Jacques Godin: remarkable gallantry

The tragedy resulted in nine deaths and 53 injured people but the courage of Jacques Godin who fought the flames alone with only a water pail saved the lives of numerous crew members. He also managed to save the boat. One year later, he received a citation of bravery from the lieutenant-governor of British Columbia.

“It was my turning point. We went to Plymouth, England and it was during our return to Canada when the catastrophe occurred. We were 200 miles east of Plymouth and we were performing marine exercises by running the boat at high speeds. Suddenly the gear box overheated and there was an explosion in the machine room. The boat was not equipped with fire-fighting equipment. There was only a hose on the bridge. Everyone panicked. An officer commanded me to go down the ammunition room which was beside the area where the fire was raging. I didn’t know anything about putting out fires. I found a pail and started watering the walls. I was alone fighting the flames.”

All in all, it took between five and six hours to put the fire out. “The people in the aircraft carriers, who were at a distance of about 12 miles from us, sent helicopters and rescue equipment. Our boat was towed until Plymouth. I spent a week in the hospital because of smoke inhalation. We buried the dead because there was no law allowing us to bring the dead to Canada.”

That tragedy has changed Jacques Godin forever. He is now 58 years old. “When the boat was towed back to Canada, everything was shoved under the rug. The Government wanted to avoid compensating the families of the victims. It was only 30 years later that my captain at that time wrote an article in the paper. I went through a battery of tests at the hospital and the tests revealed that I was suffering from post-traumatic shock”

Last October, a commemoration was organised in England to mark the tragedy’s 40th anniversary. “There were about 100 survivors from that tragedy and we were welcomed as heroes. “At first, I didn’t want to go. I wondered if they would remember me because I was the only French Canadian on the boat. But I was welcomed as a hero. People grabbed my arms, crying, thanking me for saving their lives and their boat. I will never forget that moment.” In October, he was invited as a guest of honor in a ceremony held at the Point Pleasant Park Monument in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

A native of LaSalle, Jacques Godin pursued his studies here until he was accepted by the Canadian Marines where he worked for 28 years. He retired in 1995 when he occupied the position of first class master. Since 1970, he has lived in Victoria, British Columbia where he runs a business selling used and new furniture. But he is thinking of coming home in the near future. “I often go because my mother, brothers and sisters live here. LaSalle will always be a part of me and I hope to return one day.”