It was the in the final days of World War 2 when the HMCS Esquimalt left the port of Halifax to patrol the approaches to Halifax Harbour. The Esquimalt had been experiencing technical problems but it received word that a German submarine might be in the vicinity of the harbour. It was early morning and the weather was clear, the sea gently flowing in rythmic waves, as the HMCS Esquimalt started out. After just moments, the asdic operators detected the unmistakable ping of a gnat torpedoe. There was no time to alert the crew, one of whom was Edward John " Jack" Granahan, a local Beaches man who worked for the Beaches Meat Market at 2010-1/2 Queen Street East and also L.P. Hunter Groceteria at 2080 Queen St. East, who was Leading Signalman.
With deadly force, the gnat torpedoe hit the starboard side of the Esquimalt, having been deployed seconds earlier from the U-190 German Uboat. The Esquimalt listed to starboard before disappearing below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, taking with her many of the crew who were either killed upon impact or were unable to escape.
It was 6:20 a.m. and the survivors scrambled aboard the Carley floats where there was room but many like my uncle, " Jack" Granahan, chose to give up their seat on the Carley float in order that others would survive. My Uncle Jack desperately clung on to the side of the float, all the while expecting to be rescued shortly as the Esquimalt was to have met up with the HMCS Sarnia at 7:00 a.m. and ultimately be rescued. The 7:00 a.m. meeting time passed with no sign of the Sarnia and even though the survivors were only about 1 mile offshore, their cries for help were dismissed. They were thought to be fishermen when a Royal Canadian Airforce plane flew overhead.
The men became desperate as one by one the men succumed to the frigid temperatures. My Uncle Jack continued to refuse a seat onboard the Carley float so that others would live.
After an hour in the frigid waters, my Uncle Jack asked the others to say the Lord's Prayer with him. With shivering lips, they all repeated it. At the end, my beloved Uncle said goodbye to his friends and shipmates, let go of the Carley float and slipped beneath the black water of the Atlantic.
The rest of the survivors clung onto the Carley float and huddled together for another 6 hours before they were ultimately rescued by the HMCS Sarnia.
On this day, April 16, 2003, some 58 years since the tragedy of the HMCS Esquimalt happened, I hope when you read this, you will take a moment to reflect upon the freedom all of us take for granted and remember all of the men and women who have given their lives so freely so that we might enjoy the liberty that we do today. I will never, ever forget my Uncle Jack Granahan, a local Beaches Hero, who died so bravely. He is my Hero!
