Above: Gordon Albert Dryden: shown above in the mess room aboard the Corvette HMCS 
Matapedia, with close up to the right.  He was acting Engine Room Officer when she was
involved in a collision ay sea with the S.S. Scorpion.  He was awarded a mention in despatches
as follows:  "For coolness and devotion to duty while on duty in the engine room of HMCS 
Matapedia under very trying circumstances following a collision, thereby setting a fine
example to the remainder of the engine room crew.  This rating stayed at his post awaiting
further orders in spite of the knowledge of the serious damage sustained and the possibility
of the ship sinking.  His coolness, without doubt, inspired those about him."   He was in fact
responsible for bringing the ship safely back to Halifax.

Below: The Corvette HMCS Matapedia showing the extent of the damage due to the collision
with the S.S. Scorpion.  From ‘Winnipeg’s Navy’ by CPO Mark Nelson on page 98: 
On 8 September 1943, HMCS Matapedia was lying off Sambro Lightship, just off Halifax, in
thick fog, when the merchant vessel S.S. Scorpion rammed her amidships.  HMCS Matapedia
limped to port and PO Dryden directed the pumping operations that saved the ship.