RCN - HMCS CAMROSE K154

For Posterity's Sake

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS CAMROSE K154

Flower Class Corvette

HMCS Camrose K154 - Nov 1943

Laid down: 17 Feb 1940

Launched: 16 Nov 1940

Commissioned: 30 Jun 1941

Paid off: 22 Jul 1945

Fate: Broken up Jun 1947

Commissioned at Sorel, Quebec, on 30 June 1941, the Flower Class corvette Camrose arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 6 June. She was assigned to Halifax Force after working up, but in October joined Newfoundland Command, leaving St. John’s, Newfoundland, on 8 October for Iceland with convoy SC.48. She was employed as ocean escort to and from Iceland until February 1942, when she commenced a major refit at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Upon completion in May she resumed her mid-ocean escort duties for one round trip to Londonderry, Northern Ireland, but was assigned in June to Western Local Escort Force.

In October 1942, Camrose was allocated to duties concerned with the invasion of North Africa. She left Halifax on 20 October for the United Kingdom, and for the next five months escorted convoys between Britain and the Mediterranean. In April 1943 she proceeded to Pictou, Nova Scotia, for a refit lasting five and a half months, including forecastle extension, after which she worked up in Bermuda and was assigned to Escort Group 6. She left St. John’s, Newfoundland, early in December for Londonderry, where she was based for the next four months in support of convoys, especially to and from Freetown, Sierra Leone and Gibraltar. While with combined convoys OS.64/KMS.38, she shared with the British destroyer HMS Bayntun the sinking of U-757 in the North Atlantic on 8 January 1944. In May she joined Western Approaches Command, Greenock, Scotland for invasion duties, escorting convoys to staging ports, and to and from Normandy beaches. She left the United Kingdom on 2 September for another refit at Pictou, followed by workups in Bermuda, returning in January 1945 to become a member of Escort Group 41, Plymouth, England. She served with this group until Victory-in-Europe Day, afterward participating in the re-occupation of St. Helier in the Channel Islands. Camrose left Greenock, Scotland, for home early in June 1945 and was paid off at Sydney on 22 July. She was broken up at Hamilton, Ontario in 1947.

U-Boats Sunk: U-757 (Oblt Friedrich Deetz) sunk on 8 Jan 1944 by HMS Bayntun and HMCS Camrose K154 in position 50-33 N, 18-03 W - of the crew of 49 there were no survivors.

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

A/LCdr Louis Raymond Pavillard, RCNR - 12 Apr 1941 - 07 Nov 1944

Lt James Barrett Lamb, RCNVR - 08 Nov 1944 - 18 Jul 1945

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Lest We Forget

DAVIES, William John

AB, V/33684, RCNVR

died 21 Jun 1944

Able Seaman Davies was the only crew member of HMCS Camrose to die in wartime service. Able Seaman Davies was accidentally killed when the ship's revolver went off when it was being cleaned. He was shot in the chest and died within ten minutes. He is buried in the Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire, England.

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Lawrence, Stafford K.

Former Crew Members

Bertrand, Robert - 1942 (crew photo)

Bruce, John Andrew A/Lt, RCNVR - 30 Jan 1945

Crepault, Joseph Alexander Raymond, Lt, RCNVR - 11 Feb 1944

Foster, William Nelson, Slt, RCNVR - 26 Jun 1943/ 28 Jun 1943 / Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

Gardner, Eric, Mate, RCNR - 30 Jun 1941

Hillen, William Start

Hope, George Mitchell, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Apr 1941 (Stand by) / 30 Jun 1941

Leclerc, Peter F. (Frenchie), Sig, RCNVR - 1942-1945

Nicholas, George S.

Smith, Sidney Charles, Mate, RCNR - 04 Jul 1942

Van Alstine, Robert Stacey, Slt, RCNVR - 27 Apr 1942

Wallace, Ralph Marcus, Lt, RCNVR - 06 Jul 1942

Photos and Documents

HMCS Camrose K154

Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell