MILITARY HISTORY
Able Seaman Clifford Archibald Dunford – V 49645 — ACTIVE SERVICE (World War II)
On October 28, 1942, Clifford Archibald Dunford completed the Attestation Paper for the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), in Kingston, Ontario. He was 18 years, 2 months and 26 days old when, as a single man, he enlisted for the duration of hostilities. Clifford Archibald was born in Douro Township, Peterborough County, Ontario and gave his birth-date as August 2, 1924. Clifford Archibald’s permanent address was Lakefield, Ontario; he indicated that he did not have previous Military experience. Clifford Archibald completed Grade IX, in the Lakefield Public School System and left school at 15 years old in 1939. He lists his previous employment as a Factory Worker and Machine Operator at the Peterborough Canoe Company, Peterborough Ontario. Clifford Archibald was 5′ 8½” tall, 35½” chest (expanded) had a medium complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and weighed 159 pounds. His Medical Examination indicates he had a scar on his right forefinger and a scar over his left eye; he was deemed fit for Service. Clifford Archibald lists, his mother, Mrs. Lillie Dunford as his next-of-kin living in Lakefield. He was deemed fit for Service with the RCNVR. Clifford Archibald Dunford signed the Oath and Certificate of Attestation on October 28, 1942. He was then enrolled as an Ordinary Seaman (O/S) with Service Number V 49645.
Note of clarification: His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS), was not only a designation used for ships but also as a Shore Establishment Training Base (TB) which provided training for many facets of the naval profession. A naval rating is an enlisted member of a country’s navy, subordinate to warrant officers and officers, and hence not conferred by commission or warrant. The naval term comes from the general nautical usage of rating – a seaman’s class or grade as recorded in the ship’s books whilst in the United States it is currently used to denote a sailor’s occupational specialty.
Having completed the Attestation process, on October 28, 1942, O/S Dunford was assigned to HMCS Cataraqui, a Shore Establishment TB, at Kingston, Ontario from December 5 to 10, 1942. November 11, 1942 a Memorandum listed O/S Dunford as being enrolled on Divisional Strength in the Kingston Division, RCNVR with effect from October 28, 1942. He was placed on Active Service December 5, 1942. O/S Dunford’s next assignment was to HMCS York a Shore Establishment TB located at Toronto, Ontario from December 11, 1942, on which day he received a vaccination, a TABT booster shot and a Chest Xray, to February 15, 1943. On February 16, 1943 O/S Dunford returned to HMCS Cataraqui at Kingston until April 24, 1943. On April 25, 1943 he was drafted to HMCS Protector until December 4, 1943. October 2, 1943 O/S Dunford received a 2nd degree burn to the fingers on his left hand.
The Royal Canadian Naval base HMCS Protector, a Shore Establishment TB located next to Sydney Harbour on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, also known as the Point Edward Naval Base, was located next to Sydney Harbour, on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. It was founded in 1940 and used by the Canadian Navy during the Second World War. It was mainly used for provisions, protect and repair the various merchant marine convoys to Québec, Halifax, Nova Scotia (NS), and the United Kingdom. It was a main combat zone during the Battle of the St. Lawrence and the more general Battle of the Atlantic. It continued to be utilized during the Cold War’s early stages. It was decommissioned in 1964 and became the initial facility to house the Canadian Coast Guard College that same year. Currently, the Sydport Industrial Park utilizes the Base’s former piers and land. Courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
December 4, 1943 O/S Dunford was promoted to the Rank of Acting Able Seaman (A/AB) and reassigned to HMCS Protector, , until September 1, 1944. January 27, 1944 A/AB Dunford was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. About March 31, 1944 A/AB Dunford was promoted to Able Seaman (AB). April 3, 1944 AB Dunford was admitted to the Sick Bay HMCS Protector and was then admitted to the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital (RCNH) at Sydney, Nova Scotia (NS) with Scabies. Scabies is a mite infestation of the skin that causes tiny reddish bumps and severe itching. Scabies usually spreads from person to person through physical contact. People with scabies have severe itching, even though there are typically few mites on the body. AB Dunford was treated with Benzol Bebzoate and discharged to duty on June 21, 1944. On June 24, 1944 AB Dunford was admitted to the RCNH, Sydney, NS with acute appendicitis. He had an Appendectomy and was released on July 5, 1944 with 21 days Convalescent Leave.
On September 2, 1944 AB Dunford’s next assignment was HMCS Stadacona a Shore Establishment TB located at Halifax, NS. September 5, 1944 AB Dunford applied to the Bank of Montreal, Sydney Nova Scotia to open a Savings Account. He included a $10.00 allotment to open the Account. September 11, 1944 AB Dunford is assigned to HMCS Stadacona (aboard HMCS Kirkland Lake, mainly on Convoy Escort) to January 22, 1945.
On January 11, 1945 AB Dunford, while on draft to HMCS Kirkland Lake, refused to obey the lawful command of Petty Officer Raymond Watt McQueen, Official Number V 13323, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, his superior Officer when ordered to report to his cruising station at bridge lookout. He was charged and for this act he was assessed 14 days in the Brig (Cells). January 23, 1945 AB Dunford returned to HMCS Stadacona and remained there until February 9, 1945. HMCS Kirkland Lake was a River-class frigate that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
Following this “on ship” experience, AB Dunford’s next assignment was to HMCS Scotian, a Shore Establishment TB from February 10 to February 11, 1945. On February 12, 1945 he was assigned to HMCS Shelburne (Kootenay), a Shore Establishment TB to March 21, 1945. AB Dunford’s next assignment was to HMCS Niobe, a Shore Establishment TB (Kooenay) from March 22 to May 30, 1945. AB Dunford was aboard HMCS Kootenay from February 12 to June 8, 1945 while at Shore Establishments HMCS Shelburne and Niobe.
Several Canadian Naval Units have been named HMCS Kootenay. HMCS Kootenay (H75) (I) was formerly HMS Decoy (H75), an ex-Royal Navy escort destroyer, which served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1943 to 1945 and was broken up in 1946. The HMCS Kootenay was moved to the RCN April 12, 1943 and paid off on October 26, 1945.
HMCS Scotian is located in Halifax, NS: The Halifax Half-Company existed from 1925 to 1939 in HMC Dockyard. On the outbreak of the Second World War, the entire company volunteered for active service and was disbanded. Re-established in March 1943 as HMCS Haligonian, it served as a recruiting centre until May 8, 1945 Victory in Europe Day, when it became a final Discharge Centre for sailors returning from overseas. HMCS Haligonian was paid off in 1946.
Located in the community of Sandy Point, NS, the Naval Station HMCS Shelburne, a Shore Establishment, was opened by the RCN in Dec 1941. It consisted of a deep-water pier and associated facilities, as well as barracks and residences. As part of the post WW 2 forces reductions, HMCS Shelburne was closed in 1946.
On May 31, 1945 AB Dunford was assigned to HMCS Stadacona (Kootenay) to June 8, 1945. His next assignment on June 9, 1945 was to HMCS Cornwallis, a Shore Establishment in Halifax NS, until September 24, 1945. On August 14, 1945 AB Dunford over-stayed a long Leave by 4½ days while on draft to HMCS Cornwallis. He was charged with being absent without official Leave (AWOL) and for this act he was assessed 7 days in the Brig (Cells) and fined. HMCS Cornwallis was the main training base for the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II. It opened in 1943 in Deep Brook, Nova Scotia located on the southern shore of the Annapolis Basin and closed in 1992. It was named after a British admiral who was the uncle of Edward Cornwallis.
On September 25, 1945 AB Dunford was assigned HMCS Cornwallis (AB Dunford was aboard HMCS Gleneagle for 3 days) to September 28, 1945.
HMCS Gleneagle, AB Dunford’s 3rd Ship Assignment (4 days)
(No picture was found)
The Glen-class tugs were a class of tugboats of the Royal Canadian Navy built during the Second World War. There were three designs of the tugboat; two were of steel-hulled construction and the other was wooden-hulled. Of the 20 of the class built, 16 were of the steel-hulled type; 11 built by Russel Bros. of Owen Sound, Ontario and 5 by Canadian Dredge & Dock Co., Kingston, Ontario. Of the four wooden-hulled type; three were built by McKenzie Barge and Derrick, Vancouver, British Columbia, and one by LeBlanc Shipbuilding, Weymouth, NS. All but one; Glendyne, were sold into commercial service after the War.
His next assignment was to HMCS Peregrine at Halifax, NS from September 29, to October 12, 1945. AB Dunford’s last assignment was to HMCS York, located at Toronto, from October 13 to November 6, 1945. On November 6, 1945 Able Seaman Clifford Archibald Dunford was discharged from the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve on demobilization. Also on November 6, 1945 AB Dunford’s $10.00 allotment was ceased; he received a $55.50 Rehabilitation Grant, he received a Clothing Grant of $100.00 and received his War Service Grant of $148.41 in four monthly instalments. Again, on November 6, 1945 AB Dunford, was drafted on the HMCS York when he applied to “purchase by deduction” a Ninth Victory Loan of $200.00. December 18, 1945 a Naval Treasury Debt Release Statement, Re: War Service Gratuities, indicated that a Debt Balance on Discharge for the Victory Loan of $200.58 would be totally recovered upon his discharge.
Clifford Archibald Dunford’s Theartre of Service was Canada, the United Kingdom and the High Seas in the Atlantic Zone. Over the course of his Service with the Royal Canadian Navy he was assigned to the following: Shore Establishments: HMCS Cataraqui; HMCS York; HMCS Cornwallis; HMCS Stadacona; HMCS Protector; HMCS Scotian; HMCS Shelburne; HMCS Niobe and HMCS Peregrine.
As a result of his Service, Able Seaman Clifford Archibald Dunford was awarded the following Medals:
1939 – 1945 Star;
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp; and
War Medal 1939 – 1945.
He also qualified for the War Service Badge – Navy Class “AA” No 816397 and received it on November 6, 1945.
January 14, 1946 Clifford Archibald Dunford requested a course on Carpentry with up to one year of vocational training. Authorization was given to pay a rate of $60.00 monthly for six months and training in Carpentry at the T&R I is recommended. January 23, 1946 AB Dunford was awarded $50.00 per month, Rehabilitation Pay per month for two months. July 31, 1946 Clifford A. Dunford received his final War Service Gratuity payment of $75.75.
Clifford Archibald Dunford’s Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp and War Medal 1939 – 1945 were dispatched to him in 1949. His 1939 – 45 Star was not sent with the other two medals and was dispatched on June 23, 1993.
On April 21, 1950 Clifford A. Dunford sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to request a copy of his Navy Record of Service. He needed the Records, which were lost, to apply for a Veteran’s Land Act (VLA) small holding. Clifford was living on Queen Street, Lakefield.
May 3, 1950 the VLA Administration Department of DVA requested Veteran Dunford’s Records.
An excerpt from an article in Maclean’s magazine by Barbara Ameil, September 1996:
The Military is the single calling in the world with a job specification that includes a commitment to die for your nation. What could be more honorable?
PERSONAL HISTORY
CLIFFORD ARCHIBALD DUNFORD
Clifford Archibald Dunford was born August 2, 1924 in Douro Township, Peterborough County, Ontario the son of Everett “Evy” Wesley Dunford and Lillian “Lily” Louella Hurl. He was raised on the family farm and attended the rural school until the family moved in to Lakefield and resided on Clementi Street. Clifford went by the name “Cliff”; he finished Grade IX in Lakefield at 15 years old and left School to go to work. October 28, 1942 Clifford enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve to serve his country during World War II.
Prior to enlisting Cliff worked at the Canadian General Electric Company, Peterborough from July 23, 1941 to June 11, 1942. He then worked at Johnson Motors, Peterborough from June 30, to August 1, 1942. Cliff then worked at the Canadian Nepheline Mines at Nephton, Ontario; he also worked at the Peterborough Canoe Company, Peterborough from October 3 to 26, 1942.
Cliff had an Appendectomy and was released on July 5, 1944 with 21 days Convalescent Leave, perhaps Cliff married Dorothy “Dot” Helen Akers during this time. He drove bus for Colonial Coach Lines. Cliff and Dot had a family of seven children: Wayne; Steven; Gail; Larry; Brenda; Terry and Lorraine Dunford. Cliff was an exceptionally good person and a friend to many of all ages. He was trusted, respected and liked. Cliff was a carpenter and became foreman, often superintendent of many big jobs. He worked on the building of the huge sky scraper, the Toronto Dominion Centre in Toronto and on the initial major construction of several buildings at Trent University. When he worked at Trent, he went out of his way to hire and train many local lads who then spent a lifetime as tradesmen.
Cliff and Dorothy divorced and Cliff married Audrey Cheel nee Austin on November 30, 1962. Cliff loved to hunt deer, wolves, rabbit, fox, geese and ducks. He also liked to fish but the summers were busy in the building trade. In the 1970s he owned and operated a snow machine businesses – mainly a repair shop with a small gas bar on Highway #28 beside Griffin’s gun shop and just north of the building were Giant Tiger used to be. Cliff passed away on May 19, 1998 and is buried in Little Lake Cemetery.
THE CLIFFORD ARCHIBALD DUNFORD FAMILY OF SMITH TOWNSHIP
Clifford “Cliff” Archibald Dunford’s paternal great-grandparents were William Lazarus “Lazzy” Dunford and Susan Margaret Bolton.
Clifford “Cliff” Archibald Dunford’s maternal great-grandparents were Joseph Hurl and Susan Anne Elizabeth Janet Hatton.
Clifford “Cliff” Archibald Dunford’s paternal grandparents were William “Billy” Lazarus Dunford and Martha Crowe of Douro Township. William and Martha married on September 22, 1885 and farmed in Douro Township. They had a family of thirteen children: Clara Blanche; Essie Adeline; Everett Wesley; Archibald Rufu; William Alfred; Ernest Theodore; Hilliard Melville; Ettie; John and Susan Elva Dunford. William “Billy” died February 24, 1912 and Martha passed away on April 13, 1940; both are buried in St. Mark’s Cemetery in Warsaw, Ontario.
Clifford “Cliff” Archibald Dunford’s maternal grandparents were William “James” Hurl and Margaret Lavina Curtain of Smith Township. They married in Smith Township on February 16, 1875. James worked as a labour in a brick yard and was caretaker of Lakefield Cemetery. James and Margaret had a family of fourteen children: Lavina Luella Jane; John Curtain; Bernice Angeline; William “Willie” James; Margaret Anne “Maggie”, Harriet Melissa; Elizabeth “Lizzie” May; Sarah “Delilah”, George Samuel; Stanley Joseph; Cecilia Alvina; Bertha Phyllis; Norman Douglas and Lillian “Lillie” Louella Hurl. James died July 6, 1927 and Margaret passed away on September 14, 1930; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.
Clifford “Cliff” Archibald Dunford’s parents were Everett “Evy” Wesley Dunford born in 1895 and Lillian “Lily” Louella Hurl born in 1899. They married in Peterborough on March 27, 1918 and farmed in Smith Township until the mid or late thirties. They had a family of eight children: stillborn daughter; Marjorie Margaret; Irma Madeline; Clifford Archibald; Alexander Hurl; Braden William James; Royden and Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Dunford. Evy did odd jobs, and later had a cement business where he and his sons poured many foundations for houses in and around Lakefield during the 1940’s and into the mid-fifties. He also did some building contractor work, building one or two buildings at the Grove School. The family attended church and Sunday school at Grace Gospel Chapel in the Village. Evy Dunford died April 24, 1979 and Lily passed away on October 8, 1982; both are buried in Lakefield Cemetery.
