Biography

Petty Officer 2nd Class Lewis Stringer was one of nine sailors who died as a result of a gearbox explosion and fire aboard HMCS Kootenay. The inferno on the lower decks injured 53 others. It was the worst peacetime accident in Canadian naval history. The ship was one of eight Canadian Navy destroyer-escorts conducting full power trials and NATO exercises on October 23, 1969 in the English Channel. Four sailors were buried in England, four were buried at sea off Plymouth and one rests in a Canadian cemetery.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Stringer died of his injuries two days after the explosion. For his courage, he was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour, highest Canadian award for bravery.

The citation reads:

Sgt Lewis John Stringer of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and Hamilton, Ontario, who died from the effects of smoke inhaled while he organized the evacuation of men from the ship's cafeteria following an explosion aboard HMCS Kootenay. HMCS Kootenay, one of seven "Restigouche"-class destroyer-escorts in the Canadian navy was conducting full-power trials on October 23, 1969, in the western approaches to the English Channel with eight other Canadian ships. At 8:21 in the morning there was an explosion in the engine room. Intense heat, flame and smoke engulfed the engine room almost immediately and spread to adjacent passageways and to the boiler room. Sgt Stringer, a supply technician, was off-duty in the cafeteria. He understood the danger immediately and stepped into the exit to use his body to block the way to the smoke-filled passageway. He instructed others in the cafeteria to get down on the deck, breathe through their sleeves and crawl out by way of the galley. Sgt Stringer waited until the last man had made good his escape before attempting to leave himself. He collapsed in the galley and although rescued, he succumbed later.

PO2 Stringer enlisted October 21, 1948 in Hamilton. Service number: N10699. His was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration and the Canadian Centennial Medal (1967).

Son of Joseph and Annie Stringer of Hamilton, Ontario. Husband of Christina Stringer and father of Louise, Susan and Jacqueline Stringer of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Buried in the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; plot: Sec. 10D, Lot P-9.

• Commemorated on Page 146 of the In the Service of Canada Book of Remembrance.

Sources and Notes

• The navy rank "Petty Officer 2nd Class" (or PO2) may also appear as "Sergeant" (or Sgt) when one uses the army equivalent.
• Governor General of Canada site
• HMCS Kootenay, Gearbox Explosion, by Sandy McClearn
  • Provides place of death.