Many young Canadians joined the Merchant Navy during World War II.  Retired Captain Peter Ady’s adventures are described in today’s Chronicle Herald:

“His first crossing in 1944, from the United States with a full load of aviation fuel, was uneventful. But on the second, in which his ship was carrying Cuban molasses to be turned into industrial alcohol, the vessel was torpedoed in the North Sea off Scotland.

“With a cargo of molasses the ship went down very quickly,” Mr. Ady said. “We were lucky. We got two lifeboats away and only lost one person. It was quite an experience for a 16-year-old.”"

Read the full article here.