Enlistment # V-17781
Steward
Leroy Stilson Swales was born in London, Ontario in January of 1920. His family lived in Komoka. He had brown hair and blue eyes. His mother was Mary Mildred Ayres Swales. His father was Stilson Swales, better known as ‘Chip’, because of his reputation as a great ball player with the Strathroy Royals.
His younger brother Howard was born in October of 1921. Both boys, especially Leroy, were also called ‘Chip’ or ‘Chippy’ by their friends. Stilson was an army veteran of the Great War, and he worked for the Canadian National Railway as a station agent in Komoka. In the early 1930s, Stilson was transferred to Strathroy, and the family moved to James Street, later moving to North Street. Leroy completed his grade school education in Komoka, and later attended Strathroy Collegiate Institute. Like his father, Leroy enjoyed playing baseball. For several years, he worked at Canadian Canners Limited.
Leroy enlisted with the Royal Canadian Navy in 1939. His service number was V-17781, and he was an officer steward on the H.M.C.S Valleyfield. His brother also joined the Navy. Leroy was not married.
He was killed in action on May 7, 1944 when the Valleyfield was torpedoed in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Newfoundland, while on escort duty. Only a few dozen men out of a crew of over 250 survived the disaster. Leroy was 24 years old when he died.
Although he has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Halifax War Memorial in Nova Scotia.