HMCS Skeena was lost in a storm on the night of 24 October 1944. Farncomb, RAN). This convoy departed Liverpool on 19 October 1940 and was dispersed on 22 October in about 25'W. cargo ship Rio Branco (3210 GRT, built 1924), tanker Solstad (5952 GRT, built 1927), tanker South America (6246 GRT, built 1931). The crew buried their dead with full naval honours at the Fossaburg cemetery near Reykjavik. Cardita (British (tanker), 8237 GRT, built 1931), P. Somerville, DSO, RN) joined at 1023/18 in position 1157'N, 4456'E. City of Lyons (British, 7063 GRT, built 1926), Masheer (British, 7911 GRT, built 1925), It was made up of the following merchant vessels; and HMS Aurora (F10) which replaced HMS Jupiter (9) Enroute to The ship's gun shield depicts a seductive, jumping salmon luring a U-boat while she . The wolf pack closed in, and more attacks followed. This convoy departed Halifax on 7 February 1940. HMS Hyperion parted company with the convoy on the 6th and also returned to Halifax. HMS Southampton was briefly detached to fuel at Aden after which she rejoined the convoy. Broompark (British, 5136 GRT, built 1939), Henri Desprez (French, 9805 GRT, built 1932), At 1845/18, HMS Berwick, HMS York, HMS Saguenay and HMS Skeena parted company with the convoy to return to Halifax where all four arrived on 20 September. on board HMCS SKEENA in the 1980s, Two photos taken from SKEENA'S Sea King, She was escorted by the Canadian destroyers HMCS Fraser (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN), HMCS Fraser (Cdr. HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena were detached on 1 February 1940. Geo W. McKnight (British (tanker), 12502 GRT, built 1933), It was found on a beach in the They came from Wellington. [6], The Canadian escorts defended SC 42 from the remaining 13 German submarines until British naval and air support arrived to tip the scales against the Axis. Walker (British (tanker), 10468 GRT, built 1935) and Her propeller was salvaged . --------------------------------------------------. J.R. Barnes, RN) and HMS Acasta (Cdr. My research strategy is usually to identify somewhere between 5 and 10 files for preliminary review, but due to limited time for on-site work with . There was one more ships in the convoy, this was the troopship Dunera (11162 GRT, built 1937) who had taken over the troops of the Scythia tanker Athelsultan (8882 GRT, built 1929), cargo ship Baron Douglas (3899 GRT, built 1932), cargo ship Baron Lovat (3395 GRT, built 1926), Baron Pentland (3410 GRT, built 1927), tanker Benedick (6978 GRT, built 1928), cargo ship Blairmore (4141 GRT, built 1928), cargo ship Bonheur (5327 GRT, built 1920), cargo ship Bridgepool (4845 GRT, built 1924), cargo ship Bristol City (2864 GRT, built 1920), cargo ship Brookwood (5100 GRT, built 1929), cargo ship Dallas City (4952 GRT, built 1935), tanker E.R. Durlacher, OBE, RN) and HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. Manchester Port (British, 7071 GRT, built 1935), J.H. HMS Hesperus and HMS Hurricane left the convoy around 1900/3 to go to the aid of the torpedoed armed merchant cruiser HMS Laurentic. Creery, RCN) and HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, RN), HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. Despite her illustrious wartime record, she met an ignoble end: smashed upon Icelands frigid shores amidst a terrible gale. Six U-boats pursued the merchant ships with Skeena and Wetaskiwin defending the convoys starboard flank. [11] Lawrence, Tales of the North Atlantic, 164. Gilbert (Gigi), LS.EW - 01 Dec 1981 - 25 Mar 1982 / PO2, NESOP - 20 Haxby (British, 5207 GRT, built 1929), They had departed from False Bay around 0815B/31. RG24 volume 11907 file AE 30-2-2 [Superintendent, Esquimalt] - HMCS SKEENA - Movements 1932-37; These three files listed above were among 19 textual files that I identified for consultation. Loch Don (British, 5249 GRT, built 1937), On flag deck (foreground) (L-R) AB.SG Feast E.R. R.L. this photograph you can see the lens of the Mk. She was escorted in by HMCS Skeena (Lt. H.S. Ruck-Keene, RN) and around 1600 hours by two more destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. On 6 April 1940 the convoy was joined by the destroyers HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. Ahead is SKEENA is USS Charles F. Adams (DDG2) (10) Delius (British, 6065 GRT, built 1937), The first Canadian attack drove the submarine deep. Prince Rupert City (British, 4749 GRT, built 1929), Tower, DSC, RN) which had departed Halifax on 10 March 1940. 1962 - 10 May 1963, Cdr Michael Arthur Rio Blanco, J.C. Hibbard, RCN), HMS Legion (Cdr. H.N. At 1226A/1, a Walrus aircraft from HMS Birmingham force landed on the water 95 from position 0925'N, 1639'W. Donald, RN) and HMS Wakeful (Cdr. S.W.F. They were to join troop convoy US 3 on the 14th. Archer, RN) and the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. J.E. E.E.G. Rossington Court (British, 6922 GRT, built 1928), J.C. Hibbard, RCN). Malayan Prince (British, 8953 GRT, built 1926), Dalcairn, Hopestar (British, 5267 GRT, built 1936), (3). Jupiter (F60) pulling away (8) On SKEENA'S stbd side are: Samaria (British, 19597 GRT, built 1921, carrying 787 troops), With them was also the troopship Empress of Australia (British, 21833 GRT, built 1914) which was to proceed to Iceland. Holland, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. The bulk of the convoy arrived at Liverpool on 16 February. San Alvaro (British (tanker), 7385 GRT, built 1935), Gretafield (British (tanker), 10191 GRT, built 1928), to take photos in the CCR (radio room). In 1972, the ship was designated a French Language Unit, the second in Canadian service. Donald, RN) and HMS Wolverine (Cdr. Everleigh (British, 5222 GRT, built 1930), Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Quebec City (British, 4745 GRT, built 1927), D.W. Groos, RCN) and HMCS Skeena (A/Lt.Cdr. Dalrymple-Hamilton, RN) was sighted which was to join the convoy. Pacific President (British, 7113 GRT, built 1928), ----------------------------------------------------. (8), 13 Dec 1940Around 0800 hours, the aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. This convoy departed Halifax on 9 March 1940 for Liverpool where it arrived on 26 March 1940. The convoy departed Freetown on 1 December 1940 escorted by HMS Devonshire and HMS Cumberland (Capt. French: From the Bristol Channel three ships joined this convoy, these were; W.R. Patterson, RN). Canada sold Skeena for scrap in the months that followed. Windeyer, RCN) and the Canadian destroyer HMCS Skeena (A/Lt.Cdr. Lay, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. The submarine reported the merchant ships position and moved in for an attack. Victor Ross (British, 12247 GRT, built 1933) and the rooftop lounge laguna beach; . Lay, RCN). Daronia (British (tanker), 8139 GRT, built 1939), Still escorted by HMS Shropshire and HMS Cumberland but now joined by the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt R.F.J. Bowyer-Smith, RN) and AA cruiser HMS Carlisle (Capt. In the late afternoon and evening of the 20th, HMS Fearless, HMS Faulknor and then HMS Escapade fuelled from HMS Hood. Tracers from their 20mm Oerlikon guns burned across the harbour as their main armaments battered the light German ships. Director (British, 5107 GRT, built 1926), City of Corinth (British, 5318 GRT, built 1918), Nailsea River (British, 5548 GRT, built 1917), Carimare (French, 4459 GRT, built 1920), Is was made up of the troopships A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. P + 1.90 P & P + 1.90 P & P, 15 members of crew! Around 1900B/18, HMS Volage and HMS Wessex parted comany. Torr Head (British, 5021 GRT, built 1937), Lay, RN) and HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. Fax by Mac Mackay April 2015, HOME PAGE SHIP INDEX Vendemaire (French (tanker), 9228 GRT, built 1929) and Firth, MVO, RN) also joined. Thistleford (British, 4781 GRT, built 1928), W.H. The other transports fuelled and took in water. On July 31, 1942, while escorting convoy ON 115 near Greenland, Skeena, in company with corvette HMCS Wetaskiwin, engaged in a classic anti-submarine battle. Aspasia Nomikos (Greek, 4855 GRT, built 1938), Dean Emery (British (tanker), 6664 GRT, built 1919), R.L. J.M. L.B. Courtesy of Bill Littlefair (97) Rickard, John A., AB, RCNVR Ferncourt (British (tanker), 9918 GRT, built 1938), Later, the crew abandoned ship in earnest, and made it ashore. Mike Desmarais appears in a newspaper article in his home town We flew around her in a horseshoe pattern, never crossing the bow. I served on HMCS Quebec March to August 1954 a short but memorable stint. James Brunis an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and regular contributor to MilitaryHistoryNow.com. Lay, OBE, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. He wrote an account of the incident in 2006. Pretoria Castle arrived with the five ships that had split off at Durban some hours after the others. Lay, OBE, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. H.W.U. Donald Brown Obituary - Halifax, NS - Dignity Memorial . At 1530/17 HMCS St. Laurent parted company with the convoy. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and HMS Bradford (Lt.Cdr. I.G. Geraldine Mary (British, 7244 GRT, built 1924), Akaroa (British, 15130 GRT, built 1914), V.M. the Hon. Stocker, RN). [9] Lawrence, Tales of the North Atlantic, 162. Scurfield, RN) and HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr. W.B. During the night HMS Leander parted company to proceed to Colombo. Scythia (British, 19761 GRT, built 1920) and Along with HMCS Fraser and HMCS Protecteur, she provided security, rescue crews and emergency support at the Montreal Olympics of 1976. The convoy then entered harbour while HMS Pretoria Castle set course for Capetown. Stanburn (British, 2881 GRT, built 1924), Lowther Castle (British, 5171 GRT, built 1937), Kina II (British, 9823 GRT, built 1939), On 17 Jul 1976, HMCS PROTECTEUR, Officer on watch while steaming (9) Roland Piette taking bearing temperature readings in McGrigor, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. HMCS Badges (for names beginning with N to Z) For HMCS badges with names starting from A to M, see our other listing. The other two Canadian destroyers parted company on the 19th. Also on this day the destroyers HMS Encounter (Lt.Cdr. Commissioned at Portsmouth, UK on 10June 1931, HMCS Skeena, based on the Royal Navy A Class destroyer design, was one of the first two ships built to Canadian order. Parracombe (British, 4702 GRT, built 1928), Built at Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver, HMCS Skeena, a St. Laurent Class destroyer, was commissioned on 30March 1957. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and the British destroyer HMS Wanderer (Cdr. Urla (British, 5198 GRT, built 1924), from United States. 31 Jan 1941Around 2330A/31, ' Z Force ' departed Lamlash for Freetown. ' Cerinthus (British (tanker), 3878 GRT, built 1930), Silverlarch (British, 5064 GRT, built 1924), J.A.Claude Gauthier - 15 Jul 1991 - 15 Dec 1991, Cdr 2 Sep 1940HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. Ruck-Keene, RN) joined followed around 1600N/14 by the destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. P.F.X. She was similar to the Royal Navy's A-class and wore initially the pennant D59, changed in 1940 to D181. H.N. Wendover (British, 5487 GRT, built 1928). Jessel, RN), Piorun (Cdr. H.G. At the rendezvous HMAS Australia then parted company and proceeded to Simonstown. Russell, RN), HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. At 1500 hours on 2 December, while in position 3215'S, 2935'E, the Almanzora, City of Manchester, Delius, Malancha and Martand were left astern to enable to other ships to arrive at Durban early the next day. Carras (Greek, 5234 GRT, built 1918), This convoy departed Halifax on 2 March 1940. cargo ship Keramiai (5085 GRT, built 1917). She was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (Capt. P.W. Diplomat (British, 8240 GRT, built 1921), Ret'd, HMCS SKEENA'S first Commanding Officer - 30 Mar 1957 - 20 Aug 1958. Russell, RCN), HMCS Pictou (T/A/Lt.Cdr. Nyanza (British, 4974 GRT, built 1928), In Port Hardy (British, 8897 GRT, built 1923), Her complement of 150 sailors would man her formidable armament, consisting of four 4.7-inch guns, one three-inch gun, six 20mm Oerlikon machine guns, torpedoes, and a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar. The destroyer HMCS Margaree, formerly HMS Diana. Langleeford, Course was set for Freetown where the convoy arrived in the morning of June, 7th. Caroni River (British, 7807 GRT, built 1928), J.C. Hibbard, RCN) picks up 6 men from the Norwegian merchant Bruse that was torpedoed and damaged west of Ireland in position 5504'N, 1215'W by German U-boat U-100. 74. On 14 Ronald Williams. Newfoundland (British, 6791 GRT, built 1925), Lay, OBE, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. 30 January 1965 the forward it went directly to the scrap yard in Cornwallis,,. E.G.G. Brynymor (British, 4771 GRT, built 1936), Stylianos Chandris (British, 6059 GRT, built 1919), Around 0900/27 the sloop HMS Milford (Cdr.(Retd.) de Wolf, RCN). Parracombe (British, 4702 GRT, built 1928), HMCS Skeena was anchored off Reykjavik, Iceland on the night of 24/25 Oct 1944, when a storm caused her to drag her anchor. A.D. Read, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. My dad, Arthur Preston, was on the ship when it ran aground in Iceland. At 1830OP(+2.5)/12, HMCS Assiniboine and HMCS Saguenay parted company to return to Halifax. Macharda (British, 5998 GRT, built 1938), Clunepark (British, 3491 GRT, built 1928), Four minutes later HMCS Ottawa and HMCS St. Laurent were detached t to investigate. 16 July 1914 First RNCVR seaman taken to sea in HMCS Rainbow to augment the RCN crew for a Bering Sea Fur Patrol; but diverted to assist her participation in the 'Kamagata Maru Incident' at Vancouver. W.A. Armanistan (British, 6805 GRT, built 1937), El Aleto (British (tanker), 7203 GRT, built 1927), HMCS Star MiD 17-Mar-45 MiD 14-Aug-45 MiD (posthumous) awarded, "For outstanding courage, resolution and devotion to duty when their ship was sunk. B.G. Michel Vincellete in the back on the right. E.R. SKEENA 2076 - circa 1970. fragments from HMCS SKEENA landing in a school yard in Washington state. R.L.B. The attacks were relentless, but the corvettes, preoccupied with rescue operations, were unable to engage the enemy. Manchester Commerce (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), H.T.W. Deneys, RN) and HMS Vanessa (Lt.Cdr. Upon arrival in Portsmouth on May 31, the warships were assigned to Western Approaches Command. Military abbreviations used in service files have been compiled by Library and. Roy, RCN) departed from Londonderry on the 20th. De Wolf, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. Glennie, RN) escorted by the Canadian destroyers HMCS Restigouche (Lt.Cdr. by Don Kindell . They remained with the convoy until 1030/21 when they were relieved by HMS Malaya (Capt. Llandaff Castle (British, 10799 GRT, built 1926), This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. On July 31, 1942, HMCS Skeena and HMCS Wetaskiwin were credited with destroying German U-Boat U588 with depth charges while defending the ships of convoy ON 115 (U-Boat.net). aircraft carrier Kiev - 1985, "HMCS ), HMS Broadwater (Lt.Cdr. British Prudence (British (tanker), 8620 GRT, built 1939), cruise; returning to Esquimalt on 02 Apr 1958. Edelsten, RN), HMS Cumberland (Capt. H.G. Inboard to outboard - HNLMS Evertsen (F815), FGS Braunschweig (225) 1944, Paid off for DDH Conversion: Temple Pier (British, 4312 GRT, built 1928), birthday under the sun. This reassessment officially credited Ottawa and Harvester with the destruction of the Italian submarineFaa di Brunoon 6 November 1940, ten months before Chambly killed U-501, making Chamblys victory the second Canadian submarine kill of the war. List price: Previous Price C $61.00 . 1972, (1) Skeenas position stabilized, and the captain ordered a cessation of preparations to abandon ship. Rockpool (British, 4892 GRT, built 1927), Rayner, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. Harmonic (British, 4558 GRT, built 1930), I still have his earphones and telegraph machine he used on the ship. Tisdall, RCN) and HMCS Restigouche (Lt.Cdr. (6). British Prince (British, 4879 GRT, built 1935), Delphinula (British (tanker), 8120 GRT, built 1939), Conus (British (tanker), 8132 GRT, built 1931), Irivng Ship repair, Saint John, NB, Photos 1 & 2: HMCS SKEENA in dry The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; 102 Gunsight Statesman (British, 7939 GRT, built 1923), I.G. the engine room, HMCS SKEENA, 1980, Helo City of Pittsburg (British, 7377 GRT, built 1922), Glenmoor (British, 4393 GRT, built 1928), Cleeves, DSC, RD, RNR) joined. Barrwhin (British, 4998 GRT, built 1929), The convoy, now made up of troopships / transports City of Manchester, Clan Chattan, Clan Lamont, Delius, Dunedin Star, Highland Monarch, Malancha, Martand, Port Wyndham and Stirling Castle, departed Durban for Aden around 1030 hours on 5 December 1940. Richardson, RN). Starstone (British, 5702 GRT, built 1938), 1969 on our way back from England. Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931), Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937), A St. Laurent class destroyer, Skeena (II) served in an anti-submarine role in the North Atlantic until the end of the Cold War. HMCS Margaree, Photographer: Walter E. Frost Source: City of Vancouver Archives, HMCS SKEENA 207 in Montreal for Expo 1967, She was tied up at the Bickerdike Terminal across