HMCS GEORGIAN J144

Bangor Class Minesweeper

Commissioned at Toronto on 23 Sep 1941, GEORGIAN arrived at Halifax on 13 Oct 1941. On completing workups she was assigned to Sydney Force, but in Jan 1942, she joined Newfoundland Force and remained with it until Feb 1944.

Through a tragic error on 12 Jun 1942, she rammed and sank the British submarine P.514 off Newfoundland. 

"It was just after midnight on 21 Jun 1942. The tragedy took place off Cape Race when the path of the eastbound submarine & her corvette escort, which were heading for St. John's from Argentia, intercepted that of a westbound convoy CL.43 being escorted by the minesweeper. Problems with one of the ships in CL.43 had delayed the start of the convoy & it was several hours behind schedule. At the same time an eastbound convoy, SC.88, which had been blown north of its intended track, intercepted & passed through CL.43. The situation was confusing & dangerous. Visibility was poor & the night sky was overcast with frequent mist patches. GEORGIAN detected approaching diesel engine HE on her hydrophones & turned onto the bearing to investigate. When the lookouts spotted the submarine the helm was immediately put over & she rammed P.514 amidships. According to one testimony, the submarine's navigation lights flicked on, then off. According to the CO of the corvette escorting P.514, her lights had been on for some time. The bridge personnel in GEORGIAN could look down into the bridge of the submarine & they observed that it was empty & the hatch was shut. At 00:40 hours Atlantic Time, the submarine went down in 27 fathoms. There were no survivors. A lone body was spotted in the water at the time but sank before it could be recovered. The body of ERA, N.C. Bennett came ashore near Ferrylands a month later. He was interred in the local graveyard with full military honors. At the enquiry, no blame was attached to anyone concerned. It was NSHQ policy then, & throughout the war, to not inform escort forces of the movements of Allied submarines for fear they would hesitate in attacking U-boats. The only measure of safety offered to Allied submarines passing through an operational area was the establishment of temporary no-attack zones for aircraft, but the submarines were always on their own when it came to both ships & aircraft."

On 10 Jun 1943, HMCS GEORGIAN rescued the crew of a downed USAF B17 Flying Fortress which had crashed at sea.  The B-17 that the crew was assigned to "was beset by mechanical difficulties from the outset, causing many three-engine landings, among other problems. After departing Gander Lake, Newfoundland, on June 9, 1943 bound for England, the crew was forced to ditch that aircraft in the Atlantic. All 10 men were rescued the next day and returned to their departure point, Gander Lake, Newfoundland. From there they were flown back to Presque Isle, Maine, where they were fitted out with new uniforms and other necessary equipment. Again they took to the air - as passengers this time - and rejoined the Group in England on 6 July 1943." Most of the crew were eventually shot down on a flying mission over Germany and spent the rest of the war as Prisoners of War." (research by Cheryl Elliott)

Shortly after the rescue of the B17 crew, GEORGIAN went to the air of another aircraft that landed in rough seas after running out of fuel.  She became the first and only RCN Minesweeper to fuel an aircraft at sea.

On 13 Sep 1943 GEORGIAN went into refit in Lunenburg, NS. The refit, which was completed on 15 Nov 1943, was conducted by Lunenburg Foundry & Engineering Ltd.

Nominated for duties in connection with the invasion of Europe, she left Halifax on 18 Feb 1944,with Bayfield, Mulgrave and Thunder for Plymouth via the Azores, arriving on 07 Mar 1944. Assigned to a series of minesweeping flotillas, particularly the 14th, she was present on D-Day. She returned to Canada in Jan 1945, for refit at Lunenburg, N.S., then returned to the U.K. for service with the 31st Flotilla in Apr 1945. That fall she sailed again for Canada, where she was paid off at Sydney on 23 Oct 1945 and laid up at Shelburne until sold for scrap.

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          Ship's Bell

HMCS GEORGIAN - Transcription of Record of Proceedings Feb-Dec 1944

RCN Memories:   Going Ashore, D-Day plus 7

Commanding Officers

Photos and Documents

(RL001) HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - date and place unknown

(RL002) HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - date and place unknown

From the collection of Richard (Rick) Lake, Signalman, RCNVR

Courtesy of Paul Lake

(HOsb006) Branch photo on HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - possibly the Engineering Branch

(HOsb007) Harry Osborne, front centre, with shipmates on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

(HOsb008) Sailors on HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - possible D-D landing party preparations/training  //  Harry Osborne front row, 2nd from right

(HOsb009) Harry Osborne on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

(HOsb010) Harry Osborne and shipmates on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

(HOsb011) Harry Osborne on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

(HOsb012) Harry Osborne by the port side depth charge thrower on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

(HOsb013) HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - location unknown

(HOsb014) HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - location unknown

From the collection of Henry W. (Harry) Osborne, Submarine Detector, RCNVR

Courtesy of Terry Osborne

(DS001) Newspaper article on Toronto sailors on HMCS GEORGIAN J144 who helped rescue US Airmen  //  ERA Thomas Pate, LS Albert Baker, AB George Tait, LS Edward Hitchin and LS Edward White

(DS002) Newspaper article praising the work of Canadian Minesweeping crews  //  HMCS GEORGIAN and HMCS GUYSBOROUGH mentioned in article

(DS003) George Tate (Bosn's Mate) and Harry Walmsley (Quartermaster) on HMCS GEORGIAN J144

Courtesy of Doug Saunders

(JVW275) Airmen from downed US Flying Fortress rescued by HMCS GEORGIAN  //  From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor

(FM881) Canadian Minesweeper Save U.S. Army Fliers - HMCS GEORGIAN rescues crew from downed US Flying Fortress  //  Mentioned in the article:  AB Robert McFadden, RCNVR of Sackville, NB  -  Electrician John Mahoney, RCNVR of New Glasgow, NS  -  AB George Reid of Quebec City, QC  -  OS Clarence Wark, RCNVR of Truro, NS  -  Stoker Roland Himmelman, RCNVR of Bridgewater, NS  -  AB Howard Sullivan, RCNVR of Canso, NS  -  L/Stoker Douglas Hockley, RCN of Dartmouth, NS  -  L/Stwd Edward Lytle, RCNVR of Halifax, NS  -  Stoker Raymond Finlay, RCNVR of St. John, Nfld  -  Lt Allan Boucher, CO and Lt Alexander Grand, XO  //  From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Denis Messier

(CN001) Two officers from Montreal serving in HMCS GEORGIAN  //  Lt Alex Grant and Lt Frank Chenouski  //  Crow's Nest newspaper - Jan 1944

(DWM012 - DWM013) General Montgomery onboard HMCS GEORGIAN  //  From the collection of LCdr Douglas W. Main  //  Courtesy of Dave Main

Top Photo - Men from HMCS MILLTOWN

(Front Row, L to R) - Chief Engine Room Artificer L. Jolliffe, London; Leading Stoker R. Walker, Munt Brydges; Sub. Lt. M. McMillan, Blenheim; Chief Petty Officer R. Mason, Windson.

(Back Row, L to R) - Ables Seaman S. Greenham, Harrow (Windsor); Able Seaman L.K. Hopper, Leamington; Able Seaman C. Young, London, and Leading Signalman H. Holman, London.

Lower Photo - Men from HMCS GEORGIAN

(L to R) - Signalman E. Lawrence, London; Leading Stoker C. Chidley, Stratford; Able Seaman G. Warren, Erieau, and Able Seaman J. Evans, Melbourne.

Newspaper clipping from the collection of Charles Mitchell Young published here courtesy of his son Stephen Young.

Five unknown sailors on HMCS GEORGIAN J144 - Feb 1944

From the collection of John Vinish

Courtesy of Cindy Vinish

(LD04-LD05) Newspaper articles on hometown boy (ERA Lorne Davenport) who was serving in HMCS GEORGIAN for 2 rescues

(LD05) Sailors mentioned in article:  ERA Lorne Davenport;  Signalman Edward Lawrence (of London, ON);  AB Ossie Whitfield (of London, ON);  Stoker Burdette Miller (of Windsor, ON); Coder Paul Arnold (of Kitchener, ON)

LD07

(LD07) Article on HMCS GEORGIAN'S rescue of the crew of a downed US Flying Fortress

The Toronto Daily Star, Wednesday, 20 Oct 1943

Sailors mentioned in the article: George Black (of Toronto, ON);  Walter Pullow (of Ganaoque, ON);  Neals Reid (of Toronto, ON);  Edward Lawrence (of London, ON);  Allan Pickard (of Toronto, ON);  Thomas Pate (of Toronto,ON);  Lorne Davenport (of Guelph, ON);  Edward Hitchin (of Toronto, ON);  Andrew Cluckie (of Hamilton, ON);  George Tait (of Toronto, ON);  George Ament (of Trenton, ON);  Albert Baker (of Ottawa, ON);  Arthur Bougeaus (of Rainy River, ON);  Harry Osborne (of Port Credit, ON);  Burbeate? (Burdette) Miller (of Windsor, ON);  Frank Hearty (of Ottawa, ON);  Paul Arnold (of Kitchener, ON);  Herbert Duncan (of Ottawa, ON);  Edward White (of Toronto, ON);  Ossie Whitefield (of London, ON)

From the collection of ERA Lorne Davenport, RCNVR

Courtesy of Dan Davenport