Stoker Joseph Germain Pilon, son of Félix and Sophie Pilon, was born December 29, 1919, in L’Orignal. It is unlikely that he ventured far from his village during his short life until events in Europe took him from his eastern Ontario countryside and confronted him with war. 

German submarines were crossing the Atlantic in search of ships that risked everything to supply England with food, equipment and, above all, hope. 

Joseph Germain Pilon was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (V49934). He served on the crew of the Canadian corvette HMCS Alberni (K 103), built on Canada’s west coast to escort convoys to England. During the invasion of Normandy, the Alberni took part in Operation Neptune, escorting men, equipment and supplies to France to assist in the Allied assault on Nazi forces. 

On August 21, 1944, a German torpedo struck the Alberni near the ship’s engine just before lunchtime. Barely 30 seconds later, HMCS Alberni slid beneath the surface of the English Channel taking 59 brave men to their graves, including 4 officers and 55 sailors. Only 3 officers and 28 sailors survived the disaster. It was later determined that the corvette had been sunk by the German submarine U-480, which suffered an even worse fate on February 24, 1945, when its entire crew was sunk. Such was the ruthlessness of war. 

Joseph Germain Pilon’s body, which probably lies in the wreck of the Alberni, has never been found. His younger brother never really understood his death. He used to say, “Germain didn’t die in the war, he drowned.”

Along with 2,846 other Canadians who perished at sea during the Second World War and 274 who disappeared under the waves during the First World War, his name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial. This Memorial is located on Pleasant Park Point at the outlet of Halifax’s natural harbour, which witnessed the departure of so many young Canadians to overseas countries.