HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

Laid down: 05 Aug 1940

Launched: 21 Nov 1940

Commissioned: 25 Jun 1941

Paid off: 23 Jul 1945

Fate: Broken up in 1966

 

Commissioned at Montreal on 25 Jun 1941, LETHBRIDGE arrived at Halifax on 04 Jul 1941. She served briefly with Sydney Force before joined NEF and leaving Sydney on 11 Oct 1941 with convoy SV.49 for Iceland. She was employed between St. John's and Iceland until Feb 1942, and thereafter on the "Newfie-Derry" run. On 20 Jun 1942, she left Londonderry for the last time, and on her return to Halifax joined Gulf Escort Force to escort Quebec-Sydney convoys. After refitting at Liverpool, N.S., from 10 Sep to 22 Oct 1942 and working up at Pictou, she arrived at New York on 18 Nov 1942 to be placed under U.S. control as escort to New York-Guantanamo convoys. In Mar 1943, she returned to Halifax to join WLEF for the remainder of the war, from Jun 1943, as a member of EG W-3 and from Apr 1944, as a member of W-5. She acquired her extended fo'c's'le during a refit at Sydney from Jan to Mar 1944, which was followed by three weeks' working-up at Bermuda in Apr 1944. She was paid off on 23 Jul 1945, at Sorel and sold to Marine Industries Ltd., who resold her in 1952 for conversion to a whale-catcher. The conversion was completed in 1955, she entered service under the Dutch flag as Nicolaas Vinke. She was broken up at Santander, Spain, in 1966.

 


 

Photos and Documents          Battle for Convoy BX-141

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt William Mahan, RCNR - 25 Jun 1941 - 13 Aug 1941

Lt R. Hocken, RCNR - 14 Aug 1941 - 02 Sep 1941

Lt R.J. Roberts, RCNR - 03 Sep 1941 - 07 Sep 1941

A/LCdr Harry Freeland, RCNR - 08 Sep 1941 - 20 Oct 1942

LCdr R.S. Kelly, RCNR - 21 Oct 1942 - 21 Apr 1943

LCdr William Woods, RCNR - 22 Apr 1943 - 15 Jun 1943

A/LCdr St. Clair Balfour, RCNVR - 16 Jun 1943 - 26 Dec 1943

Lt Frederick Henry Pinfold, RCNVR - 15 Mar 1944 - 18 Aug 1944

Lt Joseph A. Roberts, RCNVR - 19 Aug 1944 - 30 Sep 1944

Lt Frederick Henry Pinfold, RCNVR - 01 Oct 1944 - 14 Apr 1945

Lt John Holland, RCNVR - 08 Apr 1945 - 23 Jul 1945

  


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Binmore, David Armstrong, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jun 1941 / Lt, RCNVR - 18 Apr 1942

 

Calland, John Christopher Hatton, Lt, RCNVR - 25 Jun 1941

 

Colby, James Edward, SLt, RCNVR - 01 Mar 1942

 

Curr, James, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1945

 

Dunn, Howard Leslie, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1943

 

Freeland, Harry (the Horse), Lt, RCNR - 25 Jun 1941

Green, James Henry, Mate, RCNR - 26 Jun 1941

 

Hiscock, (??), AB, Radar III

 

Kernohan, Eric, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Keys, John David, Lt, RCNVR - 01 May 1945

 

Mahan, William, Lt, RCNR - 11 May 1941 (Stand by) CO

 

McDiarmid, Evan Stanley, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1943

 

Murray, Robert McKay, SLt, RCNVR - 14 Feb 1944

Phillips, Neil Franklin, SLt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944

 

Roberts, Joseph, Lt, RCNVR - 22 Apr 1943

 

Wallar, Durrant Everett, Lt, RCNVR - 24 Feb 1945

 

Wilson, Gordon Cornelius, A/Lt, RCNVR - 19 May 1945

 

Wright, Bruce Stanley, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Mar 1942

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Unidentified sailors from HMCS LETHBRIDGE 1944

Source: Obituary for Irvin Eisenhauer

Norwegian whale-catcher # 22 - former HMCS LETHBRIDGE

Source: Flower Class corvette forums

"Later when Halifax was mined"

John Roberts on the left with unknown sailor on the right

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Pings" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Pilot" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Ping Shack" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Sig" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Flags" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Guns in Refit"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts


HMCS LETHBRIDGE Christmas Card

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Off watch, Port list"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"My first sea-going XO - Nick"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"A real crusher from the last war"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"New York Bound"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"What a great gunnery officer"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Sullage Guts - The Navigator"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The kid on watch"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Good-bye New York"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Phil Powell, Navigator"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Jim Bessey, A.S.C.O.

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 - Port Visit Bermuda

 

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

photo 4

photo 5

photo 6

 

(1) "Oh the troubles I've seen."  (2) "The entrance - They walked in but generally rolled out."  (3)  "Nice and clean but rather hard when spilled from a bicycle."  (4) "Seaward from Grassy Bay"  (5) "Loomed in the No. 1's report"  (6)  "The Admiral's shack - Bermuda"

 

 

        

 

MAC ships, Empire McKendrie and Empire McKay

 

HMCS LETHBRIDGE screening take offs and landings

 

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Pings" on the bridge of HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Flags" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Not so fast Bub"

Unknown sub - seen from HMCS LETHBRIDGE

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

     

 

Fo'c's'le of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 as seen from:  (1) The bridge  (2) The port bridge wing  (3) 3) The crowsnest

 

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Looking aft from the bridge island"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"One o the Best W.K.s afloat"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The good companions?"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The Jimmy gets a stowaway"

The boats crew of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 at work

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Powell looks anxious - wonder why?"

Bringing in the seaboat of HMCS LETHBRIDGE k160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Lookouts...?"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Tidley"

Gun mount of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Painting the Ping shack"

Gun mount of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Prospective (G)?"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Painting ship - two sailors over the side

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Starboard side aft of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

AB Hiscock, Radar III

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The Buffer"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The Jimmy looks it over"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The Swain"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Port side aft"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"A real seaman"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Sigs at work"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"The onlookers"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

Liberty Ship

MAC

Norwegian Diesel

LETHBRIDGE moves across stern of convoy

Extra deck cargo

Charlie X-ray

Two MACs

Fleet Tanker

Juicer Oiler

Morning Count

Morning Count

Morning Count

Morning Count

Morning Count

Morning Count

Convoys

 

During the morning count, HMCS LETHBRIDGE goes along the convoy lines and verifies each ship is still in position.

 

Convoy photos taken from HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

"L.T.O. lights a signal flare"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

     

 

Photos from the wheelhouse

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"A Pusser Buffer"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"A Herring Choker"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"From the Fo'c's'le"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Hang on"

A Lieutenant going up the stick

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Up the stick"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Why did I go to sea?"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Stand Easy"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts


"Jim on Watch"

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Robert McKay (Bob) Murray at Bermuda

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Neil Phillips

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

"Is the Commodore near us?

Unknown sailor on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

 

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Refit

 

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 

Sailing instructions for HMCS LETHBRIDGE from NOIC Sydney

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Message dated 18 Aug 1944 appointing A/Lt J.W. Bessey as XO and Lt J. Roberts as CO

From the album of Joseph Roberts

Message for the Commander Surface Escort Group - Eastern Sea Frontier - 03 Nov 1943 - listing available escorts

From the album of Joseph Roberts

 


 

WS02

WS03

WS04

WS05

(WS02) Unknown sailor with ship's mascot on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS03) Wesley Spinks (holding the "hammer") jacking around with shipmates on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS04) Unknown sailors by the 4-inch gun on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS05) Wesley Spinks (1st on right) with shipmates on the forward gun of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

From the collection of Sto 1c Welsey Spinks, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Don Spinks

 


 

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