Master tactician John Stubbs rammed German submarine with HMCS Assiniboine

It was a foggy morning in August 1942 when His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Assiniboine, on convoy escort duty, caught German U-boat 210 on the surface in the North Atlantic.

From a report written by Assiniboine’s Captain John Stubbs:

Ten prisoners were picked up by Assiniboine and 28 by Dianthus.

For his actions, Stubbs was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Stubbs was not yet 30 years old, but already his grace under pressure was one of his most respected qualities. He was a renowned ship handler and tactician, as well as a confident leader who improved the morale in the ships he commanded.

Stubbs left Assiniboine in October 1942 and after a year of shore duty took command of HMCS Athabaskan.

His skills proved well-suited to fast-paced night surface actions and he was honoured again with the Distinguished Service Cross for his part in a battle which saw Athabaskan and its sister ship HMCS Haida play crucial roles in sinking a German destroyer on April 26, 1944 off the coast of France.

Three nights later, Athabaskan and Haida, under the command of Harry DeWolf, were on patrol in the English Channel when they were ordered to intercept two German destroyers (survivors of the earlier battle).

Athabaskan was struck by a torpedo during the subsequent battle.

The hit caused such devastation that Stubbs ordered the crew to stand by in readiness to abandon ship.

In the early hours of morning, its decks crowded with men, Athabaskan’s magazine erupted in a massive blast.

Most of those on the port side were killed, and many others were burned by searing oil that rained down on the upper deck. Survivors took to the cold waters of the Channel as their ship began to sink beneath them.

They were in the freezing water for 30 minutes before Haida, having finished off one of the German destroyers, returned to rescue survivors.

Stubbs refused rescue in order to help find more sailors.

Although it was near dawn and the enemy coast was only five miles away, Haida lay stopped for 18 minutes.

According to witnesses, Stubbs shouted a final warning to DeWolf : “Get away Haida, get clear!”

DeWolf did not hear Stubbs, but knew he had lingered long enough. After dropping all boats and floats, Haida headed back to Plymouth with 42 survivors. Six more of Athabaskan’s sailors made it safely to England in Haida’s cutter, while another 85 were picked up by German warships.

Stubbs, badly burned and last seen clinging to a life raft, was among the 128 who perished.

As we mark Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day this month, it is the quiet heroism and selfless dedication to duty of sailors like Stubbs, who made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to save others, we honour and remember.