Footnote: Ernest Henry Watthey was born in July 1923 in Depot Harbour, Ontario. He was a resident of Parry Sound, Ontario when he enlisted as an Ordinary Seaman (V-50519) with the Royal Canadian Navy at HMCS York in Toronto, Ontario, on November 12, 1942 for the "duration of hostilities", stating his trade as that of Assistant Storekeeper. Watthey began active service on March 10, 1943 at HMCS York, followed by a transfer two weeks later to HMCS Prevost in London, Ontario on March 29th. His stint in London would last six weeks before he was transferred to HMCS Cornwallis at Deep Brook, Nova Scotia from May 11, 1943 to June 29, 1943. He was subsequently posted to the Signal School at HMCS St. Hyacinthe in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec on June 30th and it was here that he qualified as an Ordinary Telegraphist. He was then transferred to HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 15, 1944, followed by a three week posting to the anti-submarine base HMCS Avalon in St. John's, Newfoundland from February 26 to March 21, 1944, qualifying as a Telegraphist on March 10th. Watthey served aboard the Flower-class corvette HMCS Bittersweet from March 22 to November 6, 1944, a span of seven and a half months. He returned to HMCS Stadacona until April 14, 1945, when he was posted to HMCS Protector at Sydney Harbour on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. He returned to HMCS St. Hyacinthe on May 26th, his final posting to HMCS York on August 29th. Ordinary Seaman (Telegraphist) was discharged upon demobilization on September 20, 1945, entitled to wear the War Service Badge "General Service" Class, number 239255. As a veteran of the Second World War, Watthey was a proud member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 117 in Parry Sound, Ontario. He was married to Audrey May King Watthey (September 1927-January 2008), the couple having a daughter, Karen. Watthey died on October 20, 2015 at the age of 92, at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, his wife having predeceased him. He is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Parry Sound, Parry Sound District, Ontario.
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Canada, Commonwealth. A Royal Canadian Navy Grouping of Ordinary Seaman Watthey
1. Group of Four: 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1945. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons;
2. Royal Canadian Navy Uniform Seaman's Uniform:
(i) Jumper (in navy blue wool, "CANADA" shoulder flashes in gold-coloured bullion wire on both shoulders, a Wireless Telegraphist (Trained Operator) trade badge in gold-coloured bullion wire on a black wool base, the badge sewn in place on the right sleeve, with a navy blue cotton tie at the front, full-length zipper on the back, measuring 420 mm wide across the shoulders x 630 mm in length);
(ii) Jumper Shirt (in a thick white cotton/wool blend, a 12 mm wide strip of navy blue cotton trim at the neckline, embroidered with the large initials "E W" (Ernie Watthey) in navy blue wool along the bottom edge on the inside, measuring 450 mm in width between the shoulder seams x 600 mm in length);
(iii) Square Rig "Dickey" (upper in navy blue cotton with three rows of white cotton trim on three sides, the front end dual-slotted and creating three panels, the middle panel with two short white cotton ties, the two outside panels each with a long cotton tie, underside in alternating rules of navy blue and white cotton, measuring 380 mm in width x 660 mm in length);
(iv) Trousers (in navy blue wool, incorporating two pockets and six black plastic buttons, inside lined in a 80 mm wide band of black nylon at the waist, bell bottom cuffs, measuring 680 mm in width at the waist x 1,100 in length);
(v) Cap (black wool exterior, designed with a saddle-shaped top creating an overhang, dual black-finished metal eyelets for ventilation placed on either side, black nylon tally ribbon inscribed "H.M.C.S." in gold-coloured threading tied to the cap with the ends bow-tied in the appropriate style, black cotton chinstrap, interior lined in steel blue cotton, with strips of red and green cotton in the dome, named in black ink to "E. WATTHEY", measuring 240 mm in diameter x 95 mm in height);
(vi) two Tally Ribbons (first tally ribbon in black nylon, inscribed "H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS" in gold-coloured threading, measuring 28 mm in width x 970 mm in length; second tally ribbon in black nylon, inscribed "H.M.C. RADIO STATION" in gold-coloured threading, measuring 28 mm in width x 1,020 mm in length);
3. HMCS York (Toronto) Seamanship Pocket Manual (the inside cover named in black ink to "Ernie Watthey" and dated March 10, 1943, with a few inscriptions in pencil on page 1 and dated March 10, 1943, 40 pages of text and graphics in black ink on a semi-coated white paper stock, the cover in blue ink on a thick card stock, dual-staple bound, black tape binding, measuring 83 mm (w) x 125 (h));
4. Canadian YMCA "C'mon and Sing" Song Book (containing multiple song lyrics, 48 pages of text printed in black ink on a newsprint stock, the cover in red and blue inks on a brown kraft paper stock, dual-staple bound, red tape binding, measuring 126 mm (w) x 172 mm (h));
5. Photograph of Watthey with three other seamen (black and white, gloss finish, an "X" placed over his head to identify him, measuring 216 mm (w) x 278 mm (h)).
Accompanied by four pages of his Service Records, along with assorted research papers. Fine.
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