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HMCS GALIANO
Auxiliary Patrol Ship
In late Oct 1918, the GALIANO, just returned from the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii) and, in need of some repair, was sent with supplies to the light house at Triangle Island off Cape Scott at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island. A number of her regular crew were unable to make the trip due to illness as the 1918 flu pandemic had reached her base at Esquimalt. She set out towards the Queen Charlotte Islands from Triangle Island at 5 pm on 29 Oct 1918. When she made her only distress call at 3 am the next morning, she was estimated to be within visual range of the light at Cape St. James 95 miles from Triangle Island. She was never heard from again and went down with the loss of all hands. At the time of her distress call, there were heavy seas running at her location in Queen Charlotte Sound. She was lost just days after the SS Princess Sophia ran aground on Vanderbilt Reef, near Skagway, Alaska also in heavy weather. The Naval Memorial in Ross Bay Cemetery, Vancouver Island, British Columbia bears the names of 39 officers and men who were lost at sea.
The Victoria Daily Colonists noted, on November 03, 1918: "The men of GALIANO died in the performance of duty. They have ventured into rough places and taken their chance many a time before. They did it without a flourish of trumpets. This time they took a chance and lost."
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
Newspaper transcriptions about the loss of HMCS GALIANO
The wreck of HMCS GALIANO - Nauticapedia Court of Inquiry Report into the loss of HMCS GALIANO
Commanding Officers
Lt Robert Mayes Pope, RCNVR - 15 Dec 1917 - 30 Oct 1918
They shall not be forgotten
Photos and Documents
(GAL001) Five sailors on the HMCS GALIANO // Ref: ENMM No. VR992.84.14 // Source: Canadian Military History Volume 19 | Issue 1 Article (GAL002) SS GALIANO aground at Royal Roads Lagoon, ca. 1916. // B.C. Archives photo, call number B-03998. // Source: George Douglas Stanley Bate and the Lost Ship, the GALIANO // Courtesy of Gayle Jesperson (GAL003) Doug Bate and friend Arthur E. Hume on HMCS GALIANO // Source: George Douglas Stanley Bate and the Lost Ship, the GALIANO // Courtesy of Gayle Jesperson (GAL004) Newspaper article on Doug Bate and Arthur Hume // Source: George Douglas Stanley Bate and the Lost Ship, the GALIANO // Courtesy of Gayle Jesperson
(GAL005) Photo from article on the loss of HMCS GALIANO // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me
(GAL006) Officers of the GALIANO: Commander, Lieut. (Capt.) R.M. Pope, R.N.R. (in centre); Chief Engineer, I. Greenshields (right); Wireless Operator, Michael J. Neary (left). // Lieut. Pope, commander of the GALIANO, had commanded the GALIANO ever since she came to this country in 1913. He was born in England and came to this coast about 15 years ago. He had already served on sailing ships out of Great Britain to India, and was an officer aboard the steamers of the East India Company. He was also an officer in the Cape service from England to Africa. Later he served on a cruiser in the British Navy as a lieutenant. After he arrived here he made several voyages with the Empress of Japan as third officer. He then joined the Quadra and was with her under Capt. J.F. Walbran and Capt. C. Hackett. Lieut. Pope remained ashore some time and then took command of the GALIANO. Frank Greenshields, chief engineer, has been on the GALIANO ever since she arrived in Victoria. (GAL007) Article on GALIANO'S casualties // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me (GAL008) Article on Roy Newton and his two brothers who also served in the Navy during the Second World War // Courtesy of Operation Picture Me (GAL009) GALIANO's Crew: Names of the Lost // The Toronto Globe 05 Nov 1918
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget 
