In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

Frederick Charles (Fred) Hollands

 

Leading Seaman, RCNVR

 

Born: 12 Jan 1914

 

Died: 27 Jan 2000

 

HOLLANDS, Fred - joined the RCNVR during the war and served on HMCS NOOTKA, HMCS IROQUOIS and HMCS SKEENA.

 

In 1942 he was part of HMCS SKEENA'S crew when the ship was transferred to 3rd Canadian Escort Group and joined HMCS SAGUENAY, and the Corvettes HMCS WETASKIWIN, SACKVILLE, GAULT and CAMROSE for Ocean Escort of Atlantic convoys between St. John's Newfoundland and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. On July 31st of that year SKEENA shared credit for sinking U-588 with HMCS WETASKIWIN north East of St. John's Newfoundland during the defense of convoy HX115 against attacks by the boat.

 

He was part of the ship's Company on 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's brother Frank Holland also served in the Navy during the Second World War.  Fred's son, also named Fred Holland served in the RCN from 1962 to 1970.  Fred's father, Henry Holland, served in the RN and was a crew member of HMCS NIOBE when she sailed from England to Halifax in 1910.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS NOOTKA

HMCS SKEENA

HMCS IROQUOIS

 

FH01

FH02

FH03

FH04

FH05

(FH01) Fred Hollands by gun mount on HMCS SKEENA  (FH02) Fred Hollands (left) and unknown shipmate by the forward gun on HMCS SKEENA  (FH03) A cold day at sea - Fred Hollands (left) and unknown shipmate on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA  (FH04-FH05) Fred Hollands in a duffel coat on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA

 

FH06

FH07

FH08

FH09

FH10

(FH06) Fred Hollands with some buddies on leave in London - "The 4 Jacks" - L-R: Unknown, Unknown, Hollands, Galloway  (FH07) Fred Hollands with some buddies in front of the Beaver Club in London - L-R: Fred Hollands, Landry, Galloway, Unknown  (FH08) Fred Hollands on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA  (FH09) Fred Hollands in a mess deck on HMCS SKEENA (FH10) "Jack and Hedgie" on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA - Fred Hollands (Hedgie) on the right wearing a USN sailors cap with his whites. Location possibly St. John's, NFLD

 

FH11

FH12

FH13

FH14

FH15

(FH11) Fred Hollands handling a hawser while in his white on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA.  Location possibly St. John's, NFLD  (DH12) Mable does his Dhobey on HMCS SKEENA  (FH13) Fred Hollands wearing the CO's tunic and cap on HMCS SKEENA  (FH14) Frank Hollands, Fred Hollands' brother, aboard HMCS SKEENA.  They joined the Navy at the same time  (FH15) PO Mullcaster on HMCS SKEENA

 

FH16

FH17

FH18

FH19

FH20

(FH16) "Mable, Smiles and Hambone" in a mess deck on HMCS SKEENA  (FH17) "Fisher, Guns, Pings and Buck, in SKEENA mess deck"  (FH18) PE on the quarterdeck of HMCS SKEENA  (FH18-FH19) "Sunday Rest" - Sailors relaxing on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SKEENA while in Londonderry

 

FH21

FH22

FH23

FH24

(FH21) Sailors working on the tan aboard HMCS SKEENA  (FH22) St. John's, NFLD - 1942  (FH23-FH24) Canada's Governor General Alexander Cambridge inspection at St. John's, NFLD

 

FH25

FH26

FH27

FH28

FH29

(FH25-FH29) Sailors off HMCS SKEENA at the RCN Rest Camp near St. John's, NFLD

 

(FH25) Beer and Snacks - Fred Hollands on the left  (FH26) ANSON tent  (FH27) Galley at the RCN Rest Camp  (FH28) Fred Hollands at the swimming area at the RCN Rest Camp  (FH29) Fred Hollands by the swimming area warning sign at the RCN Rest Camp

 

FH30

FH31

FH32

FH33

FH34

(FH30) Convoy mid Atlantic  (FH31) Convoy mid Atlantic in the evening  (FH32) Capsized life raft round mid ocean  (FH33) Freighter at St. John's, NFLD with rudder blown off by torpedo  (FH34) unknown person in dory inspecting torpedo damage to a freighter at St. John's, NFLD

 

FH35

FH36

FH37

FH38

FH38

(FH35) An evening at sea - SKEENA wake spreading out astern  (FH36) HMCS SAGUENAY I19  (FH37) HMCS SAGUENAY I79 with unidentified corvette  (FH38) HMCS SAGUENAY I79 "riding the rough Atlantic"  (FH38) HMCS SKEENA with her A turret and guard rails iced up - Jan 1942

 

Webmaster's note:  from the look of FH38 - it was possibly taken from the crow's nest of HMCS SKEENA

 

FH39

FH40

FH41

FH42

FH43

(FH39-FH40) HMCS ST FRANCIS I93 arriving at Londonderry, Northern Ireland  (FH41) Bum Boat Free State Ireland , eggs, stockings and tomatoes to trade for smokes  (FH42) Unidentified submarine in the River Foyle  (FH43) Barrage Balloon - England 1942

 

FH44

FH45

FH46

FH47

FH48

(FH44-FH46) Recovery and inspection of a training torpedo by HMCS SKEENA  (FH47) HMCS SKEENA launching depth charges  (FH48) Depth charges exploding astern of HMCS SKEENA

 

FH49

FH50

FH51

FH52

(FH49) Boat drills - recovering the ships whaler  (FH50) Fred Hollands on the Vickers Mark III .50 quad-mount AA gun on HMCS SKEENA  (FH51) Kirk and Howatt on the Vickers Mark III .50 quad-mount AA gun on HMCS SKEENA  (FH52) HMCS SAGUENAY I79 following astern of HMCS SKEENA

 


 

Crossed the Bar Index

 

HOME PAGE     SHIP INDEX      CONTACT