John Love was born in Brandon, Manitoba on September 28, 1913, the son of Robin Love and Violet Love of Regina, Saskatchewan. His family later moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan and John came to Sarnia nine years prior to his death. On February 14, 1936, John would marry Mable Patricia Rutter, the eldest daughter of Mrs. J. Rutter in Port Huron, Michigan. John and Mabel Patricia Love lived at 156 Cotterbury Street, Sarnia. The couple had one daughter together, Deanna Marie Love, born December 13, 1936 at Sarnia General Hospital. John enlisted in mid-1941, and at the time, he was an employee at the Electric Auto-Lite plant, recording his occupation as machine operator. When he enlisted, John’s father was a resident of Detroit and his mother resided in Regina, Saskatchewan. John would join the Navy, becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. He would become a member of the crew of the HMS Grove, with the rank of Stoker.

The HMS Grove (L77) was a Type II Hunt-class destroyer launched in May 1941 and commissioned by the Royal Navy in February 1942. On March 27, 1942, the HMS Grove, along with HMS Aldenham, HMS Volunteer and HMS Leamington, participated to sink the German U-boat U-587 by depth charges.

In June of 1942, the HMS Grove was part of an escort during Operation Vigorous, a supply convoy from Alexandria to Malta. On June 12, 1942 at 5:37 am, the ship was struck by two torpedoes from German U-boat U-77 and sunk north of Sollum, Egypt. The bow and stern structures were blown off and the ship sank in 14 minutes. Two officers and 108 men were lost, including Stoker John Love. Seventy-eight survivors from the HMS Grove were rescued by the HMS Tetcott. Prior to the sinking of the HMS Grove, his wife and daughter had not heard from John Love for six months. Approximately one week after the ship’s sinking, his wife Mabel and their five year-old daughter Deanna back home in Sarnia, would receive a telegram informing them that John Love was reported killed in action overseas. John Love would later be officially listed as, At Sea, missing, and presumed killed on active service. He was serving in a Royal Navy ship overseas. John Love lost his life only one year after enlisting. Twenty-eight year-old John Love has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Halifax Memorial, Nova Scotia, Canada, Panel 9.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, P, U, 2C, 2D