Clarence Edward (“Ed”) Farndale
3 October 1918 to 23 June 1992
FAR00850
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Served in the RCN from 1939 to 1966. He was
then a Farmer and a school bus driver
Dates are in red.
Hyperlinks to
other pages are in dark
blue.
Headlines of
Clarence’s life are in brown.
References and
citations are in turquoise.
Context and local
history are in purple.
1918
Clarence Edward Farndale was born on 3 October 1918, the son of Charles and Mabel (nee Pugh)
Farndale (FAR00572), in
Brampton, Peel, Ontario, Canada (Letter).
1921
The 1921
Census of Canada for Chiguacousy Township,
Peel, Ontario (Polling Division 4 comprising the west of the middle of the
second concession west of Hurontario Street from lots
1 to 10 inclusive, Huttonville Village) listed
Charlie Farndale, 40, head; Mabel F Farndale, 35, his wife; Gordon W Farndale,
5, son; and Clarence E Farndale, 2, son.
1939
Clarence Edward Farndale, served in the Royal Canadian Navy (“RCN”) from 1939 to 1966.
See also Military Service and Farndales and the Sea.
He served from 15 March 1939 to 17
August 1945 and then from 26 February 1947 to 12 August 1966 and was honourably
released.
Decorations: 1939-45 Star, Atlantic
Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal
1939-45, RCNVR Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Canadian Forces Decoration.
Clarence and
Gordon Farndale
Service # 6846-H
Rank C2FC3
1939-1945 Star,
Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and
Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, RCNVR Longs Service and Good Conduct Medal, Canadian
Forces' Decoration.
Date this card
was issued is Sept 13, 1966.
Years served are:
15 Mar 1939 to 17
Aug 1945 and 26 Feb 1947 to 12 Aug 1966 and was Honourably Released.
1941
In March
1941, Clarence Farndale, aged 22, who is on active service with the Royal
Canadian Navy, will be home on leave in a few weeks. Clarence joined the Navy
when the war broke out. He crossed to England last October and returned to New
York in December, but he did not get home as he was recalled to England. The
trip back was made on a gun layer and it was torpedoed
off the coast of Ireland. He was one of the last to leave the ship, and in the lifeboat he gave his coat to the cook and his toque and
mitts to one of the engineers. Clarence is getting 14 days survivor leave. His
brother, Gordon, who is 25, is in the RCAF and is now on 14 days leave. He has
been stationed at No 2 Bombing and Gunning School at Mossbank,
Saskatchewan. When he returns he will be going to No 2
Wireless School at Calgary. The two boys are sons of Mrs W Archer and the late
Charles Farndale, of Churchville. They have lived in Peel
county all their lives. (The Conservator, Thursday 27 March 1951 page 5)
HMCS
Saguenay was a Royal
Canadian Navy destroyer torpedoed on 1 December 300 miles west of Ireland by an
Italian submarine, resulting in 21 fatalities. SS Maplecourt,
a Canadian-registered merchant ship was torpedoed by U-107 in the North
Atlantic (approx. 55°39N 15°56W), west of Ireland on 6 February 1941. HMS Crispin was an Ocean Boarding Vessel,
sometimes referred to as armed boarding vessels, carrying guns to enforce the
blockade. It was torpedoed in February 1941 by U-107 in the Atlantic, 500 miles
west of Ireland in February 1941. While technically a Royal Navy, not Royal
Canadian Navy, these vessels often had mixed crews and operated in the same
waters as Canadian escorts.
Ed was later
transferred to HMCS Lynx. LYNX left Halifax with Husky on 30 May 1940, for
conversion and arming at Quebec City. On
her return she was commissioned at Halifax on 26 Aug 1940 and allocated to
Sydney Force. She returned at year's end
to Halifax for the winter, and in Jul 1941, was assigned to Gaspé Force. The ship was plagued by mechanical troubles,
however, and spare parts proved unobtainable.
She was accordingly transferred to Halifax on 25 Nov 1941. On 18 Jan 1942, LYNX rescued the passengers
and crew of SS Empire Kingfisher, which had sunk off Cape Breton. Soon afterward condemned for further sea
duty, she was paid off on 23 Apr 1943, and offered for sale, but no buyer was
forthcoming until Jul 1943. For some
years a banana trader in the Caribbean, she was finally lost near Sydney,
Australia, under the name Rican Star. (For Posterity’s
Sake, A Royal Canadian Navy Historical
Project).
HMCS Lynx
Z07, Armed Yacht at Levis, 13 August 1940
ABCE
Farndale V 7560
HMCS Lynx
c/o Fleet
Mail Office
Halifax
NS
June 19,
1941
The
Editor
The
Conservator
Brampton,
Ont
I
sincerely hope that I can express in this letter the appreciation I feel on
receiving the copy of the Conservator, dated June 12th.
We get
the news of the world here on my ship, but it is very nice to get the news from
‘back home’ that doesn’t usually appear in the papers that we buy down in Halifax.
This is a
very nice ship I am on. It is one of the converted yachts now in use of the
Royal Canadian Navy. The Star Weekly had a picture of one of the yachts which
is practically identical to the one I am on, in their copy of the 21st
of June.
We also
have our own canteen on bord and a radio in our mess. We were very glad for
that, especially when the Louis v Conn fight was on the other night. In
closing, for the benefit of anyone who is thinking of enlisting, may I say that
I don’t in any way regret joining the navy and find lots of good times
connected with it.
Yours
truly
Clarence
E Farndale
(The Conservator, Thursday
26 and Friday 27 June 1941, page 7)
HMCS Lynx
c/o FMO
Halifax NS
Dear Mother
Enclosed
you will find one of Gloria's letters, postmarked March 4th, which has gone
overseas and back again. It really has been around. It went to DEMS Pool,
Liverpool, SS Lalthibyious c/o Alfred Holt & Co,
India buildings, HMCS Njobi, a Canadian barracks in
England, to Sheffield Army Post Office, Canada House, a Canadian club in London
and finally HMCS Lynx. Actually it is a wonder that it
got here at all, but it just goes to show that they eventually get here.
You can
tell any of the boys that I will be only too glad to answer any questions
regarding the Navy. The radio we have in the mess deck here is working tonight,
it sometimes doesn't - needs new tubes, and we had the Fred Allen programme on.
This
afternoon being Wednesday afternoon, we got a ‘make and mend’, that is an
afternoon allowed off to catch up on dirty washing etc .
Three of the boys got together and had a kind of a jam session of old time music. One with the violin, one with a guitar and
the other with a mouth organ. After they had been playing for a while, one of
the dockyard workmen came on board and gave us a few steps of tap dancing. He
was pretty good considering that he was ‘no chicken’.
Well I guess I will close now it is time to sling the old hammock
and turn in.
Yours
truly
Clarence
E Farndale.
(The Conservator, Thursday
3 July 1941, page 2)
1942
Clarence Edward Farndale married Dorothy Burton at Halifax on 29
September 1942.
Home on leave. Able Seaman Clarence (Ed)
Farndale, of Churchville, is home on leave from the Royal Canadian Navy, but
many of his friends in the Brampton district who met him face to face didn't
recognise him. The reason, a fine ‘over-all’ beard carefully cultivated since
his last visit home. The beard, Ed confesses, has been a constant source of
amusement since he arrived home. Visiting his mother, Mrs W Archer, of Churchville,
Ed mystified to the village as to his identity for several days. Veteran of
more than three years with the Royal Canadian Navy, Seaman Farndale experienced
his biggest thrill when his ship was torpedoed in January of last year. At the
present time he is serving aboard Corvette. (The Conservator, Thursday 4 June 1942, page 9).
Corporal Gordon Farndale, RCAF, has
just returned to his station at Calgary, after spending two weeks furlough with
his mother, Mrs W Archer, Churchville. By making special arrangements he was
able to take his leave at the same time as his brother, Able Seaman Clarence Farndale
RCNVR, who has 28 days leave. This is the first time in over 2 years that the
two brothers have been able to get together, and
relate their experiences. Their favourite debate is which is the best branch of
the service. After three years active service on the high seas, Clarence still
insists that the Navy is by far the best. After two years in the RCAF, Gordon
still says that both boys are happy in the service, so we say
“Carry on boys and more power to you”. (The Conservator,
25 June 1942, page 3)
1943
Paul Edward Farndale was
born in Toronto on 3 July 1943 (FAR00985)
(Letter).
1952
I, Petty Officer Clarence Edward
Farndale, Royal Canadian Navy, now residing in Portsmouth, England and formerly
resident in the city of Toronto hereby give notice that I will not assume
responsibility for any debts contracted in my name by my wife, Dorothy
Farndale, after this date without my written order (The Toronto
Star, 11 September 1952).
1953
Ed and Dorothy were divorced 1953. (Letter). According to a certified copy of a Decree
Absolute, dated Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 6, 1953, and filed in the
office of the Registrar General under Divorce No 325, it is ordered that the
marriage of Clarence Edward Farndale and Dorothy Burton, registered under No
115244, be null and void. Dated Halifax NS, October 28 1953.
Deputy Registrar General.
1955
Clarence Edward Farndale, married Katherine (“Kay”) Ann Shea at
Halifax on 19 November 1955 (Letter).
1957
Julia Ann Farndale
was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia on 21 February 1957 (FAR01086).
She died on 10 June 1971 at Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
1959
David Christopher Farndale
was born in Annapolis Nova Scotia on 3 October 1959 (FAR01100).
1960
Clarence (Ed) Farndale,
1960
1965
Clarence Farndale lived at Digby,
Annapolis, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada (1965 Voters
List).
1966
When Clarence retired from the navy he
was then a Farmer and a school bus driver (letter).
1968
Ed was a farmer at Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada (1968 Voters List).
1976
Ed’s wife, Catherine ‘Kay’ Ann passed
away on 20 September 1976 at Kentville, Nova Scotia after they had been married
for 21 years.
1984
Clarence Edward Farndale married Virginia Frances Mccary on 14
February 1984 at Brevard, Florida, USA (USA Marriages Index).
1985
Clarence Edward
Farndale in 1985
1989
Clarence Edward Farndale divorced on
29 November 1989 at Brevard, Florida, USA.
1992
Clarence Farndale died of cancer on 23 June 1992 (Letter/email).
He died at Kentville, Kings, Nova Scotia.