Forces With History #261--Canada's Naval Aviators (Part 9)

On October 18th, 1965, I was a watchkeeping officer on board HMCS SAGUENAY. We were in company with the other destroyers in our squadron; HMCS BONAVENTURE was nearby.

HMCS NIPIGON

At 2030 one of our sister ships, HMCS NIPIGON, suffered an explosion and resulting fire. The disaster took place just above 12 mess, where a number of men were relaxing or sleeping while their messmates were elsewhere on watch. Both high explosives and aviation fuel were stored in the immediate area.

Two sailors were among the many who responded.

Leading Seaman Doyle White was in the mess when it exploded and suffered burns to his hands and face. He escaped the burning messdeck, donned breathing apparatus, and returned to search for survivors and rescue a trapped man. He was awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry. The citation says in part: “[T]his fine display of courage in the face of serious injury or possible death, is a credit not only to Leading Seaman White, but also his ship and the Canadian Forces.”

Able Seaman Wendell Gray had not been in the compartment, but followed Leading Seaman White into the action, helping him carry one man out. He entered the highly dangerous compartment a total of three times looking for survivors and fighting the fire, even though he was the youngest sailor on the scene. He too was awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry. The medal’s citation includes this: “His actions throughout this incident, in the face of serious injury or possible death, have brought credit not only to himself, but also to his ship and the Canadian Forces.”

The subsequent scuttlebutt had it that any of the occupants of 12 Mess who were inhaling at the time of the explosion died, while those who were exhaling lived. I’m not aware of any official explanation for the explosion. Three seamen lost their lives.

Next Forces With History: Ships and aircraft cope with the emergency.