HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

River Class Frigate


 

HMCS JOLIETTE K418 with German U-boat U-889

Source: Flickr photo collection of Brian Westhouse

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1944

 

 

Laid down: 19 Jul 1943

Launched: 11 Dec 1943

Commissioned: 14 Jun 1944

Paid off: 19 Nov 1945

Sold: 03 Jan 1946 to the Chilean navy. Commissioned as Iquique

Paid off: 1968

Fate: Unknown

 

Laid down at Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City on 19 Jul 1943, she was commissioned there on 14 Jun 1944. JOLIETTE left Quebec City on 01 Jul 1944 for Halifax, whence she proceeded to Bermuda to work up. Returning to St. John's in Aug 1944, she became a member of EG C-1 but on reaching Londonderry the following month was re-assigned to EG 25. Returning to 'Derry on 22 Nov 1944  from her first round trip to Halifax, she ran aground in Lough Foyle, receiving extensive bottom damage. (Click here to read Jim Priel's account of the grounding) Repairs were effected at Belfast from 05 Dec 1944 to 05 Apr 1945, after which JOLIETTE went to Tobermory to work up. She then returned to Londonderry, but sailed for Canada in Jun 1945. On 19 Nov 1945, she was paid off at Sydney and laid up at Shelburne. In 1946 she was sold to the Chilean Navy, to serve as Iquique. Interestingly, she led the mission to establish the Chileans first station on Antarctica. Today, RCN personnel serve with the Armada de Chile and some are lucky enough to get to visit the Arturo Prat Base on Greenwich Island. Iquique was disposed of in 1968.

 


 

RCN Memories:     A Good Deed Remembered     The Grounding of HMCS JOLIETTE

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

A/LCdr George Norval Downey, RCNR - 14 Jun 1944 - 02 Feb 1945

LCdr William Edward Harrison, RCNR - 03 Feb 1945 - 19 Jun 1945

A/LCdr Kenneth William Newman Hall, RCNR - 20 Jun 1945 04 jUL 1945

Lt Victor Charles Blackhall, RCNVR - 04 Jul 1945 - 19 Nov 1945

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

Ship's Mascot

(name not known)

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Barlow, James Edward Mason, Lt, RCNVR - 14 Jun 1944

 

Blackhall, Victor Chalres, Lt, RCNVR - 29 May 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Bricault, Fernand Joseph, Slt (E), RCNVR - 22 Jun 1944

 

Campbell, Roger Lorne, Lt (E), RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Dafoe, William Allan Van Dussan, Lt (El) (R), RCNVR - 23 Apr 1945

 

Gifford, Norman Marston, Slt, RCNVR - 05 Jun 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

Laurence, Robert Simpson, Lt, RCNVR - 12 May 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Mackintosh, Ian Ashley, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 13 Jun 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Milne, Gordon R.

 

Molson, Leslie Cavendish, Slt, RCNVR - 29 May 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Ridler, Walter T. - in 1945 ship's company photo

 

Smith, Edwin Hubert

 

Stinson, Frederick Montague, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Mar 1945

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

 

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(1) "Bermuda Rig of the Day" Unknown sailor by 4-inch gun on HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (2) Allied sub alongside HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (3) Unknown sailor by 4-Inch gun on HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

Photographer: Charles James Sadler, V4963, Sto 1st Class, RCNVR

Source: The U-Boat net

 

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(1) Allied sub alongside HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (2) HMCS JOLIETTE K418 aground at Moville, Lough Foyle  (3) HMCS JOLIETTE K418 in drydock at Belfast, Ireland for repairs  (4) HMCS JOLIETTE K418 in drydock at Belfast, Ireland for repairs  (5) The underside of HMCS JOLIETTE K418 while in drydock at Belfast, Ireland for repairs  (6) Looking forward from the Quarterdeck of HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (7) Training sub at Tobie Moorie (Tobermory) Scotland as seen from HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

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(8) Tobie Moorie (Tobermory) Scotland as seen from the after gun deck of HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (9) Unknown cruiser in drydock, Belfast, Northern Ireland  (10) Ship's bell of HMCS JOLIETTE K418. Photo taken from the 4" gun  (11) Tobie Moorie (Tobermory) as seen from HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (12) Training sub off the coast of Scotland  (13) Our crew being towed back from the canoe race - we lost.  (14) HMS Blackswan as see from HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

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(15) Allied sub off the coast of Scotland  (16) Photo taken from the bridge of HMCS JOLIETTE K418 The ships in the centre are HMCS Gatineau (left) and HMS Tarbert K431  at Tobermory circa Apr 1945  (17) Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (18) HMCS JOLIETTE K418 conducting a night shoot  (19) HMCS JOLIETTE K418 4" guns  (20) HMCS JOLIETTE K418. Photo taken looking forward from the radar cabin

 

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Surrendered German U-boats at Lisahally, near Londonderry, Ireland May 1945

 

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(28) Manning the sea boat on HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (29) Up Spirits on HMCS JOLIETTE K418 at Londonderry  (30) Jim Preal on the quarterdeck of HMCS JOLIETTE. Photo taken from the 12-pdr  (31) Looking at an oil tanker at Moville from HMCS JOLIETTE after VE-day - note the oil tanker is "dressed".  (32) A sub off Scotland  (33) Porpoises following the ship  (34) A Convoy  (35) Unknown ship. Photo taken during 5 day cruise out of Bermuda. Possibly a work-ups consort. Jul/Aug 1944

 

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(36) HMS Hydrangea K39 - HMCS JOLIETTE in foreground  (37) "Our escort in the race"  (38) "Our Escort"  (39) An old 4-stracker  (40) Ships heading down the Clyde

 

From the collection of Glendon Oliver

Courtesy of Keith Oliver

 

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(WM58) Quarterdeck of HMCS JOLIETTE - Bermuda for Work-ups - Jul-Aug 1944 (WM59) HMCS JOLIETTE's bell  (WM60) HMCS JOLIETTE's twin 4-inch guns  (WM61) Quarterdeck of HMCS JOLIETTE - looking forward  (WM62-WM63) HMCS JOLIETTE approaching another frigate

 

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(WM64 Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS JOLIETTE  (WM65) HMCS JOLIETTE conducting a night shoot  (WM66) "Curly Rawlins" "Ask Art if he knows this fellow. He used to sail on the "Island Prince" with Wes Alexander."

 

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HMCS JOLIETTE's grounding at Moville, Lough Foyle, on 22 Nov 1944 and dry dock repairs at  Belfast, Northern Ireland from 05 Dec 1944 - 05 Apr 1945

 

(WM67) HMCS JOLIETTE aground near Lough Foyle - 22 Oct 1944  (WM68-WM71) Damage to JOLIETTE being repaired in dry dock  (WM72) Looking up at JOLIETTE's bow from the dry dock  (WM73) Members of JOLIETTE's around the ship's screw while she is in dry dock in Londonderry.  "See our mascot? Curly has her in his arms. She died at sea and was buried off the coast of Laine"

 

Note: photo WM73:  William described the burial at sea of the mascot as off the coast of Laine - however no maps show any such coastal area.  From William's daughter:  It may possibly be Larne, which is just north of Belfast along the coast. He sent 90% of his photos to his parents, who were also originally from Belfast, so he may have been referring to an area they were familiar with. Now if the ship came out of L'derry and went up to Tobermory it may have been in the waters north of Larne. Other than that, I can only guess he may have used a local term to describe a coastal area.

 

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(WM74) Photo taken from the bridge of HMCS JOLIETTE K418. The ships in the centre are HMCS Gatineau H61 (left) and HMS Tarbert K431 at Tobermory circa Apr 1945 (WM75) Fo'c's'le of HMCS JOLIETTE  (WM76) Allied sub alongside HMCS JOLIETTE  (WM77) Training sub at Tobermoray, Scotland (note: sub appears to be same sub as the one alongside JOLIETTE)  (WM78) Training sub off Scotland  (WM79) Training sub at Tobermoray, Scotland  (WM80) HMS BLACKSWAN - seen from HMCS JOLIETTE

 

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(WM81) Town of Tobermoray, Scotland  (WM82-WM83) Splice the Mainbrace - V.E. Day Celebrations on HMCS JOLIETTE

 

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(WM84-WM88) Surrendered German U-boats at Lisahally, Northern Ireland, May 1945

 

From the collection of William Henry McComb

 

Photos courtesy of Sandra McComb

 

 

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(WM62-WM63) HMCS JOLIETTE approaching another frigate   "Curly Rawlins" "Ask Art if he knows this fellow. He used to sail on the "Island Prince" with Wes Alexander."  Members of JOLIETTE's around the ship's screw while she is in dry dock in Londonderry.  "See our mascot? Curly has her in his arms. She died at sea and was buried off the coast of Laine"

 

From the collection of William H. McComb

 

Courtesy of Sandra McComb

 

SPLICE THE MAINBRACE

 

VE Day on HMCS JOLIETTE K418 at Moville, Loch Foyle

 

From the collection of J.T. Williams

Courtesy of Jim Williams

 

J.T. Williams standing against the guard rail holding a white mug in his right hand

SPLICE THE MAINBRACE

 

VE Day on HMCS JOLIETTE K418 at Moville, Loch Foyle

 

From the collection of J.T. Williams

Courtesy of Jim Williams

 

J.T. Williams at the front of the photo, first man on left

HMCS JOLIETTE K418, possibly in Mahone Bay, NS

 

"This photo is from a box of 110 square format negatives from an antique store purchased 22 Jan 2015. From the dates of the images in the box, this is probably summer of 1944 or 1945, and it looks to be in Mahone Bay, NS because that is where the gentleman photographer had his elegant sailboat."

 

Courtesy of John Newton, Rear-Admiral, RCN

Sailors on HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

Names on back of photo - no particular order. Nine sailors in photo - eight names on the back of the photo.

 

J.T. Williams (front, 2nd from left), E. Overstrud, Frenchie Dalke, Bill Newman, Fred Haslan (standing, 2nd from right), Ray Belliveau, B. Simpson and W. Bowes

 

Courtesy of Jim Williams

HMCS JOLIETTE K418 in Bermuda

From the collection of J.T. Williams

Courtesy of Jim Williams

 

 

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(1) Watch and Station booklet for James Murray Bell  (2) Leave Ticket for AB J.M. Bell  (3) James Murray Bell (left) and shipmate on HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (4) Sailors on HMCS JOLIETTE K418. James Murray Bell - back row 3rd from left  (5 & 6) Christmas card from James Murray Bell - HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

From the collection of James Murray Bell

Courtesy of Margaret Bell 

 

 

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(1-4) Tel. Andrew (Andre) Tipson on HMCS JOLIETTE K418  (5) Andrew Tipson (right) and unknown shipmate on HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

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(6-23) notes taken by Andrew Tipson while he was serving in HMCS JOLIETTE K418

 

Click here to view the transcribed pages of Andrew's notes / diary

 

From the collection of Andrew (Andre) Tipson

Courtesy of Lorraine Tipson

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Patrick Casey (back left) with shipmates on unknown ship.  Patrick Casey served in HMCS Fennel and HMCS JOLIETTE.  It is not known which of the two ships the photo was taken on. It has been entered on the pages for both ships.

From the collection of Patrick Casey

Courtesy of Patricia Pollock

Sailors on HMCS JOLIETTE K418

From the collection of Patrick Casey

Courtesy of Patricia Pollock

 

Webmaster's note: after comparing to other photos, this photo appears to have been taken on the starboard side of the boat deck immediately aft of the bridge. 

HMCS U-889 coming alongside HMCS JOLIETTE K418 in Shelburne, NS.

From the collection of Patrick Casey

Courtesy of Patricia Pollock

VE Day on JOLIETTE

From the collection of Philip A. Horn, Stoker

Courtesy of Doug Horn

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HMCS JOLIETTE K418 outboard ship at "D" Jetty, Halifax

From the collection of Robert Arthur (Bob) Hanna, RCNVR

Courtesy of Scott Hanna

 


 

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