‘thank you’ to that brave generation that fought to preserve the freedoms we still enjoy today,” said Ukrainetz.
HMCS Weyburn struck a naval mine laid by one of Hitler’s U-boats on Feb. 22, 1943. Weyburn was very fortunate the British destroyer HMS Wivern (Wyvern) came quickly to the rescue. Wivern retrieved most of Weyburn’s crew from their sinking ship and from the surrounding water just moments before Weyburn’s remaining two depth charges exploded.
HMS Wivern was seriously damaged and suffered casualties from the explosions. A Welsh doctor on the Wivern (Dr. Philip Evans of Wrexham) had both his legs broken by Weyburn’s explosions, yet the injured doctor courageously insisted they carry him around so he could attend to all the wounded men from both ships.
If it wasn’t for the Wivern, the situation would have been much worse for Weyburn’s crew.
A total of 12 men perished from Weyburn’s complement. Some were killed instantly and some died from injuries a few days later in the Gibraltar hospital. Thomas Golby, the captain of HMCS Weyburn, went down with his ship. Golby Island in Lac La Martre (NWT) was named in the captain’s honour. It is also worth noting that a few miles southwest of Lac La Martre lies Weyburn Lake.
A special hero of note is Ordinary Seaman Daniel Tanzey. The order was given to abandon Weyburn but Daniel volunteered to stay on the sinking ship to deactivate the many depth charges so they would not explode when the ship went underwater.
Daniel managed to deactivate most of the depth charges except for the last two, which exploded and quickly sent Weyburn sinking down to the bottom of the ocean. Daniel was never seen again.
“Alas, precious is the cost in defence of our freedom. Daniel’s heroic actions saved the lives of many men from both ships that fateful day, and he is one of the many reasons why the people of Weyburn should be proud of their Corvette,” said Ukrainetz.
Weyburn Went Down
By Garth Paul Ukrainetz, Poet of the Blackmud Creek
Weyburn went down in a minefield that day,
The Rock of Gibraltar on distant horizon.
Good Wyvern did rescue the men from their sinking
Though wounded became when the depth charges blew.
Souris, they say, never seen to abandon
O land of living skies and endless prairie ship
Now rests on the floor of the sea north of Africa.
Somber token of Saskatchewan loss in the war
Within a few years the madness was over
Hitler’s wicked plans justly destined to fail
Alas, precious the cost in defence of our freedom
Many vessels never returning to home ports.
Yes, Weyburn went down in a minefield that day
Back at home massive snowdrifts swirled like waves
Weathered flags in school yards lowered to half mast
Students trudged home solemn and cold, yet still proud
To view a video of the poet reading this poem, please click on the following:
