Leading Seaman William Edward Dutfield

Birth: December 8, 1931 in Vancouver, BC
Death: March 3, 1953 in Shearwater, Nova Scotia
Service: Korean War
Service Number: 8385-E

Biography:
William Edward Dutfield was born December 8, 1931 in Vancouver, BC. Son of William Arthur and Mabel (née Thomas) Dutfield of Lulu Island and brother of Miriam Dutfield.

As a student at Richmond High School, William was vice-president of the school council, and was a lacrosse, basketball, baseball, swimming and tennis player. He had previous service in the 72nd Seaforth Cadets.

William joined the Royal Canadian Navy, in the HMCS Shearwater division in 1949 after he graduated from Richmond High School. His ambition to be a flier, he was accepted as a trainee in 1949. He married Helen Agnes (née Bellefontaine), a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia girl in 1951. His family had not yet met her when her telegram reached them, which told of the tragedy. William died on March 3, 1953 in a plane crash off Halifax while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, HMCS Shearwater.

He had received the Good Conduct Badge.