ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY :
Photos & History by the Men & Women Who Were There.

LINKS TO NEWS ITEMS OF INTEREST

These news items were found on-line, and are listed here for your interest, more or less in order of publishing date. Please note also the MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES news stories posted above. Section created July 27, 2021.

LINKS TO DOCUMENTS AND LISTS ON THIS WEBSITE

These documents and lists are scattered throughout this website, and are listed here for convenience. Section revised February 27, 2022.

ABOUT 55 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY CHARLIE DOBIE

I'm Charlie Dobie, the creator and maintainer of this website. I joined the Royal Canadian Navy in September 1960, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, under the three-year On The Job Training (OJT) programme. I took basic training in Corn­wallis, NS, and in January 1961 was posted to HMCS Ste. Therese, in Victoria BC. I served there as a sonarman (OSSN & ABSN) for the duration of my time and was released about July or August, 1963.

Photos are shown of these people: Abrams, Alford, Anaka, Balloid, Bernard, Bigcanoe, Bottomley, Boyce, Brown, Buck, Campbell, Caruthers, Compton, Dahl, Daniels, Demchuck, Dobie, Douville, Egger, Elgert, Evans(?), Fisher, Graw, Hall, Hamilton, Hammett, Hawkes, Healey, Hegler, Hergott, Hoffman, Kutzner, Lawson, Leeming, Leyden, McCaughey, McFarlane, Mullin, Oggelsby, Owens, Patterson, Pesclevich, Pounder, Sjolie, Spooner, Srubowich, Thorne, Toth, Trick, Wakefield, Waldron, Waters, Weir, Willway, Wright, Wurtz, Yeager.

Photos are shown of these ships: HMCS Assiniboine, Beacon Hill, HMS Belfast, HMCS Cape Breton, Grilse, Margaree, Ottawa, Ste Therese.

See Charlie Dobie's Section.

ABOUT 110 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT BERBECK

Robert Berbeck joined the RCN in 1960 and was trained as a signalman. He served on HMCS New Glasgow, Ste Therese, Cape Breton, Assiniboine, Qu'Appelle, Antigonish, Beacon Hill, Cowichan, Provider, Terra Nova, Mackenzie, Yukon, Restigouche, & Kootenay, and retired after 27 years with the rank of P1SG4.

Bob took the photo which appears at the top of this website page. It was taken onboard HMCS Qu'Appelle in July 1964, enroute to Acapulco. The photo is of his late brother-in-law John White.

Photos are shown of these people: Banks, Barre, Berbeck, Beverage, Brent, Briggs, Broadfoot, Broadwood, Buburuz, Calder, Campbell, Campbell-Hope, Chute, Cicconi, Corrigal, Dale, David, Davies, deBalinhard, Ethier, Fredrickson, Ganner, Hall, Hazzard, Heron, Hockley, Huber, Hunter, Johnson, Johnston, Kain, Kyle, L'Heureux, Landymore, Law, Lawrence, Leir, Linaker, Lloyd, Macadam, Madsen, McAdam, McCoy, McGregor, McLean, Mitchell, Patterson, Paul, Power, Powers, Puesch(?), Ratcliffe, Read, Reid, Renaud, Rogers, Rumble, Staples, Stewart, Thomas, Tucknott, White.

Photos are shown of (or on board) these ships: HMCS Antigonish, Assiniboine, Athabaskan, Beacon Hill, Bonaventure, Fraser, Grilse, Haida, Mackenzie, Micmac, Nipigon, Provider, Qu'Appelle, Restigouche, Saguenay, Saskatchewan, St Croix, Skeena, Terra Nova, Yukon.

See Robert Berbeck's Section.

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GRANT SINCLAIR

Grant Sinclair's email address no longer works! He was an ABWU1 who served on HMCS Beacon Hill and HMCS Cape Breton. He left the RCN in February, 1964.

ONE DOCUMENT AND 15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JOHN GORMAN

Another former navy member is John Gorman of Halifax, N.S. Like many others, John served the initial three year enlistment as a Naval Airman/Air Boatswain in the R.C.N., beginning in Corn­wallis and on to Shearwater and HMCS Bonaventure with some time towards the end at Stadacona and Mill Cove. After leaving the navy, he went on to become an Oceanography Technician at the Bedford Institute and also a trained federal Fisheries Officer. He further graduated from the Forest Technology program in Fredericton, N.B. and spent 29 more years as a warden with Parks Canada.

19 PHOTOS & THREE SCANS IN THIS SECTION BY DAVE TYSON

Dave Tyson joined the RCN in Winnipeg in April 1962 under the OJT programme. After basic training in Corn­wallis, he served as a radar plotter on HMCS Mackenzie from October 1962 when it was commissioned in Montreal, until it went into dry-dock at Esquimalt for refit in 1964. He was then assigned to HMCS Naden until his release in 1965. He left as an ABRUPT.

14 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT BROWN

Robert (Bob) Brown and I were fellow shipmates and sonarmen on HMCS Ste Therese. For some reason he was then known as "Charlie Brown", and it was a surprise to me to get these photos from Bob Brown.

SEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION SUBMITTED BY PHIL MURPHY

Phil Murphy served on HMCS Assiniboine from 1964 TO 1967. When the services were integrated he asked for a discharge and transferred to the U.S. Navy where he trained as a medical corpsman. He then transfered to the U.S. Marines and served for almost two years in Vietnam. Taking advantage of the G.I. bill he went to university, got his commission, and retired after a total of 35 years of active and reserve military service.

25 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION SUBMITTED BY ROGER HAWKES

Roger Hawkes served as an ABWU on HMCS Ste Therese from 1962 to 1964 when he left the Navy. He re-enlisted after three years and sailed on HMCS Saskatchewan. After a year he transfered to the Fleet Diving Unit Pacific and served until 1975 when he had to leave because of a back injury.

ONE DOCUMENT & SEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY AL MALCOMSON

Al Malcomson joined the RCN in May 1966. He sailed on Qu'Appelle, Mackenzie, Oriole and Restigouche. With the rank of LSFC2, he transfered to the RCMP in 1976 where he served another 15 years. He was medically discharged to pension after falling three storeys off a hotel roof.

24 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY CARL ASH

Carl Ash served in the Navy from 1961 to 1964. After basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis he served on board HMCS Terra Nova.

SIX PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY PETER FRIESEN

Peter Friesen was in the RCN from 1955 to 1960. He served on HMCS New Glasgow from November, 1956 to June, 1957, and on HMCS Fraser, from June, 1957 to September, 1960. After he left the Navy he worked for five years as a bread salesman and baker, then for 38 years for a window company until he retired in 2003. While working at the window company he was also a lay minister and preacher. He continued his ministry after retirement until a heart attack and triple bypass surgery in November 2008.

45 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RONALD ARMSTRONG

Wilfred Ronald Armstrong was an Aircraft Technician in the RCN from 1967 to 1970. He served on HMCS Bonaventure, VS 880 in HMCS Shearwater, etc. and serviced Tracker aircraft.

15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KEN LLOYD

Ken Lloyd joined the RCN in 1952, and was in Ottawa Division during basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis. He served in Korea then stayed in the Navy as a reservist after his first stint, retiring at the compulsory retirement age of 55 with the rank of C1BN4. He was a long-time member of HMCS Discovery and was Cox'n from 1980 to 1985. He died in Van­cou­ver on August 27, 2010, from Alzheimer's, age 75 years. Ken's photos are courtesy of Robert Berbeck. Ken was able to give only limited information about these photos before he passed. Some are official RCN photos, but others taken in the 1940's and 1950's, may be originals. However, it is not known who took them.

Ships shown in this section: HMCS Atha­baskan II, Corn­wallis, Cayuga, Chil­liwack, Discovery, Ontario, Provider I, Sioux, HMS Prince of Wales.

Surnames in this section: Blather­wick, Brown, Cepletis, Chan, Crewe, Docherty, Dunn, Fournier, Fowler, Fox, Foxall, Gamble, Garrick, Gosslin, Grimmer, Hamilton, Hinshaw, Larson, Living­stone, Lloyd, Loverock, Mackay, Mainguy, McKinnell, McRossan, Munro, Murry, Olmstead, Paul, Payne, Pollard, Reddecop, Roots, Roth, Spielman, Suther­land, Taggart, Thornton, Wallace.

See Ken Lloyd's Section.

SIX PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JIM THORN

Jim Thorn served from 1962-67. He was a medic and served mostly at HMCS Stadacona in the hospital. He also worked at HMCS Corn­wallis in the sickbay which was across the street from the main gate. He says he enjoyed his work as a medic and although he only served five years he remembers them fondly.

THREE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DON YOUNG

Don Young is a long-retired mechanical engineer who worked for Vickers-Sperry from 1963 to 1970. In this capacity he had a continuing connection with HMCS Assiniboine's VDS system, anti-roll fins, and helicopter testing equipment. Then with the RCN Dockyards at Esquimalt, Shearwater and Halifax designing, testing and repairing dockyard cranes and other equipment.

After joining a consulting company in 1970 he serviced and maintained cranes at DND Halifax.

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BERT VONKALCKREUTH

ABVS1 Bert vonKalckreuth was in the RCN from May 1962 until 1965. During basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis he was in Columbia 2/62 Division. He served on HMCS Chaudiere from November 1962 until about October 1964, then at HMCS Shear­water until April 1965. Section revised July 30, 2022.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY TERRY FINDLAY

Terry Findlay joined up in 1966 and after basic training he was in the first batch of airframe technicians to go to Camp Borden. Things didn't work out well for him and he was offered a change of trade or release. He chose release. He is currently (2020) a 48 year member of the 480 Westboro Legion (Ottawa).

In February, 2013, he sent me, via Brian Lapierre, an undamaged photo of Terra Nova 2/66 Division, complete with all of the men's names. He also sent me three photos of himself at HMCS Corn­wallis, in 1966, age 17. Section revised January 20, 2022.

21 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY STEEN LAURSEN, aka. STEEN HEILBUTH

Steen Laursen says: My name was Steen Heilbuth, ABSN, and I served on the Skeena, St. Laurent (world cruise in '64), the St. Croix and finished on the Ste. Therese, completing my three year hitch, March 20, 1963 to March 19th, 1966. In HMCS Corn­wallis our division (Assiniboine) trained for the Sunset Guard and we performed at the then Dominion Day, July 1st celebrations on Parliament Hill. We were very proud!!

Looking back I have very fond memories, especially lucking out on a nine month around-the-world cruise. What young 18 year old wouldn't love that?

After leaving the service I again lucked out landing a thirty-year career as a firefighter with the City of Burnaby. I have been retired for just over ten years, living in Parksville, BC.

I stated above that my name was Steen Heilbuth which I have changed to my birth father's name of Laursen. I found out at the age of fifty years old that I was adopted. Quite a shock. Fortunately, I learned of my adoption soon enough to meet my birth parents in Denmark.

So there you have it in a nut shell. If you sailed with me please drop me a line. Steen Laursen, aka. Heilbuth.

23 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ED KOSKI

Ed Koski said: "I joined March 15, 1959 in Sudbury, and was an OSLM (Electricians Mate). I was in Terra Nova Division 1/59 in Corn­wallis and took part in Sunset Ceremony Guard (Rifles) and Queen's Honour Guard on (the Queen's) arrival in Gander Nfld. via BOAC, June 19, 1959. On her return (from the Royal Tour) we received her White Ensign in Halifax at the Citadell Hill Ceremony on July 31, 1959.

" I went on to commission HMCS Chaudiere in November 1959 with Dockyard Maties after Trade School in Stad and lived in Shearwater until the ship was ready."

Ed Koski died in Toronto on September 8, 2017. See memorial page. and see his obituary in the Sudbury Star.

LINKS TO 27 PHOTOS & SEVEN VIDEOS IN THIS SECTION BY CLAUS MATHES

Claus Mathes was in the RCN from November 1960 to November 1968. He was a Steward and left with the rank of Leading Seaman. After leaving HMCS Corn­wallis (Kootenay 3/60 Division) in March 1961, he served on HMCS Iroquois (April '61 to Sept. '62), HMCS Chaudiere (Sept. & Oct. '62), HMCS Columbia (Oct. '62 to Nov. '64), and HMCS Hochelaga (LaSalle) CFB Montreal (Nov. '64 to Nov. '68). Most of his time at sea was served as Captain's Steward and his time in Montreal was spent serving in the Officers' Mess.

This section is different from the others in that Claus has a website, complete with his own RCN photos and digitized 8mm movies, so below are direct links to the various sections of his website.

29 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RICHARD FISH

During basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis, Richard Fish was in Restigouche 1/66 Division. He passed away in 2015.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BRUCE MURRAY

Bruce Murray joined the RCN in September, 1961, and was in Assiniboine 2/61 Division when he was in basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis. After training he served on HMCS Terra Nova as a sonarman until his release in 1964.

NINE PHOTOS & 17 "IN MEMORIAM" CARDS IN THIS SECTION BY ALLAN BERTELSEN

The late Allan Bertelsen served on HMCS Provider during World War 2 as a Morse Code operator. These photos were taken between 1940 and 1945. Shown are photos of Provider as well as of several Fairmile patrol boats. Included also are memorial cards dedicated to Canadian ships which were lost during the war. Allan passed away on May 6, 2013, at the age of 91.

ONE PHOTO IN THIS SECTION BY DAVE MACGREGOR

Dave Macgregor says: " I went through Corn­wallis in Assiniboine 2/66. . . . I served on the Beacon Hill, Skeena, Kootenay, and Preserver, as an ABRM, also was stationed at CFS Mill Cove just outside of Halifax. I left after my five years in July, 1971. "

ONE PHOTO IN THIS SECTION BY GORD BEATTIE

Gord Beattie says: " I was in Columbia Division the summer of 1962 and have fond memories of the guard and our drill instuctors. I moved on and became a Radioman Special, training at HMCS Gloucester (Ottawa) and finished out my service in Moncton, NB and Frobisher Bay. I had a career as a Director of Supply Management with Nortel, working in Ottawa, Montreal, Santa Clara, CA and Raleigh, NC. I am now retired and living in Wake Forest, NC, the first village north of Raleigh. "

29 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY HERBERT STEPHENSON

The late Herbert Stephenson was from North Battleford, SK, and joined the RCN in January 1955. He served five years, was a gunnery rate, and was discharged in 1960 with the rank of ABWS1. The ships he served on included HMCS Sioux, HMCS Ontario, and HMCS Antigonish. Herbert died about 2008.

Most of these photos were taken during the assault course in June, 1955, at HMCS Corn­wallis, and Herbert probably purchased those, but a few others were taken by Herbert and are of him and his friends at Corn­wallis. There is only one each of crew members of HMCS Sioux and HMCS Ontario.

15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DON HENDERSON

Don Henderson joined the RCN in December, 1953. He served on HMCS New Glasgow, Athabaskan, James Bay, St Laurent and Granby. He was released in December, 1958 with the rank of LSCV1.

1031 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BRIAN LAPIERRE

From Chauvin, Alberta, Brian Lapierre joined the RCN in September, 1966. He was in Terra Nova 2/66 Division in Corn­wallis, and he remained in Corn­wallis for a couple of months after Basic Training to play hockey with the Corn­wallis Cougars. He trained as an electrician, and served on HMCS Bonaventure, Onondaga, Okanagan, Nipigon, Margaree, Iroquois, and Athabaskan. He retired in December, 1988 with the rank of Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, and immediately started work as a civilian on the navy's new Frigate programme. His photo series includes the Last Dive Cruise of HMCS Onondaga in 2000, and the Paying-Off Cruise of HMCS Athabaskan in 2017, and ends with 34 photos of a get-together celebrating the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of HMCS Okanagan, held in 2018. Brian's photographs comprise almost 1/3 of the total photos on this website!

The surnames of those shown in Brian's photos are: Alarie, Alberts, Alexander, Allen, Anderson, Angrinon, Anthony, Arnason, Aubrey, Bell, Berry, Biloski, Blagdon, Bonnah, Bouchard, Boucher, Brayshaw, Brannen, Brisson, Brown, Broyden, Buckley, Burke, Burnett, Burston, Byzewski, Cairns, Cameron, Campbell, Carrier, Carter, Chambers, Chartrand, Chatham, Chenie, Cherneski, Childs, Chisolm, Christie, Clahane, Clark, Clayton, Connolly, Conway, Cooper, Copeland, Courcy, Crepin, Crowe, Cruikshank, Cumming, Dagenais, Daigle, Daly, Deak, Demers, Dempsey, Deschenes, Desprey, Desrosiers, Dietz, Dolomont, Doutre, Dube, Dunn, Durnford, Embree, Eng, Estabrooks, Evans, Ewan, Faid, Falconer, Farnholtz, Faucher, Ferguson, Finnamore, Flecknell, Fleet, Flewwelling, Francis Franklin, Gainer, Gallant, Garceau, Gard, Gardner, Gebler, Gilbert, Girard, Glover, Goddard, Goldsmith, Gordon, Gorselin, Gray, Griffin, Guttin, Haines, Hall, Hamilton, Hanna, Harris, Harrison, Hawes, Hayward, Higdon, Hill, Hillier, Hills, Holland, Honsinger, Hood, Hopkins, Houghton, Huett, Hughes, Hunt, Hurford, Hynes, Irvine, Jackson, Jakoplic, Jenner, Jennings, Johnston, Jolivet, Jones, Kamermans, Kearn, Killiam, King, Kollen, Kyle, Lake, Lamy, Langlois, Lapierre, Larsen, Lavers, Lawhead, Layden, Lee, Legare, Lewis, Limoges, Llewellyn, Lloyd, Lovasi, MacDougall, MacEachern, Mackie, MacKinnon, MacLaughlin, MacMillan, Madison, Madynski, Malloy, Manning, Marcoux, Martel, Martin, Mason, McCluskey, McCulley, McDonnell, McEachern, McLean, McMillan, Meloche, Meunier, Michaud, Middlekoop, Middleton, Milen, Miller, Mizuik, Mollison, Molloy, Morgan, Mossman, Mountan, Mowat, Mydynsky, Nesbit, Newman, O'Hara, Ouellet, Parker, Parsons, Parlee, Parry, Patterson, Pearce, Pease, Pepper, Pesant, Pfaff, Phillips, Piercey, Pindera, Pollard, Porter, Poulton, Pratt, Presley, Prosser, Provencher, Quinn, Radmore, Ranger, Reeve, Renner, Richards, Roach, Rockley, Rodden, Ross, Rousson, Rowe, Rozelle, Rubinich, Rouillard, Russell, Sadler, Sanderson, Sanford, Santo, Sawyer, Schatz, Schmidt, Schneider, Schuman, Scott, Serafini, Shields, Sigrist, Smale, Smith, Smythe, Soleman, South, Spencer, Squire, St. Amant, Starr, Steeb, Steig, Stevens, Stewart, Stoakley, Stone, Sullivan, Summers, Surette, Thomas, Thompson, Tovey, Toyer, Tremblay, Turcotte, Turtle, Urquhart, Van Rooyen, Vermette, Vinnedge, Vondette, Waddell, Wagner, Waite, Walsh, Walsworth, Walton, Wambalt, Ward, Waugh, Webb, Wells, Whalen, Whitesell, Whitmore, Williamson, Wilson, Wing, Workman, Wright, Wyss, Yeo.

Canadian Navy ships shown: HMCS Annapolis, Athabaskan, Bonaventure, Bras d'Or, Cape Scott, Fraser, Fundy, Halifax, Iroquois, Margaree, Nipigon, Ojibwa, Okanagan, Onondaga, Ottawa, Protecteur, Provider, Restigouche, Skeena, St Laurent, Terra Nova.

American Navy ships shown: USS Alabama, Comte de Grasse, Flying Fish, Sea Leopard, Sea Robin, Sellers, Shiloh, Skipjack, Ticonderoga, Tigrone, Trepang, and others.

Other naval ships shown: FGS Augsburg, HNLMS Banckert, HMS Danae, HMS Dido, HMS London, HNoMS Narvik, FGS Rommel, HNLMS Van Nes, and others. Revised June 22, 2023.

See Brian Lapierre's Section.

ELEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KEN DAVY

Ken Davy was a sick-bay attendant on HMCS Forest Hill during World War 2. He says: " I joined at HMCS Star in Hamilton on Divisional Strength (reserve) in April 1943. I went on active service in 1944 and took my basic training at HMCS York in Toronto. As I was a Sick Bay Attendant, I trained in the RCN Hospital in Halifax. I served in the corvette HMCS Forest Hill for six months then after the end of hostilities served ashore until I was discharged in February 1946. I was still only nineteen. It was a great adventure for a young kid. "

EIGHT PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY AUSTIN "RUSTY" WRIGHT

The late Austin (Rusty) Wright was born in 1929 and served in the RCN from 1944 to 1949. He died about 2011. His daughter, Lynette Wright, sent me these photos in the hope that someone will be able to identify the ships and/or the men in them, in order to find out more about her father's naval career. The only ship which can be positively identified is HMCS Ontario. None of the other ships are numbered. Lynette says in part: ". . . (he) originally signed on in Calgary (Tecumseh), then stationed in Naden, Esquimalt. We understood that he was involved in searching for and destroying floating mines left from the war. "

18 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DON LOGAN

Don Logan joined the RCN three-year program on 11 Nov 1960, and was in Margaree 3/60 Division in Corn­wallis. He trained as a Signalman, then served on HMCS Kootenay, Fort Erie and Columbia and took release at the end of his third year, 10 Nov 1963. A year and a bit later, on 25 Sept 1965, he re-enlisted in the RCAF as a communicator. On 22 July 1970, he re-mustered to air crew, as an Observer/Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator (AESOp) spending 25 years flying Trackers with VS 880 in Shearwater, Argus's in Summerside, PEI, Argus/Auroras in Greenwood, N.S. and Auroras in Comox, B.C. On 29 Jun 1988 he was posted to the Aurora Software Development Unit (ASDU) in Greenwood for 3 yrs. and then to 415 Sqn, Greenwood. On 21 Sep 1994 he was posted to Wing Ops in Comox, as the Electronic Warfare Officer, until his retirement, on 30 July, 1995.

NINE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RUSSELL (JACK) WATSON

Russell (Jack) Watson was in the navy from April, 1966 to April, 1968. He was in Terra Nova 1/66 Division during basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis. He left the navy when tri-service came into effect. At first he was a stoker then re-mustered to a cook. He was posted to HMCS Naden to train for the military tattoo but had to leave to have surgery. Returning from Naden he worked in the wardroom galley at HMCS Stadacona until he left the navy in April, 1968.

After leaving the navy, he went to culinary school at George Brown College in Toronto, then worked at the Royal York Hotel, head office for Canadian Pacific Hotels (now Fairmont). As of 2014 he was working on a cruise ship and hopes to retire there.

17 PHOTOS & ONE CLIPPING IN THIS SECTION BY REGINALD H. "SMOKEY" RHYMES

Many thanks to Smokey's son, Gordon P. Rhymes, for these photos of his father. Originally from Burgeo NL, he enlisted in the Canadian Army in Halifax, in March, 1945 and served until May 15, 1946. Joining the RCN at the end of April, 1947, he served 25 years, retiring at the end of April, 1972. He passed away in 2006.

He served on HMCS Athabaskan, Cap de la Madelaine, Crescent, Haida, Huron, Lanark, Nootka, Penetang, Prestonian, Quebec, Saguenay, & Swansea, and was stationed in HMCS Corn­wallis from 1959 to 1961. There is little information accompanying these photos, and few people other than Smokey are identified, but some locations have been determined by the dates in his service records. Section revised May 27, 2021.

See Reginald H. Rhymes' Section.

The Maiden Voyage of HMCS Ontario –
Belfast - Greenoch - Gibraltar - Malta - Egypt - Aden - Ceylon - Bay of Bengal - Hong Kong - Hawaii - Esquimalt.
May to November, 1945.

Kenneth Anthony Johnson and William Philip Hodgkin sailed on the maiden voyage of HMCS Ontario, from May to November, 1945. Not having their own cameras, they purchased official photos of the voyage and of life on board and ashore, which were made available to crew members at a cost of about 10 cents each. Although there are many photos in common, their purchases differed enough so that the two collections together provide an almost complete record of the trip.

Their sons, Ken Johnson, Jr., and Russell Hodgkin, have kindly provided me with these historic images. Thanks also to Al Brosseau who provided me with two photos of that voyage which were given to him by a cousin.

When I scanned Ken Johnson's collection I recorded the official negative numbers which were written on the back of each print. Because I scanned Ken's photos in the order I picked them out of the envelope, it never occurred to me that these numbers were in date order, and I arranged his dad's section by what I thought was common subject or location. Later research proved that I was wrong on many of my assumptions about location, etc.

The sections of the two shipmates (there is no indication they knew each other) have been presented together here. Ken Johnson's has been left as I first arranged it, with the addition of negative numbers in the photo descriptions, but Phil Hodgkin's section is in negative number order, which shows the progression of the trip from Belfast, Ireland, around the world to Esquimalt, BC. But more than that, in the latter section, the two collections have been combined into a photo album showing the complete trip.

There are many photos missing from the album, as the large gaps in the negative numbers show. If anyone can fill in the blanks, I would much appreciate copies of the missing photos.

March, 2016 – A list of the photographs was discoverd in William Philip Hodgkin's papers. The photos are listed in negative number order and include the date and photo description. Most photos listed were taken by Leading Photographer Sydney H. Draper, V-57990.

February, 2017 – These photos plus others in the series which are missing from this collection can be seen in the HMCS Ontario album on the "For Posterity's Sake" website.

December 1, 2017 – Robert Ferris sent me a large collection of photos owned by his father, Edmund Ferris. There are many duplicates of the official photo series seen in Ken Johnson's and Russell Hodgkin's collections, but there are quite a number of officlal photos which aren't in those sets. In addition, there are about 15 photos taken on HMCS Ontario with Edmund Ferris's own camera.

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TWELVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY LARRY VIPOND

Larry Vipond served in the Air Branch from October 1945 until December 1957, most of that time at HMCS Shearwater, and onboard HMCS Magnificent, HMCS Labrador and a few weeks onboard HMCS Buckingham. He left the RCN with the rank of P1PC3, then worked for Sikorsky Helicopters for two years. He then went to business school in New Haven, CT, and worked for a Conn­ect­icut bank for 27 years, retiring on Jan. 1, 1990.

See Larry Vipond's Section.

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TEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JEFF GRIFFITHS

Jeff Griffiths joined the Navy in February 1960, and was in Skeena 1/60 Division during basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis. He was a Victualing Storesman (ABVS) and served on HMCS Inch Arran until May 1962 when he was discharged after 27 months of service.

Afterwards, he was a pipe welder fitter for 40 years, and belonged to Local 46 of the Plumbers, Steam­fit­ters and Pipe Welders of North America. He lives with his wife in Fenelon Falls, Ontario.

18 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DANIEL MORGAN MacNEILL

Iain MacNeill says this about his father: " My father, Daniel Morgan MacNeill (V46139) . . . was a Big Band musician prior to the war. He attempted enlistment at several locations in 1940 (Vancouver) and in 1941 (Edmonton) but was denied on account of his age – 27 years being considered too old. He was finally accepted for enlistment in August 1942 at Chippawa Recruitment Centre in Winnipeg at 29, when the recruitment standards were relaxed. As it turned out he really was as good as he said he was – he had skills the Navy couldn't teach. He never abused his recruits and was a very competent, confident man with an innate ability to inspire and motivate people leading by example. He was a good guy to have on your side when it counted most. "

He was promoted immediately to Leading Seaman at HMCS York where he was tasked with training recruits. Starting in late 1944, he served on the HMCS Swansea until the end of the war.

Several photos were obtained by Iain from the Buscombe family collection – LS Howard Buscombe and Daniel Morgan MacNeill were instructors together at HMCS York and remained fast friends during the war.

Photos in Daniel's section are almost all group photos of training divisions at HMCS York in Toronto, 1943 and 1944. Surnames in photos are: Andrews, Belcher, Borrows, Burrows, Buscombe, Clarke, Copeland, Gray, Heintzman, Hipwell, Johnson, Knight, Lloyd, Long, MacNeill, Marshall, McGregor, McLean, McMahon, McMullen, Mulvihill, Murphy, North, O'Brady, Ogradnick, Ospreay, Perry, Pettingher, Ryan, Rylott, Scattergood, Seitz, Senyk, Smith, Sowtus, Taylor, Toms, Tonkin, Wallace, Webber, Winter.

See Daniel Morgan MacNeill's Section.

114 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JAMES M. ROSS

Stephen M. Ross sent me this collection of photos, almost all originals taken by his father James Macey Ross, during his time in the Navy during WW2. James took his basic training at HMCS Montcalm in Quebec City, in early 1944, then signals training at HMCS Hyacinthe (see 45th anniversary website) in St. Hyacinthe, QC. After completing his training, he served for a short time on the corvette HMCS Giffard, then until the end of the war as a signals and electronics operator aboard the frigate HMCS Jonquiere.

The photos and information were sent to me already formatted into a scrap­book, so I've tried to preserve the look of the original as much as possible.

People shown: Jimmy Anderson, John Beasley, Brown, Casemore, Greg Clancy, William (Bill) Dafoe, Davis, Ernie Eaton, Lieut. Edwards, Captain Kidson, Darcy Legros, Lieut. Moran, Chris Novak, Jack O'Hearn, Tom Oliver, Alan Ross, Alexander Ross, Barbara Ross, Dorothy Ross, James Ross, Lyall Ross, Marjorie Ross, plus many more people who are unidentified.

Ships shown: HMS Deptford; Empire Control (a supply ship); HMCS Giffard; HMCS Jonquiere; The Lady Rodney (a troop ship); HMS Ramillies; HMS Roberts; HMCS Sussexvale; The Vest (a freighter?); LST #326.

See the James M. Ross photo collection.

27 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY MIKE CASHABACK

Mike Cashaback was in Assiniboine 3/61 at HMCS Corn­wallis, from September until December, 1961. He was drafted to HMCS Terra Nova along with Clyde Norman, Dave Sinclair, Jim MacLean, Bruce Murray, Vic French and probably a few more he can't remember. He was then drafted to HMCS Yukon, then being built in Vancouver, and was part of her com­mis­sioning crew on the 25th of May 1963. He served on her until his discharge in September 1964.

After leaving the Navy he changed one uniform for another by joining the Edmonton Fire Department where he spent 30 years, retiring as a Captain in 1994. He now lives in Spruce Grove, AB.

16 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ERNEST HAROLD MASSICK

I received an email from Michele Massick whose husband's grandfather, Ernest Harold Massick, served as a Petty Officer on HMCS Skeena in 1934 and on HMCS Ontario during 1944-45. He also served on the mine sweeper HMCS Rockcliffe in 1947. He graduated from Fleet School in the early 1950's, retired as a Lt. Commander, and died in Qualicum Beach, BC, in 1977. He left behind a few photographs and not much information, so Michele is trying to piece together these loose threads to get a picture of his life.

20 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY FRED BERNHARD

Christina Bernhard's late husband, Klaus Hans Friedrich Bernhard, was born in 1936 in Vienna, Austria. He immigrated to Canada about 1957 and found employ­ment with one of the railways. In May 1958, he joined the RCN for five years. After completion of basic training in HMCS Cornwallis in October 1958, he served on HMCS Saguenay, and the Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Atha­bas­kan. After leaving HMCS Athabaskan, he spent 6 months at HMCS Stadacona where he attained the rank of ABEM1. In January 1960 he obtained an honorable discharge because of his mother's illness and he returned home to Vienna. During his time in the RCN he used the name Fred Bernhard. He and Christina met in Vienna in 1961 and they emigrated to Australia in 1966. Klaus died in April, 2014 in Tasmania, Australia. Revised May 27, 2021.

14 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GORDON WENSLEY

Gordon Wensley joined the RCN in 1961 and was in Skeena 2/61 Division at HMCS Corn­wallis during basic training. He served on HMCS Stettler until his release in 1964, with the rank of ABWS2.

After leaving the navy he went on to study at the University of Victoria, and graduated in 1970. He did graduate school at the University of Saskatchewan, then worked for the federal government until retiring in 1995. Revised January 31, 2023.

47 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JOHN ("JACK") McKIRDY MILLER

Tom Miller sent me these photos from his father's album. John ("Jack") McKirdy Miller (1920-2000) joined the navy through the Edmonton recruiting office in Oct. 1940 as a probationary steward. He spent his first year at Naden and Royal Roads, most likely in training. He served in the officers' mess on HMCS Prince Robert from Oct­ober 1941 to Nov­ember 1944 and left that ship as a Petty Officer steward. He was then stationed at Shelburne NS and HMCS Naden until he was demobilized in September 1945. He is identified in the ship's company photo in the History Section of this website. For more information on HMCS Prince Robert, please see HMCS Prince Robert on Wikipedia.

47 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY WILLIAM DALTON JOHNSTON & DONALD ROSS JOHNSTON

William Johnston sent me a col­lection of photos taken by his grand­father and by his father. His grand­father, William Dalton Johston, served on HMCS Niobe during WW1, and he was in Halifax at the time of the Halifax Explosion, December 6, 1917, when a munitions ship exploded in Halifax Harbour, destroying most of the down­town area. The explosion killed about 2,000 people and wounded about 9,000.

William's father, Donald Ross Johnston, served on the Flower class corvette, HMCS North Bay, which performed convoy duty in the North Atlantic during 1944-45.

February, 2016 – Many thanks to National Archives military archivist Alex Comber for identifying and re-clas­sifying most of these photos. The main problem is dis­cover­ing where William Dalton Johnston actually served. Although he was tech­nic­ally a crew member of HMCS Niobe, that ship was a depot ship, and as such, loaned out crew to other ships on an as-required basis. Photo locations which had once been ident­ified as HMCS Niobe, were ident­ified by Alex Comber as being taken on HMT Olympic, one of the two sister ships of RMS Titanic. She was used as a troop carrier during WWI, and spent much of the war carying troops between Europe and Halifax. Other photos were taken on a ship much too small to have been either Niobe or Olympic, but was possibly a patrol ship, sweeper, or drifter, which has yet to be identified. In fact, the only photo which can be positively identified as HMCS Niobe is the group photo of 29 crew members, with Bernard Maurice Cocquyt positively identified, and another who is almost certainly William Dalton Johnston.

Photos were taken in Halifax harbour or at sea. The only person identified is William Dalton Johnston.

World War 1 ships identified: RMS Aquitania, RHS Araguaya, HMS Berwick, HMS Cornwall, HMS Devonshire, CS Lord Kelvin, RMS Olympic, Trawler TR-1, and German U-Boat UC-97.

World War 2 ships identified: HMCS Annapolis, HMCS Assiniboine, HMCS North Bay.

Click here to see William Dalton Johnston's Section.

21 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT CREBER

Bob Creber served in the RCN from April 1954 to April 1959. He was in Saguenay Division during basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis, and after that was in the communications supplement division. He served at HMCS Gloucester in Ottawa, HMCS Churchill in Manitoba on Hudson Bay, CFS Alert in the Northwest Territories and at Resolute Bay, also in the Northwest Territories.

Bob says he doesn't have too many photos left of his naval career, but those below were mostly taken at CFS Alert, and mostly in the pitch dark – the sun was disappearing below the horizon when he arrived in August 1957, and was just re-appearing when he left in March 1958. He lives near Orlando, Florida.

17 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KENNETH McCUISH

Kenneth McCuish was from New Glasgow, NS. He joined the RCN in 1951 at the age of 22 and retired in 1975. He was based in Halifax and remained there throughout his naval career. He served on the HMCS Magni­ficent, Nipigon, Iroquois, Nootka, Algonquin, Resti­gouche, Skeena, Swansea, and others. Most of these years he worked in the engine room of the ships. He was also based at HMCS Stadacona where he taught refrigeration. When he retired he immediately started his own successful refrigeration repair business in Halifax, which is still in operation today. He died in 1996 at the age of 67.

The photo series of 12 shots onboard ship during exercises in the Meditteranean and off the coast of England, were taken by Ken onboard the HMCS Magnificent in 1951 - 1952. The film containing these photos was developed and printed almost 50 years after they were taken when the film canister was discovered in the home of a friend in 1996, the year he died.

Ken's photos are courtesy of his daughter, Susan Logue. Unfortunately, her email address now bounces.

23 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KEN BOWIE

Kenneth Bowie entered the Navy in the spring of 1941. He took basic training in Edmonton and Esquimalt, and served as a stoker aboard HMCS Prince Robert for four years. Just before his release at the end of the war he was part of the decommissioning crew of HMCS Kapuskasing in Halifax. He then returned home to Red Deer, Alberta.

After a few odd jobs he started Alberta Bowie Construction and became a prominent home builder for many years. He expanded the con­struc­tion company into a sub­sidiary, Alberta Bowie Tile and Floor Cover­ings. An opportunity pre­sented itself and he pur­chased Motor Inn Towing. He entered the oil and gas business, pur­chasing a bulk service station he named Bowie Bear Bulk. He then started two oil and gas drilling companies. He also ran a successful company called Happy Valley, teaching Calgarians how to ski. These suc­cessful ventures, particularly oil and gas, led him to become the owner and operator of Willow Park Golf and Country Club in Calgary. He is actively involved in the day-to-day operations, and started the Willow Park Charity Classic which has raised over $10,000,000 for various charities over the years, and continues to raise approx­imately $500,000 every year.

Not content to rest on his laurels, he recently created another new company in the restoration business. He reached another milestone on August 8th 2015, when he turned 90 years old (and going strong).

Ken's photos are courtesy of his son Melvin James Bowie. They include snaps of Ken in uniform as well as official navy photos of the crew and various individuals on board HMCS Prince Robert. Also included are official photos of the capture of two German U-boats – U190 and U889, which surrendered in Newfoundland. There is also a photo of the crew of HMCS Kapuskasing, taken January 28, 1945.

20 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY VERNON CLARENCE MILLER

Vernon Clarence Miller entered the RCN April 13, 1943 and was discharged October 9, 1945. Not too much is known about his naval career, but he served most of his time on HMCS Tillsonburg, a Castle Class Corvette, which spent her entire time on convoy duty in the Atlantic. Photos were taken in Bermuda, London, England, Newfoundland and aboard ship. These photos are courtesy of his son Alan Miller.

14 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROGER LAMBERT

Roger Lambert says: " I joined the RCN in September 1959, and like those at that time I was sent by train to HMCS Corn­wallis for basic training. With that completed I was instructed that I was chosen to attend Royal Roads for training as a helicopter pilot. I informed my Divisional Officer that I would not do so. I was "hauled-up" in front of the Executive Officer as a defaulter and was fined a month's pay for "behaviour unbecoming" and was then redirected to HMC Commun­i­ca­tions School in Corn­wallis, to be trained as a Visual Communicator and at graduation became a Signalman.

" I served in HMCS Resolute and was then drafted to Stadacona to await the refit of HMCS Fort Erie. After joining Fort Erie in Saint John, NB and sailing in her for a period, I requested transfer to Commun­i­ca­tions Special and was sent to Ottawa, HMCS Gloucester for training. From there I was sent to HMCS Aklavik, Inuvik, Coverdale, Churchill, Alert, with a very short stay in Bermuda.

" I enjoyed my time as a "291er" working "down the hall" and with that group of 'sailors'. If you wish to learn more about the branch please visit Jerry Proc's website, where you will find a great deal of information on the "291er world".

" In 1970 I resigned from the RCN and went to work for Simpsons-Sears for 23 years, and then opened my own accounting/taxation practise until I mostly retired in 2000. I now work as a Senior Consultant, in taxation, for Canada's leading tax company. "

TWO PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY HOWARD "BUCK" BAKODY

David Bakody sent me these photos relating to his father, CERA Howard "Buck" Bakody, who was an instructor in Marine Technical Engineering at HMCS Corn­wallis during World War 2.

David says ". . . he always spoke very highly of Corn­wallis and was so fond of sailors/stokers and ERA's he instructed . . . he once mentioned it was hard sending them off to sea only to hear some were lost aboard the ships that were sunk by German U-boats."

SEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GERRY McLENNON

Bryan McLennon sent me these photos of his father, PO Gerry McLennon, who was a bosun serving on HMCS Buckingham. The ship was stationed in Hamilton, Ontario, during the summer of 1959 for reserve training, and the ship's whaler crew, coxswained by PO McLennon, won the Carling Trophy in a race against 16 other entries. All but one of the photos are of the race, the whaler crew, and the trophy presentation.
Section revised November 12, 2024.

FOUR PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY STEVE MONAHAN

The late Steve Monahan served on HMCS Ste Therese during 1944 and 1945. Not much information is available about his navy career, but the first photos show him as an Able Seaman, and by 1945 he was wearing a Sub-Lieutenant's uniform. His photos were sent to me by his nephew, Michael Monahan, who lives in Ireland. Steve died January 18, 2020.

77 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY CFB ESQUIMALT NAVAL & MILITARY MUSEUM

Many thanks to Tom Miller (see his father's photos on this website) for obtaining these photos from CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, and especially to the museum itself for giving me permission to reproduce them on this website. All of these photos are of HMCS Prince Robert and/or members of her crew, and span the years from about 1939 to 1945.

For many more photos, memories, diaries and anecdotes by HMCS Prince Robert crew members, please see William Hillman's HMCS Prince Robert Tribute Website. Section Updated February 18, 2024.

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY NEIL A. DUVAL

Many thanks to Jim Duval for thie collection of photos taken by his father, Lt. Neil A. Duval, mostly on HMCS Magnificent in 1950. Neil's navy career started during WW2 when he served as a stoker from July 1944 to May 1946. He then became a civilian fire-fighter with the Department of National Defense, Naval Service, until he re-joined the RCN in May 1949 with the rank of Lieutenant. He served variously at HMCS Stadacona, Magnificent, & Naden. He later served as Area Naval Fire Chief and Base Fire Chief at Naden, and in 1957 was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander. In 1959 he was appointed to Headquarters as Assistant Director of Fire-fighting, then appointed Director of Firefighting in 1960.

EIGHT PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KEN MARCHANT

Many thanks to Ken Marchant for this account of his World War Two career in the RCN. He joined at the age of 16 in July 1943 and served as a stoker on HMCS Antigonish from late 1943 to the end of the war. He prepared his own pdf file, which is published below.

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GEORGE ROBERT "BOB" COWIE

Many thanks to Mark Cowie for these photos found in his father's personal papers. Mark knows virtually nothing about his father's RCN career except that he served in Esquimalt. These photos show his father, George Robert (Bob) Cowie as an officer cadet. The prints are dated June 1956, and the locations seem to be Halifax or on-board an unknown ship, probably a frigate.

133 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GERTRUDE "TRUDY" QUINN

Many thanks to Barbara (Good) Gateley for this collection of photos belonging to her mother. Barbara writes in part: " Gertrude Alice (Quinn) Good joined the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service in September 1942. She trained in Galt, Ontario, Esquimalt, B.C. and Halifax, N.S. She worked mainly in Ottawa and was stationed at Kingsmill House. In the course of her duties, she met Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mme Chiang-Kai-Chek and Princess Alice who was the wife of the wartime Governor-General to Canada. Gertrude mostly known as "Trudy" by her mates, was demobilized in January 1946 whereupon she returned home to Bathurst, N.B.

" In August 1947 she married Gordon Franklin Good, who had served for six years overseas in the Carleton and York Regiment from New Brunswick. They participated in many battles, including the Battle of Ortona, breaking the Nazi stronghold in the east. Gordon died in 1981 and Gertrude died in 1985. "

Photos were taken in Galt & Preston, Ont.; Ottawa, Ont.; Halifax, NS; and Victoria, BC.

Many photos of people are unidentified, but some were noted:
Surnames of WRCNS Officers & Wrens: Alvey, Cameron, Campbell, Carlson, Carpenter, Corkchran, Crosby, Currie, Dawson, Ellah, Embury, Gillespie, Hancock, Heaven, Holroyde, Isherwood, Kidder, Kirby, Lamb, Lauzen, Lovatt, Mackie, Mason, Matusky, McFee, McLelland, Moggy, Parkin, Peden, Phillips, Quinn, Samuels, Sawley, Smith, Sturdee, Taylor, Thibodeau, Tunks.
Surnames of RCN men: Anderson, Baxter, Beck, Bennett, Froment, Gould, Gyllick, Hart, Humphries, Jones, Lister, Loggie, Mack, Malone, Oswald, Rattrey, Read, Renton, Schafer, Seaby, Simpson, Smith, Steele, Valenti, Warren, Wicks, York.
RCN Ships: Two photos were taken on board HMCS Uganda, in Victoria, BC.

See the Gertrude Quinn photo collection.

19 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ERNIE SCHOEN

Ernie Schoen's grandson, Mike Schoen, has assumed the role of contact person for this section. When Ernie's son, the late Irwin (Buzz) Schoen, sent me these photos, he wrote of his father:

"My father joined the RCNVR in Saskatoon, was trained at Naden and went overseas where he was in HMCS Haida's original ship's company until the end of the war. He was a Chief Steward in charge of the wardroom. He never talked about the war but there was an envelope with various pictures from that time in our house when we were growing up. If I remember rightly, he was friends with the photographer on the ship and many of the photos came from him. When my father died in 1983, I took the photos from the envelope that I wanted – mainly ones with him in the picture and sent the rest (originals) off to some Haida Association address. I cannot remember what most of the other photos were of but I know there were shots of HMCS Athabaskan and certainly the one of the ship's company which is on the present Haida Association website. I do not know what ever happened to the photos I sent as I never heard back from anyone. The only photos I have left are the ones I sent you.

"My son was searching the internet last year and came across a photo of his grandfather in a file posted by Tom Miller. I did not know Tom, but his father Jack Miller (see Jack Miller's section on this website) trained at Naden with my father, and he and his future wife were best man and bridesmaid for my parents' wedding in Victoria before Dad shipped overseas. In contacting Tom, he also had many other photos from that time which our family has never seen. It was Tom who suggested I also forward whatever photos I have to you as well."

SIX PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY NORMAN JOSEPHSON

Many thanks to Norman Josephson's son, Gord Josephson, for the photos in this section. He writes: " We found these and other pictures after the death of our mother. They were pictures of ships that my father had acquired during his service in the Canadian Navy at the time of the Korean war. My father (Norman Josephson) passed away when I was in my teens and he never was one to discuss his days in the service with us so we have no information from that period. . . . . could you please point me in the right direction to identify these ships? "

So far, there are four photos of ships – two of HMCS Ontario, one of the British light cruiser, HMS Kenya, and one of the submarine USS Queenfish tied up alongside what may be a Tribal class destroyer or HMCS Ontario. Two other photos are of a land base, probably HMCS Naden. Section revised May 28, 2021.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DANIEL EUGENE JOSEPH HAYDU

Many thanks to the late Daniel Haydu's sister, Barb Conroy, for these photos. She says Daniel was in Gatineau Division at HMCS Corn­wallis during the winter of 1962. He trained as an engineer and served on HMCS Buckingham and HMCS Bonaventure, and left the navy at the end of his three-year term in 1964.

Danny then worked at the Prince George pulpmill in the steam plant, then Prince Rupert Hospital steam plant prior to retiring. He died in 2014.

53 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY MARCEL (JOE) LESAGE

Many thanks to the late Joe Lesage's son, Richard Lesage, for these copies of photos and documents in his father's collection. Richard says that his father enlisted in 1951 and retired in 1973. He passed away in 2008. He was a Naval Storesman and reached the rank of CPO2.

The photos and documents show that after basic training at HMCS Corn­wallis, Joe Lesage served on HMCS Cape Scott, Magnificent, Ottawa, St Croix, Skeena, and CFAV Dundalk. He was also stationed at Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda in 1954, and at various times at HMCS Hochelaga, Shearwater, Corn­wallis, Stadacona, and Patricia Bay, BC. Section revised Nov. 20, 2022.

33 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY LARRY THIVIERGE

Larry Thivierge joined the RCN in 1954 and was in Saguenay Division from April 12 to August 28, 1954. He was an Electrician's Mate and served on HMCS Magnificent, HMCS Lanark, and HMCS Stadacona. He served until 1959 and left with the rank of ABLM1.

Larry is a ham radio operator with the call sign of "VE3GT". More details on his ham radio career can be found on the qrz.com website. Enter his callsign VE3GT into the search box at the top left of that website, ensuring it is set to "By Callsign".

Surnames of identified people: Archer, Atkin, Benson, Bond, Bordinuck, Burleigh, Burnby, Case, Chabot, Chanin, Chapman, Cheyney, Clark, Creber, Cummings, Duggan, Duschene, Ferguson, Fisher, Frechette, Gamble, Glenn, Grimes, Hansen, Harris, Hermiston, Hutchinson, Johnson, Jones, Kitchen, Laframboise, Lang, Lawrence, Lepinski, Lowe, McGrath, McLeish, Miller, Newman or Neuman, Porteous, Preece, Quackenbush, Ramsbottom, Rayworth, Roue, Satchel, Shier, Simpson, Small, Stoddart, Tennant, Tennent, Thivierge, Turbide, Wakeford, Wentzell, White, Wright, Young, Zwicker.

Ships and land bases shown: NRS Churchill, HMCS Gloucester, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Lanark, HMCS Magnificent, HMCS Stadacona, and USS Spikefish.

Click here to see Larry Thivierge's Section.

59 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY YVAN MARTINEAU

Yvan Martineau said in an email: " I came from a little town in the eastern town­ships of Quebec, called Coaticook, which produced six bandsmen to the RCN in the early 1950's. I joined in 1951 after turning 17. Went to HMCS Corn­wallis for basic training until March 1952, then went to HMCS Naden on the west coast at the school of music for six months. I had a little spin on HMCS Ontario to give me a taster. Then back to the east coast – unfortunately to HMCS Corn­wallis – for six months when I got to be a leading seaman.

" From there I was drafted onto HMCS Quebec in March in preparation for leaving for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in May 1953. I spent most of my time on HMCS Quebec with interlude on and off to HMCS Stadacona. I must have spent nearly three years on board, which I really enjoyed. In 1954 I got promoted to P2BD3. The last five months of 1956 was spent at HMCS Corn­wallis, and I was released three months early at the beginning of September to attend college in Toronto to redo my grade 12 and 13 in English before entering studies at the Memorial Chiropractic College, as I really needed to polish up and refine my English.

" However, in Toronto I had transfered to the naval reserve at HMCS York, and played solo clarinet in the band for the whole five years. After two years there I got my P1BD3. This arrangement worked out very well as most of their activities were weekends and evenings which did not intefere with my studies and at the same time earned a bit of money. I finally graduated in 1961 and had to abandon the RCN – a sad day!

" I came to England after graduation and met with a few friends and ended up staying here. I retired 20 years ago when my son took over the Clinic. It has been a very good life. "

Surnames of identified people: Alexander, Basdeen, Boily, Brandes, Carroll, Champoux, Charbonneau, Clark, Colleage, Delamont, Denovan, Devost, Dillon, Donovan, Dube, Griffiths, Harding, Martineau, Mass, McGuire, Morrison, Mundy, Nold, Orser, Ottman, Patterson, Perkins, Puskas, Reed, Reid, Scott, Simmons, Sirois, Sirola, Smith.

Ships shown: HMCS Algonquin, Iroquois, Magnificent, Quebec, HMS Morecamb Bay, Sheffield, Vanguard.

Click here to see Yvan Martineau's Section.

32 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JOHN & ROBERT SALMOND

I received an email from Tara Kennedy, who said: " Both of my mother's brothers, Robert and John Salmond, served in the Canadian navy in the 1950s to 1970s. I have several pictures of the HMCS Bonaventure. I am not sure which one served on the ship though as they have both passed. "

Based on the opinion of their only remaining sibling, a younger sister, the family thinks it was John who served on HMCS Bonaventure. At least one photo proves that he also served on HMCS Cape Breton. It is probably that Robert took the two photos of the drydock at HMCS Naden. Robert died in 1994 and John died in 2011, so there is no way other than obtaining their service records, to tell who served where and when.

Robert is shown at left, in Winnipeg, in 1951. The colour portrait is of John, probably mid-1950's.

48 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GEORGE SCHMIDT

I received an email from Robyn Barker, who said: " I recently digit­alized a number of my grand­father's photos from WWII. He (George Schmidt) was on the HMCS Prince Robert in the Pacific . . . . Like most he didn't talk about it and when he died he took a lot of those details with him. "

Many of these photos were taken of, and near, Perc? Rock in the Gasp?, where George Schmidt underwent training. There are several photos taken of and on Fairmiles (hull numbers Q053, Q083, Q085 are clearly shown) – photos of crew members, both lower deck and officers, but they all seem to have been taken on Fairmiles. There is also a shot of an unknown jetty where the cars parked are from the 1950's or 1960's. But I can't place any of the photos on HMCS Prince Robert.

32 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY EDWARD JOHN VOKEY

Edward John Vokey was in the RCN from 1952 to 1957, and had the rank of LSAR1 (Air Rigger) when he was discharged. During his career he served on land bases HMCS Donnacona, Corn­wallis, Shearwater, & Stadacona, as well as on the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent.

These photos are courtesy of his daughter, Debbie Ann Vokey.

TWELVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT (BOB) ULMER

Robert (Bob) Ulmer emailed me about photos belonging to his father, also Robert (Bob) Ulmer. Originally from Saskatchewan, Bob Sr. served in the RCNVR from August 1943 to September 1945. After basic training at HMCS York and HMCS Corn­wallis, he served on HMCS Provider, based in Bermuda. He died at age 88, in 2004.

TWELVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT (BOB) HOLMWOOD

I received an email from Nickol Dawson who is trying to find information about her late grandfather, Robert (Bob) Holmwood. About all that is known about his Navy career was gleaned from a set of photos she emailed me, plus copies of a couple of documents.

Bob Holmwood joined the RCN around 1954, based on the cars parked near the parade square at HMCS Corn­wallis. He served at HMCS Shearwater and on HMCS Bonaventure. In the January, 1959 issue of The Crowsnest, Robert W. Holmwood is listed as being promoted to the rank of LSAT2 (Leading Seaman Air Technician, Trade Group 2) and before he left the RCN (probably before 1966) he had qualified as an LSAT3, and his speciality was helicopter maintenance.

Most of the photos show hovercraft at various locations. It is possible that after leaving the Navy he worked for Britten-Norman, a British manufacturer of aircraft and hovercraft. At some point he and his family lived on Seafury Drive, Shearwater, Nova Scotia.

18 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROD (ROCKY) ROCKWELL

Rod "Rocky" Rockwell was born in Amherst N.S. and joined the navy at HMCS Scotian on Feb. 10 1961. He was in Restigouche 1/61 Divison at HMCS Corn­wallis during basic training, and became an Electrician's mate.

He sailed on HMCS Chaudiere, Granby, Ottawa, Bras D'Or, Nipigon, Atha­baskan, Huron, and did a couple of stints at FMG(A) and FDU(A), Fleet School, finishing up on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project (CPFP) in Saint John, N.B. He retired in May 1990 with the rank of C2ET and immediately went to work for the Shipyard in Quality Assurance. After the end of CPFP he continued to work on and off with the Shipyard until the late 1990's when he retired for good.

SIX PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RAYMOND ERNEST GARD

Ray­mond E. Gard's son, Cdr. (Ret) Bill Gard, said in various emails: " My father was born in Toronto in 1918 and passed away in Etobicoke, ON, in 2000 in his 83rd year. His oldest brother, Fred Gard, passed away in his 105th year in Saute Ste. Marie on 29 May 2019. Dad was one of five brothers who all served in WWII and all came home.

" He joined at HMCS York in 1942 at the age of 24. He couldn't join sooner as his mother depended on him to help the family as she was a widow with eight children. I am sure he would have sailed in other ship(s) and I am not sure which ones. His main ship was the corvette K-169, HMCS Rosthern, (where he served as a stoker)." Section revised August 22, 2024.

23 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT DUNN

Robert Dunn's son, Robert E. Dunn, sent me a collection of photos, some of which match the photos taken on HMCS Rosthern, in Raymond E. Gard's section above.

Robert Dunn was born in Moose Jaw on Aug. 8th, 1914. The family moved to Powell River, BC, where his dad got a job in the Paper Mill as a electrician. Robert was a star in the athletic life of Powell River in his younger days – he played soccer for many years, was an excellent diver, and was one of British Columbia's outstanding amateur boxers.

In World War II he served for five years in the Royal Canadian Navy. He served first on the mine-sweeper HMCS Minas, and was a member of its commissioning crew which sailed her from Vancouver, where it was built, to Halifax in September & October, 1941. The image of his Jamaican wharf pass dated October 8, 1941, is solid proof he was on that trip, and it shows his rank was Able Seaman. He later sailed on the Corvette HMCS Rosthern, joining her some time in 1942, and was there until the end of the war. Rosthern was on convoy duty in the north Atlantic the whole time he was on her. A ship's company photo of Rosthern taken in 1944 shows by that time Robert Dunn was a Petty Officer 1st Class.

After the War in 1945, Robert married Audrey Crumb, in St. John N.B., and moved back to Powell River to his job in the Pulp Mill. They had four children – Janice, Robert (Edward), Libby, and Sara. He stayed active in the community as an executive member of the Canadian Legion, a member of the Sea Cadets committee and was active in fraternal circles. Robert Dunn passed away at the age of 63 in the Foothills Hospital, of a heart attack while on holidays in Alberta. Section revised October 24, 2022.

31 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BILL BOWMAN

25 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GORDON STEWART

Gordon Stewart joined the RCN in November, 1954. He was held back until January 6, 1955, then did his basic training at HMCS Cornwallis in Vancouver V Division until June 4, 1955. He served on HMCS Micmac for two years and on HMCS Athabaskan for seven months, and left the navy in 1960 with the rank of LSTD2. Section revised January 5, 2024.

TEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DOUGLAS COMBER

Dave Comber said in an email: " My dad, Douglas Comber, is turning 100 years young on Jan 14 (2019) . . . . He still golfs and drives a car. He is also self-dependent (to a degree if you don't count a cleaning lady). I believe he served from 1939-45. His brother Keith (who sadly just passed) was lent to the Royal Navy during the war. "

On November 20, 2019, Dave emailed: " . . . . just a short note to let you know that my Dad passed away early this morning (Nov 20) at Peterborough Regional HC. His 100+ heart finally gave out but he passed peacefully and comfortably. I had the pleasure of golfing with him just in September so he did enjoy a full life. "

Douglas Comber served on HMCS Lynx (Z07), an armed yacht, about 1941-42, and then on HMCS Kootenay after it was transfered from the RN to the RCN in 1943.

21 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BOB STEVENSON

Bob Stevenson says: "I enlisted from Montreal after being told by the Air Force that they only wanted cooks! Was in for 5 years from March 1958 to March 1963. Did the Cornwallis thing and in August 1958 I went to HMCS Shearwater on a Air Fitter's 6 month course at NAMS. Drafted to VS880 Squadron for the duration of the 5 years. Had two cruises on HMCS Bonaventure during that time. " Bob's email address changed July 1, 2022.

21 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY WES CLARK

Wes Clark's son, Dave Clark says: " My dad was Wes Clark CPO RCN. Names like Ken Johnson and Ken Lloyd remind me of my times at the HMCS Discovery Chiefs and PO's Mess with my mom and dad playing bingo. Robert 'Boots' Green, CPO BEM, Dave Williams Chief Stoker DSM, and George Vander Hagen CPO DSM, Ben Southon WO OBE, are either family friends, or connected by family, that I have sought to remember. "

Wes Clark served in the RCN from 1937 to 1958. Ships he served on include: HMCS/HMS Skeena, St laurent, Assinboine, Cobalt, Outarde, Bayfield, The Pas, Ribble, Warrior, Ontario, Crusader, Sault Ste Marie, New Glasgow. Stone Frigates include: HMCS Naden, Stadacona, Hochelaga, Peregrine, Cornwallis, Givenchy, Discovery. Section revised April 25, 2021.

ELEVEN PHOTOS & ONE CREW LIST IN THIS SECTION BY CHARLES MacDONALD

Charles MacDonald says: " I served in the RCN from 1957 To 1963. I joined in Halifax, (and was immediately) posted to HMCS Loon as it was short-staffed because of a flu epidemic and the ship was short of crew. I then went to HMCS Cornwallis, Ottawa Division, (then) drafted to the Commissioning of HMCS Restigouche as a OSLM. (Then) to HMCS Stadacona for 3's course, then to HMCS Shearwater, 880 Squadron, with many detachments to HMCS Bonaventure. I was on board when we picked up survivors and dead of the crash of the Flying Tigers air-line that crashed in the mid-Atlantic (23 September, 1962 – see the memorial website).

" I signed on for an additional year during The Cuban missle crisis and sailed on the Bonnie for the Russian Ship Blockade. Then went to the DEW Line for four years as a civilian and watched for Russian bombers as part of the Cold War. "

20 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GORDON HUNTER

Gordon Hunter says: "At 17, I was a wide-eyed, naïve kid who just needed to get on with his life so, in the summer of 1962, with few options open to me and looking for adventure, I stepped off into the deep end and joined the Royal Canadian Navy.

"In August 1962 I boarded the train in Montreal and joined a bunch of other guys who, along with me were told when we reached HMCS Cornwallis for the 16 week ritual humiliation the Navy called New Entry Training, that we were now Gatineau Division 2-62.

"Before Cornwallis was quite done with us the Cuban Crisis unfolded. The group a week ahead of us was sent to sea and we were kept in Cornwallis for several weeks doing whatever they could find to keep us busy.

"In January 1963 I was drafted onto HMCS La Hulloise, on old Prestonian Class Frigate. From there it was off to a couple of Destroyer Escorts, first HMCS Gatineau, then HMCS Restigouche.

"In 1968 I volunteered for the Submarine Service as an LSSN and served mainly onboard HMCSubmarine Onondaga, although at one point, when the Okanagan was short handed and needed a sonarman I made a pierhead jump and went to sea on her for a couple of weeks.

"With integration coming on, I left after eight years. I couldn't see myself wearing that green uniform with a peaked cap.

"Upon leaving I took Communications Arts at Mount Royal College in Calgary and worked in both Radio and Television for several years. From there I took a job with NABET, the union representing Broadcast workers and eventually became National President.

"I worked for almost 30 years in organized labour and after retiring, looking for a creative outlet, I wrote No-Badge Killick, a memoir about life at sea in Canada's Cold War Navy – www.nobadgekillick.blogspot.com." Section revised December 7, 2021.

18 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BILL KILLAM

Many thanks to Kathryn Killam, who says in part: " I have photos from my father's time in the war 1939 to 1945. He was First Officer in the Engine Room on a number of Corvettes. His name was Bill Killam, and he was from Liverpool, Nova Scotia. I see from some of the men's collections that there are photos of the Cobalt in Liverpool being refitted. Are any of the men from that time, that corvette, still alive I wonder? " Section revised March 23, 2034.

THREE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROGER RAYNER

Roger Rayner says: " I served from 1960 to 1980 – served on HMCS Bona­venture, Inch Arran, Saguenay, St Laurent, Nipigon, and Preserver, as naval storesman. Also on bases HMCS Stadacona, HMCS Shearwater and CFB Summerside. I retired (from the RCN) in 1980.

" (Then) I got a job working for the NATO depot as a civilian. Our headquarters was SACLANT HQ, Norfolk Virginia. We supplied items for their datcom sites in Europe, Canada, and USA. I retired in 2002. "

102 PHOTOS & ONE DIARY IN THIS SECTION BY COLIN MURDO NICOLSON

After Eric Nicolson identified his father, Colin Murdo Nicolson, in a photo of the crew of HMCS Sioux, (click here to see that photo) he then told me in another email: " My family also retains old photographs taken aboard the Sioux during 1944-45 and my father kept a diary for that time. I do not know if these items have any interest for you but I would be happy to scan and forward them should you determine that they may be of value . . . . "

Colin Murdo Nicolson was from Port Arthur, Ontario (now part of the city of Thunder Bay), and that's where he joined the RCNVR in late 1943, at the age of 18. He took his basic training in western Canada – almost certainly at HMCS Naden – and joined the newly-commis­sioned HMCS Sioux in Ports­mouth, England, on Feb. 22, 1944. He served on her until the end of the war.

Eric isn't sure that his father had his own camera, but he describes him as a pack-rat, so he must have acquired these photographs from others. But most importantly, he kept a daily journal of his time on the Sioux. Like most sailors he was obsessed with the weather and his lack of sleep – "Sleep? What's that?" – but what really comes through is the horror of what he witnessed, and how he managed to block most of it from his mind.

The ship was lucky – although there were many engagements with the enemy, they escaped major damage, and the only two deaths were from accidents. But this self-described matelot spent nearly every waking moment on the upper deck, standing endless watches in the wet, freezing cold, or as part of a gun crew as they were attacked by air­craft or sub­marines, or on one occasion, artillery from a battery on land. He was often in a haze of exhaustion but still managed to write down his thoughts. He died in 2007. He left us an enduring legacy.

Click here to see Colin Murdo Nicolson's Section.

56 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY FRED HOLLANDS

The late; Fred Hollands joined the RCNVR during WW2, serving on HMCS Nootka, HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Skeena. In 1942 he was part of HMCS Skeena's crew when that ship was transferred to 3rd Canadian Escort Group and joined HMCS Saguenay, and the corvettes HMCS Wetaskiwin, Sackville, Gault, & Camrose, to escort Atlantic convoys between St. John's Newfoundland and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On July 31, 1942, HMCS Skeena shared credit with HMCS Wetaskiwin for sinking German submarine U-588, north-east of St. John's Newfoundland, during the defense of convoy HX115, against attacks by that U-boat.

Fred was part of the ship's company of HMCS Iroquois when they provided an offensive role as well as convoy escort duties in the Bay of Biscay, the English Channel, and off the French, Norwegian and North Russian coasts with the '3rd Destroyer Flotilla' and 'Plymouth Command' of the British Home Fleet. He took a lot of photographs during his time in the Navy but the ones that survived are primarily from his days on the St. John's - Londonderry run. Fred died January 27, 2006 in Edmonton.

Fred Hollands came from a family with a long history with the Royal Canadian Navy. His father, Henry Hollands, was a stoker in the Royal Navy, and was a member of the crew that sailed HMCS Niobe from Portsmouth England to Halifax, arriving in that city October 21st, 1910 – his last name was mistakenly listed as "Holland" in the 1911 Canadian Census (click/tap here to see the crew list on this website). Fred and his brother, Frank Hollands, joined the RCNVR together, and Fred's son, Fred Hollands Jr., who provided these photos, served in the RCN from 1962 until 1970. When Fred Jr. decided not to re-enlist he was a Leading Seaman, Weapons Underwater, and had served on HMCS Gatineau, Restigouche, Fraser & Provider.

It is through the courtesy of Fred Hollands Jr., that we are privileged to see his father's photos. He was helped and encouraged by former shipmate, Gordon Hunter (see Gordon's section on this website) – they sailed together on HMCS Gatineau & Restigouche, in the 1960's. Section Added February 2, 2021.

Click here to see Fred Hollands' Section.

FOUR PHOTOS & ONE NEWS CLIPPING IN THIS SECTION BY KENNETH BOATWRIGHT

Kenneth Boatwright says: "I was in the RCN from Aug. 5, 1965 through Aug. 8, 1968. I enlisted on Seymour St. in downtown Van­cou­ver at 17, and travelled across Canada to Cornwallis by train and ferry with what became my immediate shipmates in Terra Nova Division. Following initial training as a Stoker in Halifax I was transferred to Esquimalt – with just a few weeks ashore I was then transferred to HMCS Mackenzie, part way through her refit. Following exciting sea trials, a trip to Long Beach and Hawaii in 1966, (and in January, 1967) we were sent on Maple Spring exercises in the Caribbean, with visits to San Diego, Acapulco, Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Columbia, Costa Rica and Long Beach. I was transferred to HMCS Chaudiere, in 1968, and discharged Aug. 8, 1968 as an ABER2.

"After I was discharged I went logging, setting chokers at Woss Lake Camp for Canfor. After ripping the butt out of my dungarees on the first day and several close calls later, I decided to go back to school. I went to Vancouver Vocational Institute (VVI) and obtained my 4th Class Power Engineers Certificate, December of 1968. This was based on my "firing time" on the ships. By 1978 I had obtained my 1st Class Certificate and had a successful career as Chief Engineer of several large Power Plants. The last 13 years of work I consulted in Energy from Waste Power Plants that took me from Europe to Asia. The lust for travel never left." Section revised April 14, 2023.

105 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY TED HEFFERNAN

Ron Field says: "(I have) the collection of photos my grand­father took while stationed on the east coast during WWII. He was Edward 'Ted' Heffernan, RCNVR Shore Patrol, and I believe he was in Halifax and New­found­land. . . . . I recall him showing me some of the photos when I was a kid. He was a bit concerned as apparently he wasn't supposed to be taking some of the photos of the ships. He passed away in 2007 and the photos came to me."

Locations of most of the photos were provided by Karen Darby, Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Section Revised December 5, 2023.

14 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ALLAN SPURRELL

Allan Spurrell served on HMCS Ottawa-3 during 1966-67. These photos were taken on several southern cruises, including Malta and Gibraltar and San Juan, as well as at sea.

After leaving the navy, Allan served 30 years with the Fredericton Fire Department, retiring in 2005.

Other ships shown: HMCS Assinniboine, HMCS Lanark. Section Added August 29, 2024.

HISTORY SECTION : 134 PHOTOS, THREE CREW LISTS & FIVE VIDEO LINKS

This section contains historical photos related to the RCN. If you have any photos in your family album, taken by yourself, or perhaps a friend or relative, please send me a scan as I would love to use it in this section.

Surnames in this section: This is not a complete list – for example, the complete ships' companies of HMCS Aurora, Niobe, Patrician, Patriot, and Rainbow are listed, per the 1911 and 1921 censuses. The casualties of HMCS Athabaskan, which was sunk April 29, 1944, are also not listed here. Adams, Akers, Alexander, Allen, Ambler, Aris, Arkwright, Armstrong, Arnott, Arpin, Ashley, Atherton, Atkinson, Auckland, Bankes, Barnard, Beal, Beaupre, Bell, Bennet, Benson, Biletchi, Binnie, Birchall, Blackhurst, Block, Blyth, Boak, Bordinuck, Borglund, Bowen, Boyd, Bridgman, Bronson, Brosseau, Browett, Brown, Brownless, Callanan, Campbell, Carmichael, Carr, Carter, Charron, Cherry, Christie, Clark, Clarke, Clason, Clement, Colburn, Cole, Commerford, Connors, Corbet, Couvrette, Coyle, Creber, Creechan, Creed, Crocker, Crockett, Crone, Culmer, Davis, Dawson, Day, De'Ath, Dean, Denny, Derouin, Dicy, Domshy, Donaldson, Douglas, Dubbs, Duhamel, Dunn, Duy, Eaglesham, Ecclis, Edwards, Ellliott, Fenwick, Forbes, Fox, Fraser, Gagnier, Gallant, Galletly, George, Ghel, Gillespie, Gillis, Giroux, Glover, Goldfinch, Gourley, Grant, Granville, Gray, Greason, Greer, Gregory, Gunn, Haggett, Hale, Haliday, Hall, Hamm, Handley, Hansen, Harrison, Hart, Hatt, Hawkins, Heaney, Hearn, Helfrich, Hildebrand, Hill, Hindle, Holowaty, Hood, Hopper, Howe, Hughes, Hutchison, Isbell, Jamieson, Jeandron, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Johnston, Jones, Kennedy, Kernaghan, Kiren, Kite, Knight, Knox, La Roche, Laliberte, Lang, Langley, Lapierre, Lawrie, Lee, LeGier, Leitch, Leonard, LeVere, Lindley, Livingstone, Long, Longbottom, Longstaff, Lowe, MacDonald, MacIntosh, MacLellan, MacMillan, MacPhee, Makeranko, Marlatt, Marner, Martin, Mazur, McCort(?), McCullough, McDougall, McDowell, McEwan, McEwen, McGinnis, McGuire, McKendry, McKenzie, McLaughlan, McLure, McMillan, McMurdo, McNeil, McWilliams, Meek, Mercer, Meredith, Merril, Miller, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Monture, Moore, Morel, Morina, Morrison, Mosley, Moxham, Murchy, Murray, Musgrave, Nairn, Naughton, Nelson, Newell, Nicolson, Oberich(?), Olson, Page, Parker, Passerini, Patterson, Pattison, Paxton, Peach, Pearson, Peebles, Pelletier, Perks, Philley, Poirier, Pope, Porth, Pronych, Randall, Rayworth, Rees, Reid, Rennie, Richard, Richards, Riordon, Ritchie, Robertson, Robinson, Roruiq, Ross, Rowland, Ryan, Samson, Schwager, Seaborn, Seal, Seeley, Seguin, Seymour, Silvester, Simmons, Simpson, Sivertz, Small, Smith, Sockett, Somerville, Spanik, Spears, Speers, Spence, Sproston, St Pierre, Stapleton, Starr, Stevens, Storey, Stutley, Swainson, Sykes, Talling, Tassell, Taylor, Theriault, Thivierge, Thomas, Thompson, Tinkess, Trottier, Turbide, Turcot, Tushingham, Vokey, Vollet, Wade, Walters, Webber, Webster, White, Wickens, Wilkinson, Williamson, Wilson, Womack, Wood, Wright, Yorke, Young.

Ships or crews shown in this section: HMCS Beacon Hill, HMCS Bonaventure, HMCS Carlplace, HMCS Chilliwack, HMCS Cornwallis, HMCS Drumheller, HMCS Forest Hill, HMCS Huron, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Kamsack, HMCS Kings, HMCS Loch Morlich, HMCS Minas, HMCS Naden, HMCS Niobe, HMCS Nootka, HMCS Ontario, HMCS Peregrine, HMCS Prince Robert, HMCS Rainbow, HMCS Quebec, HMCS St Laurent, HMCS Sioux, HMCS Ste Therese, HMCS Thetford Mines, HMCS York, HMT Thalia or HMT Jackdaw, ML 080. Section revised Jan. 10, 2023.

See the Historical Photos Section.

CHRISTMAS CARD SECTION : FIVE CARDS

This section contains Christ­mas cards issued by HMC ships and establishments. Please send me images of cards missing here.

Ships' cards in this section: NRS Churchill, HMCS Grandmere, HMCS Lanark, HMCS Springhill, HMCS St Croix.

See the Christmas Cards Section.

HMC SHIPS – ORIGINALS AND DND PHOTOS

Click here to see this section of photos of RCN Ships, mostly without members of the crew visible. Most are DND photos but some are originals taken by those who submitted them to me. There are many other such photos in the sections above and I don't intend to re-shuffle the items on the website, so they'll stay there.

INTERNET LINKS

Click here to see a small selection of links to other websites of interest. In addition to general military websites, links are provided to personal, memorial, and health & welfare websites. Section revised May 5, 2024.