Tales from the Captain’s Cabin – Robert C. Clayton
A SERIES ABOUT HANTSPORT MARINERS
Robert “Bob” Carter Clayton
1916 - 1987
Wireless Operator
Bob Clayton was born in Saint John, N.B. His family later moved to Parker’s Cove, N.S. and in 1935 settled in Hantsport. He was the fourth of seven sons born to Capt. Delbert and Laura (Hudson) Clayton. The family moved to Hantsport, in part, because of Bob’s health. Bob had contracted tuberculosis and spent a year in the Kentville Sanatorium. Hantsport, being a seaport, brought employment opportunities for his father who was a tugboat captain.
Clayton became engaged to Jennie Doris Ells in 1942. Doris, a 24 year old stenographer was a Willow Street neighbour but not the only lady Bob was infatuated with at the time. The other was Lady Hawkins, a magnificent luxury ocean liner owned by the Canadian National Steamship lines that called on ports in Montréal, Boston, Bermuda and other Caribbean islands. Officially the vessel was a Royal Mail Ship, but could carry cargo as well as...