Callowhill, W.H. (William Henry)

Callowhill, W.H. (William Henry)
Coder William Callowhill was the son of Cecil Clayton Callowhill and Kathleen Callowhill, of 367 Graham Street, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was born on the 9th of November 1921, joined the Navy on the 6th of May 1943 and served onboard H.M.C.S. Pictou.[1]
The Callowhill family had already received bad news when they heard that William went missing on the 29th of October 1943. Their other son Private John Edward Callowhill had been hit by a motor shell, wounding him on the back and the legs. He was in a hospital in North Africa.
William’s ship, H.M.C.S. Pictou was based in Londonderry’s port at the time of his death. It had arrived there the previous year during March and had been involved in convoy duties in the North Atlantic.
The Pictou had a troubled history and had many issues, having to be repaired and refitted several times in Halifax and Liverpool. Finally, when it was in good working order the ship got rammed by Norwegian M.V. Hindanger[2] while part of convoy ON116 during August 1942. This resulted in more repairs in Halifax and another refit in Liverpool.
The ship would finally leave the port in Lisahally, Londonderry during December 1943 to resume duties and would ultimately survive the war to be sold later as a whale-catcher.
William had gone missing on the 29th of October 1943. While crossing from one ship to another he slipped and banged his chin on the side of the Pictou. A scream was heard, and an immediate investigation took place, but he had already disappeared under the water. His body was later found floating in the harbour on the 14th of November 1943. He had died from asphyxia caused by drowning. His military funeral took place a few days later, on the 17th.
William was awarded the 1939-45 Star, War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with Clasp.
Date of Death: 29/10/1943 (Aged 22)
Service: Coder, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.C.S. Pictou
Service Number: V/35422
Burial Location: Londonderry (or Derry), City Cemetery, C. of E. Plot. Sec. F. Grave 37.
[1] HMCS Pictou was a Royal Canadian Navy Flower- class corvette, launched October 1940 and decommissioned July 1945.
[2] Merchant Vessel Hindanger was launched during 1929 and was sunk September 1942 by U-Boat U608.