Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Signaller E. H. Granahan, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when H.M.C.S. Esquimalt was torpedoed and sunk by the German Submarine U-190 in the North Atlantic off Halifax on 16 April 1945

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; together with the recipient’s Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R. ‘E. J. Granahan Ldg. Sig. R.C.N.V.R.’, good very fine (5) £200-£240

Edward John Granahan was born in Glasford, Scotland, on 27 February 1920, and having emigrated to Canada at the age of 4 enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve on 12 March 1939. He served during the Second World War as a Signalman in corvettes and later minesweepers, and in October 1944 was posted to the Bangor-class minesweeper H.M.C.S. Esquimalt.

The Esquimalt sailed from Halifax in the evening of 15 April 1945 to patrol the harbour’s approaches. The following morning, at 6:30 a.m., she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-190, and sank within four minutes. Most of the ship’s complement managed to abandon ship, but then found themselves huddled together, some 15 men per life raft, ill prepared to defend themselves against the freezing Atlantic waters. Of the crew of 71, 41 lost their lives, the majority freezing to death whilst awaiting rescue. Granahan was amongst those killed, and he is commemorated on the Halifax Memorial.

For a full account of the recipient’s participation in this action, see the article ‘Gallant to the End’, that was published in the October 2011 edition of Medal News.

Sold with copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.