HMCS COWICHAN J146 - For Posterity's Sake

For Posterity's Sake

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS COWICHAN J146

Then Merchant Vessel COWICHAN (1946)

HMCS Cowichan J146

Battle honours and awards: Atlantic 1941-43, Normandy 1944

Laid down: 24 Apr 1940

Launched: 08 Sep 1940

Commissioned: 04 Jul 1941

Paid off: 09 Oct 1945

Fate: Sold in 1946. Final disposition unknown

Built by North Vancouver Ship repairs Ltd., she was commissioned at Vancouver on 04 Jul 1941. She sailed from Esquimalt for Halifax on 06 Aug 1941 arriving on 10 Sep 1941. After working up in Bermuda she was initially assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force, but was transferred in Jan 1942, to Newfoundland Force and in September to WLEF. With WLEF's division into escort groups in Jun 1943, Cowichan became a member of EG W-6. She remained with the group until Feb 1944, when she was ordered to the U.K. for invasion duties. She left Halifax on 19 Feb 1944 with Caraquet, Malpeque and Vegreville via the Azores for Plymouth, arriving on 13 Mar 1944. Assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla, she was present on D-Day. Cowichan returned to Canada for refit late in 19 Feb 1945, but resumed her duties overseas in June. Proceeding home in Sep 1945, she was paid off on 09 Oct 1945, and placed in reserve at Shelburne. Sold in 1946 to a New York buyer and converted for mercantile purposes under Greek flag, she still existed in 1956 under her original name.

Commanding Officers

Lt Ronald Jackson, RCNR - 04 Jul 1941 - 01 Dec 1941

Lt Richard Jackson, RCNR - 02 Dec 1941 - 14 Feb 1943

A/Lt John Richard Kidston, RCNVR - 15 Feb 1942 - 25 Oct 1942

A/LCdr Kenneth William Newman Hall, RCNR - 26 Oct 1942 - 22 Apr 1945

Skpr/Lt Henry William Stone, RCNR - 23 Apr 1945 - 09 Oct 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar They shall not be forgotten
A-B
Beattie, John Wilfred 1921-1978
C-D
Dewar, Victor Mathew 1923-2005	Dunbar, Hugh C. ____-____
G-H
Hepburn, Harold Laross ____-2012
I-J
Johnston, George Barnett Cheyne 1921-2002
M-N
Madden, Andrew William ____-2016	McMillan, Currie 1920-2010