HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 / 195

Bangor Class Minesweeper

Commissioned at Port Arthur on 25 Aug 1942, FORT WILLIAM arrived at Halifax on 24 Sep 1942 with a good many defects, and did not commence working up until mid-Oct 1942. A month late she was assigned to Halifax Force for local convoys. On 11 Jan 1943, she suffered considerable damage in collision with the government vessel Lisgar at Halifax, and was under repair there for a month. In Jun 1943, she was transferred to Newfoundland Force. She returned to Halifax in Feb 1944, for a short refit, and on 20 Feb 1944 left with BLAIRMORE, MILLTOWN and MINAS for Plymouth via the Azores, arriving on 08 Mar 1944. Assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla, she was present on D-Day. FORT WILLIAM refitted at St. John's Mar 1945, re-joining the 31st Flotilla in Jul 1945 and remaining until 21 Sep 1945, when she left Plymouth for Canada. She was paid off on 23 Oct 1945, at Sydney and was placed in strategic reserve at Sorel in 1946. Re-acquired in Jun 1951, and extensively modernized, she lay in reserve at Sydney until 29 Nov 1957, when she was transferred to the Turkish Navy and re-named BODRUM. She was removed from service in 1971 and broken up.

Photos and Documents          Ship's Company Photos

The Thirty-First Minesweeping Flotilla

HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 Nominal List 15 Jan 1945 - Credit:  Marcus Fennell, Frederick Harpur the Ship's Writer, and RCSCC FORT WILLIAM for preserving this information

A Brief History of HMCS FORT WILLIAM - written for the sea cadets of RCSCC FORT WILLIAM by John H. Rickard

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(FWM001) HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311  //  On back of photo "Banquet Royal Edward Hotel 26 Aug 1942" - along with some names of ship's officers and ratings  //  HMCS FORT WILLIAM departed Port Arthur, Ontario on 27 Aug 1942 for Halifax  //  Courtesy of Tom LaPlante

(FWM002) HMCS FORT WILLIAM honoured at civic banquet.  Crew listed in the article:  LCdr H. Campbell, DSC, CO;  PO ERA Gus Kallio;  Sig Steve Lysak; AB Joe Black; Tel Milbert Mounk; Elmer McDonald;  Lt Hector McGowan  //  From the collection of John A. Rickard, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of  John H. Rickard

(FWM003) Crew of FORT WILLIAM Honored at Civic Banquet  //  Times-Journal 03 Apr 1945  //  Courtesy of John H. Rickard

(FWM004) HMCS FORT WILLIAM'S jacket patch (off of Joe Black's jacket). This design is identical to the jacket patches used by HMCS BRANDON, HMCS BOWMAN VILLE AND HMCS SARNIA  //  From the collection of Joe Black, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of John H. Rickard

(FWM005) Christmas on HMCS FORT WILLIAM - 25 Dec 1943  //  Commanding Officer (CO for the day) on rounds  //  Source: Thunder Bay Military Museum  //  Sig John H. Pearcey 4th from left (face partially hidden)

(FWM006) Sailors on HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311  //  James McCready front row, 2nd from right - Ray Mecoy, front row, 2nd from left - Patrick O'Leary, rear row, 2nd from right - Butcher, rear tow, 2nd from left  //  From the collection of James McCready, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Kim McCready

(FWM007) Sailors on HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311  //  Ray Mecoy is one of the sailors in the group  //  From the collection of Ray Mecoy

(CN013) Walter Beech (right) on HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 in Halifax Sprong

(CN014) Chiefs and Petty Officers of HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 - Christmas in Newfoundland  //  Chief Clyde Newman - very back, centre

(CN015) Chiefs and Petty Officers of HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 - Christmas in Newfoundland

(CN016) Chiefs and Petty Officers of HMCS FORT WILLIAM J311 at HMCS Avalon, Newfoundland  //  Chief Clyde Newman - 3rd from right

From the collection of Clyde Newman, Commissioned Engineer, RCNVR

Courtesy of Lisa Sprong