|
HMCS COLUMBIA 260
Restigouche Class Destroyer
Built by Burrard Dry Dock Ltd., Vancouver, COLUMBIA was commissioned on 07 Nov 1959, and soon afterward was transferred the east coast. In 1960 she represented Canada at Nigerian Independence observances, returning home on 25 Oct 1960. On 29 Apr 1961 COLUMBIA and RESTIGOUCHE made a port visit at Washington, DC. From 18 Jan 1965 to 14 Jul 1965 COLUMBIA participated in the 1st NATO Matchmaker Squadron exercises in European waters. In Mar 1967 she was transferred to Esquimalt. Paid off on 18 Feb 1974, COLUMBIA was fitted to "no-thrust wheels" so that her engines might be run at dockside. Sold to the Artificial Reef Society of BC on 15 Jun 1996, she was sunk as an artificial reef off Maude Island, Campbell River on 14 Jun 1997.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
Commanding Officers
Captain for the day
Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.
Jim Anderson - 1959
Hogan, Douglas - 1971
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
V
W
Z
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(CLB001) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 - pre 1965 (CLB002) The youngest sailor is customarily Captain for the Day on December 25. Two of the Atlantic Command Christmas "captains" are shown with a real one, who turned out in square rig for the occasion. Left to right are "Commander" (Ordinary Seaman) Cliff Woodrow, 17, of the Terra Nova; "Ordinary Seaman" (Commander) William P. Hayes, commanding officer of the COLUMBIA, and "Commander" (Ordinary Seaman) Jim Anderson, 17, of the COLUMBIA // Source: The CROWSNEST Magazine, Vol 12, No. 3 January, 1960 (CLB003) 3 mess on HMCS COLUMBIA 260 - circa 1962 // "Does anyone ever think about "3 Mess" on the cadillacs? I mean before we had bars on the lower deck? Yes, there was a time before duty free bars in our messes, but we had tots and beer issued from the canteen. This pic was taken in 3 mess, circa 1962 in COLUMBIA, photographer had his back against the 3"70 ammunition hoist looking forward. All are very Ordinary Seamen. Funny how it started off with everyone acting like ODs, and remained that way until the very end." // Courtesy of Jim Gordon (CLB004) ABSG Don Logan on HMCS COLUMBIA in 1963 // Courtesy of Don Logan (CLB005) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 transiting the Kiel Canal - Jun 1963 // From the collection of Peter Pronych // Courtesy of Bill Gard
(CLB006) Newspaper article on an party held on HMCS COLUMBIA 260 at Copenhagen, Denmark for children from an orphanage. Able Seaman Thomas W. Harrison is in the photo with one of the children from the orphanage // Source: The Picton Gazette, 26 Jul 1963, Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection // Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2015 (CLB007) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 - Dublin, Ireland 1966 // © 1966 Ken Watson RCN (CLB008) Ship's badge of HMCS COLUMBIA 260 (centre) in Bermuda // Courtesy of Jim Gordon (CLB009) Ship's badge of HMCS COLUMBIA 260 (centre) in Bermuda // Courtesy of Claus Mathes (CLB010) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 - Supply Department photo - Bermuda // Note: this photo has also been added to the Ship's Company photo page for HMCS COLUMBIA 260 // Courtesy of Claus Mathes
(CLB011) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 alongside Fort Lauderdale, FL - 1967 (CLB012 - CLB015) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 // Public relations photos // From the collection of Nigel Whiteley, LCdr, RCN, ret'd // DND-RCN photos
NATO MATCHMAKER SQUADRON
18 Jan 1965 - 14 Jul 1965
MM01 (MM01) Matchmaker Squadron Certificate
The Matchmaker Squadron entering Ponta Delgada, Azores L-R: HMCS COLUMBIA 260, HNLMS OVERIJSSEL D815, USS HAMMERBERG 1015 and HMS LEANDER F109
(MM06) The NATO emblem on the funnel of HMCS COLUMBIA 260 with USS RICHARD E. KRAUS 849 in the background during EX POLESTAR (MM07) Newspaper article on Matchmaker 1965 (MM08) Matchmaker Squadron ship's jackets. The jackets were given to all members of HMCS COLUMBIA. Note the Maple Leaf on the Canadian flag. "This was shortly after we had just raised the new Canadian flag on Feb 15, 1965 and apparently the company making the jackets did not know what a "maple leaf" looked like." (MM09-MM10) On the morning of 12 Jun 1965, HMCS COLUMBIA encountered the sailing vessel "Tinkerbelle". "I (ABRP Bob Thome) was reporting contacts that particular morning and this small unknown motionless contact kept popping up on my screen so, as we were the closest, we left our position in the convoy to check it out." Documents MM09 and MM10 are excerpts from the book "Tinkerbelle - The story of the smallest boat ever to cross the Atlantic nonstop" by Robert Manry on Tinkerbelle's encounter with HMCS COLUMBIA
Courtesy of Robert (Bob) Thome, AB.RP1, RCN, ret'd
(TM013)HMCS PROVIDER conducting a RAS with two ships. HMCS COLUMBIA 260 in rescue position // Courtesy of Tony Morgan
Committal at sea for the Last Tot onboard HMCS COLUMBIA on 30 Mar 1972 (TM14) Honour guard for the Last Tot formed up on the quarter deck of HMCS COLUMBIA (TM15 - TM16) Pallbearers carrying the casket of the Last Tot (TM17) The casket is placed on the committal board - the Ensign is at half-mast
Committal at sea for the Last Tot onboard HMCS COLUMBIA on 30 Mar 1972 (TM18) The casket is ready for committal to the sea (TM19) The ship's CO, Cdr Eric Makin, reads the eulogy (TM20) The CO awards the Tot a service medal - posthumously (TM21) The CO places the medal on the casket
Committal at sea for the Last Tot onboard HMCS COLUMBIA on 30 Mar 1972 (TM09) The Last Tot is committed to the deep (TM10) A moment of silence (TM11) The Cox'n reads a final tribute to the Tot and Splices the Mainbrace (TM12) The XO leads the men in prayer for the loss of the Tot Courtesy of Tony Morgan
Sinking of the former HMCS COLUMBIA as an artificial reef off Maude Island, Campbell River, BC Source: Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
