HMCS
KOOTENAY 258
Restigouche
Class Destroyer
WE ARE AS ONE |
HMCS KOOTENAY post IRE conversion
DND / RCN photo |
Battle honours and awards: Atlantic
1943-45, Normandy 1944, English Channel
1944, Biscay 1944
|
Laid down: 21
Aug 1952
Launched: 15
Jun 1954
Commissioned:
07 Mar 1959
Paid off IRE Refit: 14
Jan 1970
|
Re-commissioned:
07 Jan 1972
Paid off
for DELEX refit:
DELEX
Refit completed: 21 Oct 1983
Paid off: 18
Dec 1995
Fate:
Broken up at Manzanillo, Mexico circa 2003/2004 |
First of her class to be launched,
KOOTENAY was
built at Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver, and commissioned there on 07
Mar 1959. In Jul 1959, GATINEAU, KOOTENAY and HMS ULSTER shared
close consort duties for the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during Great Lakes and St
Lawrence Seaway portion of the 1959 Royal Tour. After working up, she was transferred to the east coast.
In Apr 1963, 12 RCN ships, ALGONQUIN, MICMAC, CAYUGA, ST CROIX,
TERRA NOVA, KOOTENAY, SWANSEA, LA HULLOISE, BUCKINGHAM, CAPE SCOTT, CNAV
BLUETHROAT and CNAV ST CHARLES, took part in NATO Exercise New
Broom Eleven, an exercise designed to test convoy protection tactics
(click here to see
the newspaper article).
On 23 Oct 1969, while in European waters, she suffered a gearbox
explosion that killed 9 crewmen and injured 53 others. She was towed
to Plymouth - part of the way by SAGUENAY and then to Halifax by a
salvage tug. It was the RCN's worst-ever peacetime accident. While
she was under repairs, it was decided to convert her to an IRE. She was re-commissioned on 07 Jan
1972.
Transferred
to the west coast, she departed Halifax on 23 Jan 1973 and arrived in Esquimalt on 12
Feb 1973. HMCS KOOTENAY had left Esquimalt on 14 May 1973 on
Westploy 2/73. KOOTENAY’s routine was similar to that of TERRA NOVA,
exercising with American and Australian naval vessels, and assisting
broken-down fishermen. When the Canadian continent left Saigon on 31 July
1973, she was just fifty miles off the coast, the closest either ship was
allowed to approach Vietnam. KOOTENAY then proceeded home to Esquimalt.
On 08 May 1986, HMCS
PROVIDER,
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, HMCS TERRA NOVA and HMCS KOOTENAY, departed Esquimalt for Exercise RIMPAC 86 and returned on 21
Jun 1986.
On 01 Jun 1989, KOOTENAY collided in fog off Cape Flattery with the
M.V.
Nord Pol, sustaining a sizeable gash in her bow, which was replaced
with a matching section from Chaudiere.
From 03 to 07 Jun 1990, KOOTENAY
visited Vladivostok as part of a Canadian Task Group, the
first to do so since World War II.
On 16 May 1994, HMCS KOOTENAY 258 departed Esquimalt, BC for Exercise RIMPAC. She departed
Hawaiian waters and the exercise on 21 Jun 1994, for Operation
Forward Action, Haiti, arriving in the Op Area on 13 Jul 1994. She
returned to Esquimalt on 10 Oct 1994.
In
1995, KOOTENAY participated in EX UNITAS off the coast of Chile. During that
deployment, on 15 Oct 1995, she Rounded the
Horn - the second ship of the RCN to do so. Returning home, she made a final port visit at Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico; departing there on 16 Nov 1995.
KOOTENAY's boilers were shut down
for the final time on 05 Dec 1995 after she returned from de-ammunitioning
at Rocky Point. On 18
Dec 1995, she was paid off and, on 06 Nov 2000, towed out of
Esquimalt with RESTIGOUCHE to be sunk as an artificial reef off Puerto
Vallarta,
Mexico. The RESTIGOUCHE was sunk off Acapulco, but KOOTENAY was not. She was later towed to Manzanillo, Mexico where she was
last photographed in 2003. The KOOTENAY ended up under arrest as
the purchasers didn't pay some kind of import fee and it ended up in a
proverbial Mexican mess between the Mexican federal government and the
harbour authorities and the owners. Last seen she was being scrapped at the dock and they
later ran the remaining part of the hull up on the
beach and took her right down to the keel. Sad ending for a great ship.
In
2019 and 2020, fourteen
members of her crew were recognized with the Wound Stripe for injuries
received 23 Oct 1969 during the explosion and ensuing fire onboard. They were : Allan Bell, Al Kennedy, Clem Bussiere,
Brian Galletly, Hugh MacPhee, John Roy, Kenneth McEachern, John MacEachern,
Garry Hadden, Paul Millar, David Ashley, John Judd, Al Peers and John
Gregory
Photos
and Documents Former
Crew Members Ship's
company photos The
Ship's Bell
Commissioning Booklet
Acceptance Programme after IRE conversion 1972
KOOTENAY
Memories
HMCS
KOOTENAY - Dedicated to those who were on HMCS KOOTENAY on the day
of the explosion, 23 Oct 1969
Once
Upon the Brine - Life at Sea and Ashore in the Canadian Navy during the Cold
War (1946-1989)
HMCS
KOOTENAY 1969 Fact Sheet - updated Nov 2020
RCN
Memories: A West Coast
Drug Bust The
Final Shutdown
Commanding Officers
Cdr Reginald John Pickford,
RCN - 07 Mar 1959 - 11 Jul 1960
Cdr Harry Shorten,
RCN - 11 Jul 1960 - 19 Sep 1962
Cdr David Hugh
P. Ryan, RCN - 19 Sep 1962 - Sep 1964 (approx)
LCdr Frank Costin, Sep 1964 (approx) - 15 Jan 1965
Cdr Christopher Gratrix Pratt, RCN
- 15 Jan 1965 - 01 Jun 1966
Cdr William P. Rikely,
RCN - 01 Jun 1966 - 01 Jul 1967
Cdr George Coulson McMorris,
RCN - 01 Jul 1967 - Oct 1968
LCdr Maurice
H. Tremblay, RCN -
Oct 1968 - 21 Mar
1969 (Note 1)
Cdr Neil St. Clair
Norton - 21 Mar 1969 - 14 Jan 1970
Cdr James Lewis Creech - 12 Jan 1972 - 17 Feb
1973
Cdr Richmond Hill Kirby - 17 Feb 1973 - 14 Jun
1974
Cdr James Dixon Spalding - 14 Jun
1974 - 16 Jul 1976
|
Cdr Basil Patrick Moore - 16 Jul 1976 - 27 Jun
1978
Cdr Bruce Johnston - 27 Jun 1978 - 11 Aug
1980
Cdr Brian Harwood Beckett - 11
Aug 1980 - 28 Jun 1982
Cdr Steen Kais Jessen - 28 Jun 1982 - 09 Jan
1983
Cdr P.C. Young - 24 Jan 1984 - 05 Jul
1985
Cdr B.R. Melville - 05 Jul 1985 - 30 Jul
1987
Cdr J. Dickson - 30 Jul 1987 - 21 Jul
1989
Cdr G.V. Davidson - 27 Aug 1989 - 21
Jul 1991
Cdr James D. Fraser - 21 Jul 1991 - 29 May
1992
LCdr M.R. Bellows - 29 May 1992 - 31 Jul
1992
Cdr D.J. Kyle - 31 Jul 1992 - 21 Jun
1994
Cdr R.H. Dawe - 21 Jun 1994 - 18 Dec
1995
|
Note 1: Ken Mcpherson's "The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces
1910 - 1981" has Cdr McMorris' end date as command of HMCS KOOTENAY
as 15 Nov 1968. However, according to Cdr Rutherford (Lt at
the time) LCdr Temblay, XO,
was appointed CO in Oct 1968 and took the ship into refit. Lt
Rutherford was appointed XO from Oct till Dec 1968.
|
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
BOUDREAU,
William A.
C2ER, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
BOURRET,
Pierre S.J.
LS, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
CRABBE,
Thomas Gordon
LS, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
GALLOWAY,
Nelson M.
AB, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
HARDY,
Michael A.
AB, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
HARMAN,
Eric G.
PO1, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
HUTTON,
Gary W.
LS, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1959
|
PARTANEN,
Vaino O.
CPO1, RCN
died - 23 Oct 1969
|
Rieffenstein,
Clark E. SLt, RCN died -
19 Nov 1969
|
STRINGER,
Lewis J.
PO2, RCN
died
- 25 Oct 1969
|
|
|
|
|
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The
KOOTENAY ribbon: The ribbon is dark blue representing the dark
blue of the Royal Canadian Navy; the letters are capitalized
representing a “shout out” to those that use social media to
convey the message; the letters are white representing the sacrifice
of those lives lost on October 23rd, 1969; the rest of the ribbon is
blank representing the lives unlived; the pin is straight
representing those that unselfishly went to the aid of their
comrades in arms; and the ribbon itself is curved and folded
representing the timeliness of Remembrance. It is to be worn on the
collar nearest the heart; commencing sunrise the first Thursday in
October and removed at sunset on October 23rd.
|
Three ships in
evening's misty dusk
Helm down and pointed away
Behind them, in Neptune's arms
They leave a man to stay
|
Like most of us, he was
not great
No King would know his name
His pride of ship and honour
Were all that he could claim
|
He did his job, he
fought, he won
He followed nature's whim
Yet, in the fleet
Eight hundred men reflect and think of him
|
Dear God, accept this
man, our friend
Who we leave here today
And grant us the strength to carry on
With one less light to guide the way
October 23, 1969 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
(c)
- crew member on the day of the KOOTENAY Explosion, 23 Oct 1969
A
B
Babin,
Gordon (c)
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Baker,
Carl R.
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Barber, Alfred
L. (c)
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Barber, Boyd (c)
|
Barfoot,
Clayton G. C. (c)
|
Barnes,
Cyril
|
Barnett,
Alex (c)
|
Bassingthwaite, James
H.
|
Bates,
Alan W.
|
Baxter, Earl
R.
|
Beacock, N.
Ronald (c)
|
Beaudoin,
Donald T.
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Beckett,
Brian H.
|
Beckett, Rex (c)
|
Belisle,
Daniel (c)
|
Blandin, Guilluame
F.
|
Boisvert,
Jean P.
(c)
|
Bourque,
Donald J.
|
Bourque, Gil (c)
|
Boyd,
Richard M. (c)
|
Boyles,
Alex F. (c)
|
Bradley,
William D. (c)
|
Bramwell, Paul
(c)
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Brett,
Patrick W.
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Brideau,
David G.
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Brown, Ernest
(c)
|
Brown, K. T. (c)
|
Brooks,
Robert E.
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Brunt,
Alan R.
|
Bull,
William F.
|
Burlingham,
Garry I. (c)
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Burt,
Roger M.
|
|
|
|
C
Carrier,
Ephram J.
|
Carruthers,
John G.
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Chambers,
Ronald J.
|
Cheeseman, Ashley D. (c)
|
Christie,
Robert W. (c)
|
Church, Daniel (c)
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Clark,
Matthew E.
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Cooper,
William G.
|
Corcoran, Gerald
|
Constantine, Gordie (c)
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Corbett,
Kenneth R.
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Cormier,
Clarence N.
|
Costin,
Frank W. |
Couckuyt,
Brian D.
|
Coveney,
Frank E. D.
|
Crocket,
Harold C. (c)
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Croucher,
Selby C.
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Cryer, John (c)
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Curry,
Donald G.
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Cuthbert,
Lawrence J.
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D
Dale, T.
Leslie
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Dalgleish,
Robert M.
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Dean, James
K. (c)
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DeBoice,
Jarvis
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Dewar,
John S.
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Dickson,
James D.
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Doward
Leonard G.
|
Drapeau,
Guy (c)
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Duckworth, Joe (c)
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Duncan,
Michael W.
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Dunn,
George R.
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Dunwoody,
Samuel G.
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Duquette,
Gilles
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Duxbury,
John H.
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Dzioba,
Lawrence
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E
F
G
Gadd,
Jeremy S. H. (c)
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Gallant,
Ronald E. |
Gallant,
Wayne (c)
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Gault,
John E.
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Gauthier, J.
A. Claude
|
Gammie, Wayne (c)
|
Gardner,
Raymond A.
|
George, Robert
1936-2005 (c)
C2HT at the time of the explosion |
Gillingham,
Gerald J. (c)
|
Giroux,
Gord (c)
|
Godin,
Jacques C.
(c)
|
Gold, Gregory
D. (c)
|
Goldie, John
T. |
Good,
Jack W.
|
Grant, Gary
____-1970 (c)
OS.SG at the time of the explosion |
Grant,
Richard R.
|
Gray, Archibald
A. (c)
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Griffin, Edward J. (c)
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Grove,
Rodger W.
|
|
H
Haggett, Winston (c)
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Halderson,
James
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Hall,
John D.
|
Hall, Russ (c)
P2RM at the time of the explosion
|
Hanlon, Bruce
E. (c)
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Harrison, D. Larry (c)
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Harrison,
Jean-Guy
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Hart,
William E. (c)
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Harwood,
John
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Hauch,
Raymond
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Hawkins,
Clifford R. (c)
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Henderson,
Leslie F. M.
|
Hewens,
Kenneth R.
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Hill, Peter
E.
|
Holm, David
J. (c)
|
Holmes,
Douglas (c)
|
Horncastle, Bob (c)
|
Hoskins,
William B.
|
Hunter,
Gerald K.
|
|
I
J
K
Kain, Ronald
J. (c)
|
Kelly,
Leonard J. |
Kennedy, Don (c)
Cpl CK at the time of the explosion |
Kehoe,
Charles A.
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Kidder, Larry
|
Kilburn,
Jackman M.
|
Killam,
Clifford D.
|
King,
Terry
|
Kirby,
Richmond H.
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Kreitz,
David T.
|
Kux,
Hubert E.
|
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L
Langille,
Ernest C.
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LeGallis,
Paul S.
|
Lalonde,
Maurice J. A. (c)
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Larone,
Ronald T.
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Lebrun,
Joseph E. G.
|
Lelonde,
Richard C. (c)
|
Lemon,
Denis E.
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Leonard,
Serge (c)
|
Leong, Kam
W.
|
Lloyd,
James M. |
Logie, David
|
Lyttle, John
T.
|
|
|
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Ma-Mc
Mac
Innis, Alexander J.
|
MacGregor,
Joseph E. (c)
|
MacGregor, Ron (c)
C2WS at the time of the explosion |
Mack, Andrew
L.
|
MacKinnon, John
R. (c)
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MacKnight,
Wayne (c)
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Mainguy,
Daniel N.
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Marshall,
Alexander (c)
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Matchem,
Clarence C.
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Mayo, Calvin
F.
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McArdle,
Christopher
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McCallum,
Roy |
McClean,
Ralph L.
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McCulley,
Stanley J.
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McDonald,
David W. (c)
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McDougall,
David W. (c)
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McIntyre,
Earl L.
|
McLean, John (c)
P1LT at the time of the explosion
|
McLeod, Ernie (c)
P1ER at the time of the explosion |
McLeod,
Robert W. (c) |
McMorris,
George C.
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McNaughton,
George
(c)
|
McOnie,
Dave
|
|
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Me-Mu
Melville,
Wayne R.
|
Millar, Paul
E.
(c)
|
Mitchell, Earl C.
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Moffat,
Ernest Leon (c)
|
Moffat,
Glen E.
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Moore,
Daniel G. (c)
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Morgan,
Ernest
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Milley,
Gary G.
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Morrison,
James G.
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Mosley,
James
(c)
|
Mowat,
Robert A. L.
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Muise,
Peter K. (c)
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Mulock, William
R.
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Munday,
Robert W. (c)
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Murray,
Allan L.
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N
O
P
Palmer,
Jim (c)
|
Parent, Neil
____-2006 (c)
LS.RM at the time of the explosion |
Parkin,
George T. R.
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Parry, Alan (c)
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Pearce, Harvey C.
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Perreault, Marcel (c)
AB.WU at the time of the explosion
|
Pickford,
Reginald J.
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Pirie,
Edward D.
|
Pitre, Ralph
J. (c)
|
Plourd,
Lindy M. (c)
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Preece,
Raymond G.
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Purvis,
Lawrence (c)
|
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Q
R
Ranger,
Kevin J. |
Reamsbottom,
A. Lee
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Reid, Edward
F. (c)
|
Reid,
William G. (c)
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Reid,
John M.
|
Reilly,
Harold W. (c)
|
Rikely,
William P.
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Robertson, Douglas W.
|
Richard,
Égide
|
Ring,
Gordon R. (c)
|
Robichaud,
Edgar J. (c)
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Rombough,
Wallace O.
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Rutherford,
Robert
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Ryan, David H. P.
|
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S
Saab,
Don (c)
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Sartor, David
J. |
Schultz,
Leonard W. |
Seifried,
Terrance H. |
Shillington,
Clifford T.
|
Shimansky, John
T. (c)
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Shorten,
Harry
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Siggers, John (c)
LS.BN at the time of the explosion
|
Sinyerd,
Vincent O. (c)
|
Slater, Herbie (c)
AB.RP at the time of the explosion |
Snow, James
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Sorensen,
Wendell C. (c)
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Spalding,
James D.
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Starkey, Brian H.
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Steeves,
Robert D.
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Stutely, James
D.
(c)
|
Swan,
Douglas W. G.
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Switzer, Jerry
(c)
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Sykes,
Douglas R. M.
|
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T
Taggart, Rod (c)
P1ST at the time of the explosion |
Tay,
Karl A. |
Taylor,
Douglas A. (c)
|
Teepell, Theodore M. (c)
P2ER at the time of the explosion |
Taylor,
Richard K.
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Tessier,
Yves G.
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Thomas,
Gary J.
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Tiffin,
Burton (c)
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Theriault, Roger (c)
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Tremblay,
Maurice H. (c)
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Turnbull,
Roderick G.
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V
W
Walker, Herman
(c)
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Walsh,
Gerald F.
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Warren,
Willie (c) |
Watson, Joseph R. (c)
|
Wavryk,
Walter L.
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Weisgerber, Ron (c)
|
White,
Gerald D.
|
White, John
A.
|
White, Karl L.
|
White, Lawrence
T.
|
Wickson,
William F.
|
Williams, Reginald
K. (c)
|
Williams,
William R.
|
Wiscombe,
Samuel A.
|
|
Z
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
Personnel also on board 23 Oct 1969
Those
listed here were on board HMCS KOOTENAY on 23 Oct 1969. This includes
Squadron staff that were attached to HMCS KOOTENAY at the time of the
explosion and crew from HMCS BONAVENTURE and HMCS SAGUENAY that were
transferred to assist in fire fighting on this day.
Ching, George
C2SG, SQN Chief Yeoman |
Finlay, Ferguson
1929-2008
LCdr, Squadron officer |
Henderson,
Douglas A. |
Jones, David
B.
Lt, E.O., HMCS Bonaventure |
Lynch,
Grant E.
P2ET, HMCS Saguenay
|
Morres,
Michael F.
LCdr, Sqn Weapons Officer
|
Perry,
George J.
LS Squadron Steward |
Walton, Wally
____-____
Cdr, Squadron Officer |
|
|
Former Crew Members
- crew member on the day of the KOOTENAY Explosion, 23 Oct 1969
Abraham, John
M.
Adams, Lloyd, ABFC
Allen, George, P2ET
Arimare, Joe, ABRP
Aris, Michael (Mike), ABSN
Armstrong, Jack, LSWS
Armstrong, Walter, ABER
Arnott, Gary, LSSG
Ashley, David, ABRM
Atkinson, Richard, ABRP
Baillargeon, Dennis, SLt
Baird, Lorne, OSRM
Barkhouse, Ray, ABBN
Bauer,
Wilfred A. (Wilf), Radar Plotter
Bell, Allan (Dinger), ABER
Bellefeuille, Michael Joseph, OSER
Berbeck, Robert - Jul 1986 - Apr 1987
Biccum,
Terry
Billard, George, LSER
Binette,
Ronald Robert (Ron), Ordinary Seaman Weaponman Surface
Boucher,
Butch, Hull Technician
Boutin, (??) (Boots), OSER
Brayshaw, Ray, ABET
Breen, Randy, AB
Briggs, Pat, OSSN
Bronson, Roger, P2FC
Brown, Gerry, LSRM -
1979 / MSRM - 1981 - 1982
Bushell, David J., ABFC
Bussiere, Clement, P2ER
Cameron, Dave Dan, OSSN
Carter, Ken, LSWS
Chamberlain, Jack, LSSG
Cholette, Frank - 1965-1967
Clark, Wayne, LSSN
Constantine, Goldwin (Connie), ABER
Cormier, (??), OSER
Corr, Jerry, P1SG
Cosens, James Victor, LSSN
Cottrell, Allan, ABBN
Couvrette, Denis, P1RM
Cully, Dan, P1FC
Dandy, Dave, OSWU
Davidson,
Gus, 1st posting OS & AB, 2nd posting LS
Desrosiers, Ray (Dez), LSFC
Dooling, Larry, ABBM
Duhamel,
Alfe, Chief Petty Officer Signalman
Elford, John (Jack), ABBN
Evans, David John - 1984 - 1986
Finnamore, Russel, LSET
Fisher, Kenneth G., ABWS
Flett,
Victor, SN/WU
Forbes, Gordon, LT
Weapons Officer
Forbes, Lance, ABSG
Fox, Francis (Frank) J., ABRP
|
Freeborn, Larry, P2RP
Freisen, Stoney, LSET
Galletly, Brian, LSER
Gard, William
(Bill)
Garneau, Claude, OSSN
Gordon, Bob, Pte, SW (Airforce)
Gourley, David W., LSRP
Gowin,
Lindsay, Radar Plotter
Gratton, Bob (Charlie), ABER
Gregory, John H., P2ER
Hadden, Garry, OSBN
Halsall, Shawn Dennis, ABSG
Hawse, Donald (Paul), ABRM
Hazel, K.W., P1AW
Helpert, David, ABRP
Hildebrand, Ron, ABST
Hodder, Peter, OSSG
Hopper, Warren, ABFC
Howell, Jerry, ABSW
Hughes, Brian, ABBN
Hughes, Robert (Bob), SLt
Hutchinson, Jack, LSRP
Inman, Dave, ABSN
Johnston, Cyril, SLt
Johnston, Jimmy,
Commissioning crew as a LS.ER
Judd, John, OSER
Keenliside, John, SLt
Kelso, Donald, ABWU
Kennedy, Allan F., Lt, Engineering Officer
Kloosterman, Jim
LaCroix, Janel (PJ), OSER
Langevin, OS.SN
LaPage, C.J. (Joe), LSSW
Larcheveque, Richard, Sig - Sep 1972
- Mar 1973
Larocque, Ray, ABSN
LeGier, Chris, LSSN
Logan, Don, Sig - 01 Aug 1961 - 14 Jun 1962
MacDonald
MacDonald, Dave, ABBN
MacDonald, Jim, ABCK
MacEachern, John, ABFC
McEachern, Ken, OSSW
MacKenzie, Brian (Oily), ABER
MacPhee, Hugh, P2WU
Martell, Bill, LSSW
Martens, Rick, ABRM
McCann, Jim, ABRP
McGuire, Gary, ABRP
McLeod, Doug, CERA -
Paying off crew
McLeod,
Ken, Radioman
Miller, Gord (Dusty),
Lt, Supply Officer
Mitchell,
Mike
|
Montague, John, SLt
Moore, Lee, LSSN
Morgan, Grenfell (Gary), OSSN
Morris, Mike, LSWS
Newbury,
George
O'Sullivan, Harold (Sully), P1ER
Palbom, John, ABSN
Pascall, Luke, Stwd
Patrick, Thomas, OSSG
Peers, Al, LSFC
Penny, Les, P2CK
Prince, Réjean, ABSN
Pye, Eric, AB.SG -
1973
Reid, Ed, LSSN
Reimer, Tom, ABFC
Richard, Andrew, LSCK
Rockwood, Gerry - 1981
Rogers, Reg - 1976 -
1978, 1980 - 1981
Rowland, Steve, ABHT
Roy, John Robert, C2ET
Russell, Bob, P2PW
Rutherford, Robert
(Bob), Lt, RCN, Weapons O - Jan 1967 - Sep 1968 / Lt, RCN, XO - Oct
1967 - Dec 1967
Salt, Brian, OSRM
Saunders, Earle, P1WS
Saunders, Russel W., CPL Engineer (Airforce)
Savery, Robert, ABET
Secord
Schwartz, Art, Lt, CommO
Sharp, Randy
Sorhus, Al, OSRM
Specht, Tony - paying
off crew
St-Amour, Michel, OSER
Steele, John, ABWU
Stewart, Brian, ABWU
Stewart, Dave, SG
Stuart, Bob - 1983 - 1986
Swan, Steve, LSWU
Swire(s), Al, ABAW
Tanner, Gerald
(Gerry), RM - 1965 - 1968
Tanner,
Joe, Cook, RCN
Tremblay, Gilbert (Gigi), LS-MS, EW - 02 May 1983 - 16 Jul 1984
Tymchuk, Wayne, ABSG
Vansickle, Don,
P1WU
Wardell,
Ken
Weber, Brian, ABWU
Webster, John, OSSG
White, Ron, P2ET
Wickens, Tom, OSHT
Williams, Brian L.
Williams, Fritz, ABER
Wills, Al, FC - Apr
1978 - Jul 1979
Winters, Gerald, LSSN
Womack, John, ABWS
Young, Tom, ABRP
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Personnel also on board 23 Oct 1969
Those
listed here were on board HMCS KOOTENAY on 23 Oct 1969. This includes Squadron staff
that were attached to HMCS KOOTENAY at the time of the explosion and crew
from HMCS BONAVENTURE and HMCS SAGUENAY that were transferred to assist in
fire fighting on this day.
Cormier, Rene - LS, Air Bosn/Firefighter, HMCS BONAVENTURE
|
Malloy, John - HMCS BONAVENTURE
|
Gadbois, Ed - LS Air Bosn/Firefighter, HMCS
BONAVENTURE
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Moore,
Doug H. - LS, Squadron Signalman
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Homer, Joe (Doc) - SLt, Squadron Medical Officer
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Oliver, James B. (Jim) - LS, Squadron Signalman
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Malasgar, Moe/Mac - P2 Air Bosn/Firefighter,
HMCS BONAVENTURE
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Swiss, John - HMCS BONAVENTURE
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Photos
and Documents
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HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - undated
RCN photo
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - undated
RCN photo
|
|
KOOTENAY'S
commanding officer cutting the 1st anniversary cake with his
sword
Courtesy
of Steve Rowland |
|
Cake celebrating HMCS KOOTENAY'S 1st
Anniversary
Courtesy of Steve Rowland |
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HMCS KOOTENAY 258 during Maple Spring
1966
Note the dark grey USN paint colour on
the hull
Courtesy of Ed Paquette |
|
ROUTINE ORDERS - HMCS KOOTENAY
Saturday 18 Oct 1969
Courtesy of Patti Christie
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The KOOTENAY Explosion
- October 23, 1969
At
6:05 AM KOOTENAY and Saguenay were ordered to separate from the task
force and carry out a routine full-power trial. Saguenay completed
her trial at 8:00 AM and KOOTENAY started her trial at 8:10 AM. At
8:21 AM KOOTENAY suffered the worst peacetime accident in the
history of the RCN when her starboard gearbox reached an estimated
temperature of 650 °C (1,202 °F) and exploded. The explosion and
the ensuing fire killed 9 crew members and injured at least 53
others. The fire was brought under control by 10:10 AM and was
extinguished between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. KOOTENAY was badly damaged
but was kept afloat by the actions of her crew.
These
ten pages record what happened that fatal day onboard HMCS KOOTENAY
HMCS KOOTENAY photographed from a CS2F Tracker 1546 off HMCS
BONAVENTURE 23 Oct 1969
Crew: Lt. Snowie, SLt Dan Elder, PO Monty Montgomery, LS Scottie
Mills.
Photo taken by Lt. Allan Snowie
The
bodies of those who died in the KOOTENAY explosion are being
placed in a helicopter to be taken ashore from HMCS BONAVENTURE
Courtesy
of Jack Soble
Remembering KOOTENAY's Fallen
Funeral
service being conducted for those who died as a result of the
gearbox explosion on HMCS KOOTENAY, 23 Oct 1969
HMCS
SAGUENAY leaves Plymouth, England for the burial at sea of
three of KOOTENAY's sailors who died as a result of the
gearbox explosion on HMCS KOOTENAY, 23 Oct 1969
From
the collection of CPO Gord Giroux, Chief Steward
Courtesy
of Debbie (Giroux) Graham
HMCS
SAGUENAY leaves Plymouth, England for the burial at sea of three of KOOTENAY's sailors who died as a result of the gearbox explosion on
HMCS KOOTENAY, 23 Oct 1969
Courtesy
of George Damczyk. George
was an OSER on HMCS SAGUENAY at the time of the KOOTENAY explosion
Bryan, Harry - LS Air Bosn / Bugler, HMCS
SAGUENAY. Volunteer bugler at KOOTENAY burial services and at KOOTENAY
Memorial reunions
Funeral Service pamphlet for those who
died in the KOOTENAY Explosion
Courtesy of Grant Reid
(01)
Page 3 of a Summary of the KOOTENAY Explosion and Fire from HMCS BONAVENTURE.
Credit: Naval Museum of Halifax. Courtesy of Brian Lapierre
(02)
Newspaper article on the memorial service
for HMCS KOOTENAY's fallen
(03)
All crew members that were on HMCS KOOTENAY
during the explosion in 1969 were given one of these
certificates by the Navy in Oct 2011. Courtesy of Grant Reid
(04)
Newspaper article on the first 20 crewmen
from HMCS KOOTENAY arriving back in Nova Scotia - dated 07 Nov
1969. Courtesy of Patti Christie
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HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - Welcome aboard booklet
(prior to 1970)
Courtesy of Grant Reid
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|
The Last Tot on board HMCS KOOTENAY 258
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HMCS KOOTENAY 258 undergoing
post-conversion sea trials - Oct 1972
Courtesy of Richard Larcheveque
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|
KOOTENAY Kommandoes flag - created during
during the return from Westploy '73
When
we were returning from duty off Vietnam, an RP named Mike
Caine helped me make a flag to fly off the mast to add a
little extra colour for the occasion. It was flag “Quebec”,
being an overall yellow, on which we caricatured a warrior,
the “KOOTENAY Commando”
Courtesy of James Pye, LS.SG
|
|
Kevin Kirk standing in
HMCS KOOTENAY's rope stores after her collision with the bulk
carrier Nordpol
Courtesy of Kevin Kirk |
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HMCS KOOTENAY after her collision with
the bulk carrier Nordpol |
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A certificate issued to PO1 NavSig Andre
Sheppard after HMCS KOOTENAY rounded Cape Horn on 10 Oct 1995
Courtesy of Andre Sheppard
|
|
Series of photos showing the replacement
of KOOTENAY's bow from Chaudiere after her collision with bulk
carrier Nordpol.
Credit: Ian Ball, PO1, ERA, Ret'd
Photo 1) both ships with their bow
sections removed
Photo 2) KOOTENAY has her new nose
job and her damaged bow is on Chaudiere |
|
Gerry
Rockwood on HMCS KOOTENAY during Ex Horizon View 81
Courtesy
of Mike Engeland |
|
HMCS KOOTENAY going through the locks on the Welland Canal during
the Great Lakes Cruise, 1967
Courtesy of David Stewart |
photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
photo 8 |
(1)
Mike Aris (left) and Égide Richard (the
Pocket Rocket) in 1
Mess, HMCS KOOTENAY (2) # 1 Mess, HMCS KOOTENAY, LS.SN Lee More, Capt. Jack and
OS.SN Pat
Briggs (3) # 1 Mess, HMCS KOOTENAY, OS.SN Alan Parry on the right. (4)
HMCS KOOTENAY transiting locks during
Centennial events (5 & 6) Paint ship on HMCS KOOTENAY
(7 & 8) The bridge of HMCS KOOTENAY
photo 9 |
photo 10 |
photo 11 |
photo 12 |
photo 13 |
photo 14 |
photo 15 |
photo 16 |
(9)
Burma road on HMCS KOOTENAY (10) Cable deck of HMCS KOOTENAY
(11) Main cafeteria of HMCS KOOTENAY (12) Bunks in 1 Mess - HMCS
KOOTENAY
(13) 1 Mess settee area - HMCS KOOTENAY (14) HMCS KOOTENAY's Wheelhouse
(15) (L-R) OS.SN Mike Aris, OS.SN Pat Briggs, OSSN Jack
Kilbourn, OS.SN Égide Richard (Pocket Rocket) (front)
(16) (L-R) Jack Kilbourn and Pat Briggs
photo 17 |
photo 18 |
photo 19 |
photo 20 |
photo 21 |
photo 22 |
photo 23 |
(17)
KOOTENAY's Counter Terrorist Group -
Chris Legier, Rocky, Mosley (18) Mike Aris at the Fortress of san Felipe
Del Morro, San Juan (19) Mike
Aris and OS Alan Parry's hand relaxing on HMCS KOOTENAY in
Bermuda, Maple Spring '67 (20) Playing crib in 1 Mess on HMCS
KOOTENAY
(21) OS.SN
Dave Dan Cameron (right) and OS.SN Alan Parry (left) in
the Torpedo House during action stations (22) HMCS
KOOTENAY at Expo '67. The
Bluenose is in the foreground (23) Mike Aris and Al
Parry in San Juan
Courtesy of Mike Aris |
photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
(1)
Rick
Boyd, Rick Lalonde and Tom Atkins on HMCS KOOTENAY 258
(2) Begley and Boyd (3) Begley and ?? (4) "Happy 21st Birthday"
(5) Begley and Boyd (6) Lalonde, Begley, Hildebrand and ??
(7)
Courtesy
of Rick Boyd
|
|
Tot time on KOOTENAY - 1966
|
|
21st birthday celebration for HMCS KOOTENAY
258 at sea
Courtesy of Peter Ware
|
|
21st birthday celebration for HMCS KOOTENAY
258 at sea
The Buffer is presenting a carving of the ship to the CO
Courtesy of Peter Ware
|
|
21st birthday celebration for HMCS KOOTENAY
258 at sea
Horse races on the quarterdeck
Courtesy of Peter Ware
|
|
Crossing the Line - Equator on HMCS KOOTENAY
258
Courtesy of Peter Ware
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 firing an ASROC
Courtesy of Peter Ware |
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 firing a CHAFF rocket
Courtesy of Peter Ware |
|
Certificate
issued to KOOTENAY crew members who were on her when she
transited the Panama Canal on 20 Jan 1973 while transferring
coasts from Halifax to Esquimalt.
Courtesy of Grant Reid |
|
Ron Hildebrand on HMCS KOOTENAY 258
Courtesy of Ron Hildebrand |
|
ABER Dan Bélisle, HMCS KOOTENAY 258,
circa 1969
From the collection of PJ LaCroix, OSER
Courtesy of PJ LaCroix |
|
Stokers on the quarterdeck, HMCS KOOTENAY
258, circa 1969
From the collection of PJ LaCroix, OSER
Courtesy of PJ LaCroix |
|
ABRM
Jean-Pierre Boisvert, HMCS KOOTENAY 258, circa 1969
From the collection of PJ LaCroix, OSER
Courtesy of PJ LaCroix |
|
At
the hospital in Plymouth (L-R) Jacques Godin (OSSN), Guy
Drapeau (ABRP), Michel St-Amour (OSER), Jean-Pierre Boisvert (ABRM)
From the collection of PJ LaCroix, OSER
Courtesy of PJ LaCroix |
|
ABHT Steve Rowland, HMCS KOOTENAY 258,
circa 1969
From the collection of PJ LaCroix, OSER
Courtesy of PJ LaCroix |
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HMCS KOOTENAY 258
Courtesy of John Hawley
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - undated
RCN photo
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - undated
RCN photo
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - undated
RCN photo
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY 258 - date unknown
From the collection of Sid Dobing
Courtesy of Brian Dobing
|
|
OSSG Don Logan on HMCS KOOTENAY in 1961
Courtesy of Don Logan
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY and HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Pearl Harbor,
Spring 1978 during Ex RIMPAC '78
Courtesy of Hugh Muir
|
|
Article from the Esquimalt Lookout newspaper dated 13
Dec 1995 on HMCS KOOTENAY's pending paying off scheduled for 18 Dec 1995
Courtesy of Melissa Atkinson, Manager Lookout
Newspaper, Creative Services and Sponsorship
|
|
Abstract of a newspaper article from the Vancouver Sun
dated 19 Dec 1995 on HMCS KOOTENAY's final sail past
Courtesy of Dennis Cardy
|
|
HMCS KOOTENAY Rounding the Horn 15 Oct 1995
Courtesy of Chuck Henderson
|
|
Former destroyer escorts HMCS KOOTENAY
(right) and HMCS Restigouche (left) are towed out of Esquimalt Harbour
Monday to begin an 18-day journey to Acapulco. The
ships will be sunk to create reefs for divers. An effort to keep the ships
as an attraction in B.C. waters fell short.
Credit: Darren Stone / Times
Colonist |
|
Newspaper article from the Times Colonist about
the sale of HMCS KOOTENAY complete with rocket launcher
Credit: Susan Danard - Times Colonist
Photographer: Sean White - Times Colonist
Courtesy of Daniel Hebert |
|
HMCS KOOTENAY just prior to
her being sunk as an artificial reef - May 11, 2001
Source: Stourbridge
Lion's Travel Log.
Photographer: Darren E. Hadley. ©
Darren E. Hadley 2001
"Let’s talk about this ship a bit more
since this is part of
“Reef Gate” and was big news here from 1999 to 2001. This
Canadian Naval ship (and Restigouche – DDE 257) was towed from
Canada to here to become an artificial reef on Navy Day, June 1,
2000. Well, there was a question on how they were purchased and here
they sat until it was cleared up in 2001. Shortly after I took this
photo the KOOTENAY was sunk near the Restigouche that was sunk just
before our arrival."
WEBMASTERS NOTE: This
photo is reported to be the former HMCS KOOTENAY, just prior to her being sunk as
an artificial reef in 2001, however, it is actually the former HMCS
Restigouche. The KOOTENAY was not sunk as an artificial reef (see
photos below taken in 2003) |
|
Newspaper article on the use of the former HMCS
Restigouche 257 and the former HMCS KOOTENAY 258 as artificial
reefs.
Originally published in the Laredo Morning
Times, Friday, June 15, 2001
Source: airwolf.lmtonline.com
|
|
The article if from the magazine "Sport
Diver" dated December 2001. It refers to the Cayman Islands
plans to scuttle 5 ships as artificial reefs and one of their
prospective ships is HMCS KOOTENAY |
Former HMCS
KOOTENAY at Manzinillo, Mexico in 2003
Courtesy of Stephane Desbiens |
The End
The
KOOTENAY ended up under arrest as the purchasers didn't pay
some kind of import fee and it ended up in a proverbial
Mexican mess between the Mexican federal government and the
harbor authorities and the owners. Last seen she was being
very heavily scrapped at the dock and they ran the remaining
part of the hull up on the beach and took her right down to
the keel. Sad ending for a great ship.
|
|
On
23 Oct 2015, Grenfell Morgan present the ship's badge of HMCS KOOTENAY from
23 Oct 1969 to the Damage Control Training Facility / HMCS KOOTENAY, in
Halifax.
Courtesy of Grenfell Morgan
|
Not quite the end ......
2018 Reunion of the crew members who were
onboard HMCS KOOTENAY during the gearbox explosion on 23 Oct
1969
(1)
Harold Crockett (2)
Andrew Richard (3) David Gourley (4) John
Montague (5) Denis Couvrette (6) Hugh MacPhee
(7) Mike Aris (8) Tom Wickens (9) Gord 'Dusty'
Miller (10) Jim Stutely (11) Steve Rowland
(12) Bryan Hughes (13) Cyril Johnson (14) Bill
"Jeff" Jefferson (15) Brian Fenwick*
(16) Roger Theriault (17) Rick Boyd (18) John
Gregory (19) Doug Moore (20) Chris LeGier (21) Ron Hildebrand
(22) Wayne MacDonald (23)
Dinger Bell (24) Jim Mosley (25) Brian Galletly
(26) Ches Walters* (27) Roger Bronson (28) Warren
Hopper (29) David Ashley (30) John Womack
(31) Frank Fox (32) Gary McGuire
*
KOOTENAYs, but not on board on 23 Oct 1969.
Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander of the
Royal Canadian Navy, presenting the Wound Stripe to Dinger.
Allan (Dinger) Bell received the Wound
Stripe for injuries as a result of the explosion on HMCS KOOTENAY
on 23 Oct 1969
Cmdre Angus Topshee presents the Wounds
Stripe to Cdr (ret'd) Al Kennedy.
Excerpt
from CFB Halifax Trident Navy Newspaper Sunday, June 30, 2019
"As
the 50th anniversary of the fire and explosion in HMCS KOOTENAY
approaches this fall, one of its survivors has
finally been honoured with a Wound Stripe, a distinction worn
on the sleeve of military members wounded in action prior to
2001.
Cdr
(ret’d) Al Kennedy, 77, received the honour from Commodore
Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, on Tuesday
May 14 at a ceremony in D100, CFB Esquimalt.
The
Victoria resident was the Engineering Officer in KOOTENAY on
the morning of October 23, 1969. Just after 8 a.m. there was
an explosion in the ship’s engine room that killed nine
people, including seven of the 10 men in Kennedy’s engine
room team."
During
the 50th Commemorative Reception at Tribute Tower, the 23
October 1969 crew of HMCS Kootenay received the first ever
Commander RCN Unit Commendation for gallantry and bravery. It
was presented by Rear-Admiral Craig Baines, Commander MARLANT.
Dinger Bell accepted this commendation on behalf of the
Kootenay crew and it is kept at the Damage Control Training
Facility Kootenay.
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