~HMCS 'Athabaskan', a Royal Canadian Navy Tribal Class Destroyer, was attacked and sunk by two German torpedo boats in the English Channel north-east of Ouessant, France; the 'Athabaskan's magazine and a boiler blew up in a massive explosion when the ship came under fire. 129 members of the crew went down with the ship; 83 men were picked up from the water by the torpedo boats and were taken prisoner, and another 44 of the crew members were picked up by HMCS 'Haida'.
~In 2002 the wreckage of HMCS 'Athabaskan' was located near the island of Batz in the English Channel. She was found by Jacques Ouchakoff, a French marine historian, in 90 metres of water. Ottawa Branch member Paul Bender is devoted to protecting RCN shipwrecks and their contents. As direct result of his work, and petitioning the government of France with respect to Athabaskan, the French government has placed the wreck, which is in French territorial waters, under the protection of the French Heritage Code, which provides legal protection of the wreck and its contents.

*Lieutenant Commander Stubbs was one of the Canadian seamen lost at sea during this incident.*
Military Service-
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Service Number: O/70990
Age: 31
Force: Navy
Unit: Royal Canadian Navy
Division: H.M.C.S. 'Athabaskan'
Honours/Citations: Distinguished Service Order (DSO) - RCN / HMCS Assiniboine - ~Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 12 December 1942 and London Gazette of 3 December 1942. "For gallantry, devotion to duty and distinguished service under fire." Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) - RCN / HMCS Athabaskan - Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 9 September 1944 and London Gazette of 11 July 1944. "For good service in action with enemy destroyers. For leadership, resolution and skill in His Majesty Ships Black Prince and Ashanti and His Majesty Canadian Ships Athabaskan, Haida and Huron in a successful action with enemy destroyers in the English Channel."
1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal.
~Honours/Awards: Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Son of Major John Hamilton Stubbs and Dorothy Bessie Stubbs; husband of Ruth Stubbs of St. John's Wood, London, England.

Lieutenant Commander John Hamilton Stubbs is commemorated on Page 455 of Canada's Second World War Book of Remembrance.
He is also commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
~The province of British Columbia commemorated Lieutenant Commander John Hamilton Stubbs by naming Mount Stubbs in his honour.
~École John Stubbs Memorial School near Victoria, British Columbia is named for Lieutenant Commander John Stubbs.