William (“Bill”) Andrew was born on March 7, 1921, the eldest son of ex-Sarnia mayor and harbourmaster George A. C. Andrew and Mrs. Elizabeth Harriet (nee Varnum, born in Moore Township, Lambton) Andrew, of 111 North College Avenue, Sarnia. William’s father was a World War I veteran (RCAF mechanic), as well as a City of Sarnia alderman on a couple of occasions and the mayor of Sarnia in 1924. William had six siblings: Florence Evelyn (born 1909); twins George Edwin and Ralph Varnum (born 1912, but both died six months after birth); Muriel Eileen (born 1915); George Varnum (born 1923); and Robert Barrett (born 1926). His sisters would later marry and be Mrs. John Little (Front street, Sarnia) and Mrs. Stephen Endico (Detroit). William’s youngest brother, Robert B. Andrew, was a member of the Central Century Club and attended the University of Toronto. William’s other brother, George V. Andrew of the RCAF, would lose his life while serving in World War II (see above).
William, who was an active member of Central United Church, attended Sarnia public elementary school and graduated in electricity from Sarnia Collegiate. He then took a Radio Operator course at the Canadian Electronic School in Toronto and, upon his return, spent his spare time experimenting with wireless equipment. In the winter of 1940, he applied for enlistment when the RCAF issued a call for radio technicians. He was rejected, however, due to a slight defect in his knee. In the summer of 1941, he answered the call for recruits put out by the British Civilian Technical Corps, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The British Civilian Technical Corps was recruited largely in the United States and Canada and comprised young men not likely for call for actual military service. The British CT Corps’ purpose was to assist civilian technicians in Britain by repairing vital equipment used by the British Armed Forces. Salaries ranged from $24-$38 per week. Technicians included skilled radio and automobile mechanics, electrical wiremen, instrument repairers, metal workers and other technical trades. William Andrew passed his Civil Service exam as a radio technician and wireless expert in Port Huron with marks of 100% on his examinations. He reported for duty as a radio technician with the British Civilian Technical Corps at Montreal on September 4, 1941. His family was to hear from him for the last time on October 5, 1941.
In September 1940, the Royal Canadian Navy armed merchant cruiser Prince Robert was deployed from the British Columbia coast to South America to support Britain’s blockade of ships. Britain hoped to prevent German merchant ships in neutral ports from returning to Germany or to be fitted as raiders. On September 25, 1940, the Prince Robert captured the 9,500 ton German merchant ship Weser off the coast of Mexico, one of the first important Canadian prizes of the war. The Weser was brought to the British Columbia coast and renamed the SS Vancouver Island for service in the Royal Canadian Navy. It would make several trans-Atlantic crossings until it met its end from a German U-boat.
On October 1, 1941, William Andrew was aboard the SS Vancouver Island as it left Cape Breton Island as part of a fifty-two ship convoy on its way to Belfast and Cardiff. On October 15, 1941, the convoy was intercepted by thirteen U-boats that over the next three days sank eleven ships. On the first day of the attack, the SS Vancouver Island was sailing behind the main convoy as a straggler when it was spotted by one of the German U-boats. In the mid-Atlantic, at about 10:50 pm, the SS Vancouver was struck by two torpedoes fired by German U-boat U-558.
Back in Sarnia, word of the attack and possible loss of 19 men of the British Civilian Technical Corps was received by the Canadian Observer on November 4, 1941. The British Press Service announced the loss on behalf of the Royal Air Force delegation at Washington. The information released was that the boat was presumed to have been sunk in the Atlantic Ocean but the date was uncertain and no information was available yet of any survivors. Despite the meagre details available, relatives and friends of William Andrew were hopeful that he would be safe. William’s parents had been worried about their son, because they hadn’t heard from him for so long and they wanted to send Christmas presents to him.
On November 5, 1941, while William’s brother, LAC George Andrew of the R.C.A.F. was home on leave from his Eastern Air Command post, the following official news arrived to his parents:
It is with most profound regret that I have to convey to you, the news that your son is among the list of missing passengers from a ship on which he was taking passage to the United Kingdom as a member of the British Civilian Technical Corps. The ship is missing and is presumed sunk, but the date is unknown and there is no news of any survivors. In expressing their deepest sympathy the Air Council gratefully acknowledges the generous motives which inspired your son to give his services in the defence of human liberty and progress.
W.C.G. Cribett, R.A.F. Delegation, Washington, D.C.
Later, it was disclosed that no one survived the attack on the SS Vancouver Island. William Andrew and eighteen other members of a detachment of the British Civilian Technical Corps were lost at sea. In total, the sinking of the SS Vancouver Island resulted in 102 deaths, sixty-four crew, six DEMS gunners, and thirty-two passengers. Two years later, George Sr. and Elizabeth would lose a second son in the War. George Sr. would also lose a nephew in the war, Sarnia born Leonard Andrew, who was killed during the Dieppe Raid in August of 1942. Twenty-year old William Charles Andrew is memorialized on the Ottawa Memorial, in Ottawa, Canada, Panel 1, Column 3.
SOURCES: A, B, C, G, J, N, R, S, U, 2A