
HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Majestic
Class Aircraft Carrier
WE STAND ON GUARD |

HMCS MAGNIFICENT
From the collection of Larry
Zbitnew, LCdr, RCN
Courtesy of Dennis Cardy
Click on the above photo to view a larger image |
Laid down: 29 July 1943
Launched: 16
Nov 1944
Commissioned: 21
Mar 1948 |
Paid off: 14
Jun 1957
Returned to the RN: 14
Jun 1957
Fate:
Broken up at Faslane in 1965 |
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT (CVL 21) was a Majestic class
light aircraft carrier that served the Royal Canadian Navy from 1948–1957. The third ship of the Majestic class,
MAGNIFICENT was
built by Harland and Wolff, laid down 29 Jul 1943 and launched 16
Nov 1944. Purchased from the Royal Navy (RN) to replace HMCS
WARRIOR, she served in a variety of roles, operating both fixed and
rotary-wing aircraft. She was generally referred to as the Maggie.
Her aircraft complement included Fairey Fireflies and Hawker Sea
Furies. Complement: 1100 (including air group).
On 20 Mar 1949, while on fleet manoeuvres in the Caribbean,
thirty-two aircraft handlers on the MAGNIFICENT briefly refused an
order to turn to morning cleaning stations to protest various
grievances.
On 04 Jun 1949, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT ran aground on an
uncharted rock, near White Lodge Beacon, 70 miles southwest of Halifax. She
was freed with the help of the destroyer HMCS NOOTKA and returned to Halifax
under her own power on Sunday, 05 Jun 1949 with several flooded
compartments.
On 23 Aug 1950 The Canadian Special Service Squadron,
consisting of the MAGNIFICENT, Huron and MICMAC sailed from Halifax for a
three-moth training cruise to Europe. The Canadian Special Service Squadron
arrived at Londonderry on 01 Sep 1950. For the next two weeks the ships
carried out an intensive anti-submarine training program. From 'Derry they
went to Rosyth, Scotland, and then to Oslo, Norway. Ships of the Special
Service Squadron called at seven ports - Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Amsterdam,
Rotterdam, Antwerp, Portsmouth and Cherbourg - within 22 Days. The Special
Service Squadron completed the continental phase of its training cruise with
visits to Lisbon and Gibraltar. Following a strenuous exercise period with
the British Home Fleet, the ships sailed westward for Bermuda. There the MAGNIFICENT, HURON and MICMAC were joined by the frigates LA HULLOSIE and
SWANSEA and the five ships arrived at Halifax on 27 Nov 1950
On 02 Jun 1952 HMCS
MAGNIFICENT left Halifax to take part in
exercises with the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean and afterwards, NATO
exercises in the North Atlantic, taking part in Exercise Mainbrace '52 on
the final leg home. Her ports of call on this voyage were: Plymouth,
England (14-17 Jun 1952); Portsmouth, England (26-30 Jun 1952); Malta (10-13
Jul 1952; Navarino, Greece (14-18 Jul 1952); Athens, Greece (19-22 Jul
1952);
Istanbul, Turkey (24-27 Jul 1952); Tobruk, Libya (28-31 Jul 1952); Malta
(02-11 Aug and 15-18 Aug 1952); Belfast, Ireland (28 Aug - 03 Sep 1952);
Rosyth, Scotland (11-26 Sep 1952); Greenock, Scotland (26 Sep - 01 Oct
1952); returning to Halifax on 10 Oct 1952.
In October 1954, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT transited the Panama Canal and entered the Pacific where she was
met by HMCS STETTLER who joined her as plane guard for time in the Pacific
coast. Enroute to Esquimalt she paid 4 day port visits to San Diego and San
Francisco. After a 6 day visit at Esquimalt and a 5 day visit to
Vancouver in November, she headed back south conducting flying operations on
her way back to Halifax.
On 22 Jan 1955, 47 sailors from HMCS
MAGNIFICENT were
admitted to the RCN Hospital at HMCS STADACONA after having ingested drinks
spiked with methyl
alcohol.
On 04 Sep 1955, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT departed
Halifax for a deployment on Exercise Sea Enterprise with port visits in
Norway, England, France,
Gibraltar and Italy returning to Halifax on 07 Dec 1955.
On 27 Feb 1956, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT departed Halifax for Spring
Cruise 1956, returning 07 May 1956.
Her last role was as a transport during the Suez Crisis, carrying a
large part of the Canadian peacekeeping force to Egypt. With
her weapons stripped and her crew reduced to a complement of 600 officers
and men she departed Halifax in late December 1956 with 406 Canadian troops
and their vehicles
parked on her deck - along with 4 RCAF de Havilland Canada DHC-3
Otters and a single H04S helicopter. She arrived at Port Said, Egypt on 07
Jan 1957 where the troops and equipment were disembarked and returned to
Canada in March 1957.
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT departed Halifax in Apr 1957 and
arrived at Plymouth where she was paid off by the RCN on 14 Jun 1957. She was returned to the RN on the same day and placed in reserve. On 12
Jul 1965 she arrived at Faslane to be broken up.
Photos
and Documents Ship's
company photos The
Ship's Bell
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT (Video)
Commanding Officers
Com. Henry George
DeWolf, RCN - 07 Apr 1948 - 29 Aug 1948
Com.
George Ralph
Miles, RCN - 30 Aug 1948 - 28 June 1949
Cdr. Angus
George Boulton, RCN - 29 Jun 1949 - 06 Sep 1949 
Com. K.F.
Adams, RCN - 7 Sep 1949 - 28 Oct 1951 |
Capt. Kenneth Lloyd
Dryer, RCN - 29 Oct 1951 - 10 Mar 1953
Com
Herbert Sharples Rayner, RCN - 11 Mar 1953 - 29 Jan
1955
Capt.
Anthony H.G. Storrs, RCN - 30 Jan 1955 - 02 Aug 1956
Capt. Alexander
B. Fraser-Harris, RCN - 03 Aug 1956 -
14 Jun 1957 |
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget

CARROLL,
Vernon D.
AB, RCN died - 09 Aug 1953 |

CLOUSTON,
William J.
AB, RCN died - 17 Mar 1950 |

MITCHELL,
Walter D.
AB, RCN died - 07 Jun 1950 |

MORRISON,
Keith A.
OSCMS, RCN
died - 15 Feb 1951 |

PEEVER,
Leslie F.
Lt (P), RCN died - 18 Feb 1950 |
|
|

TOCK, Stuart
R.
AB, RCN died - 16 Aug 1955
|
|
|
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
A

Adam,
James B. |

Adamski,
Stanley W. |

Aitken, C. Ed |

Amyotte, James
P. |

Armstrong,
Daniel |

Arnold, John
M. |
Arthur,
Robert H. |

Ash, Eldon
J. |

Atkinson,
William H. I. |

AuCoin,
John S. |
B

Baillargeon,
Raymond G. |

Bak,
Boley H. |

Baker,
Donald F. |

Baldwin,
Conrad W. |

Bays,
Rodney |

Beamish,
Douglas V. |

Beaver,
Kenneth J. |

Bedell,
Russell B. |

Beeman,
John H. |

Beecher,
Scott E. |

Bemister, Herbert
G. |

Benjamin,
Carman L. |

Berry,
Peter C. |
Bielby, John
W. |

Billard,
Robert A. |

Black,
Edward |
Blaine, Ralph
A. |
Blandy,
Walter S. |

Blathwayt,
William C. |

Boicey,
Orville |

Bond,
James M. |
Bone,
Richard M. |

Bonner,
Albert L.
|

Bonoyer,
Roger A. |

Bowditch,
Raymond V.P.
|

Book, Kenneth
E. |

Bowditch,
William W. |

Boyle,
Douglas S. |

Bradford,
Wayne
|

Bremner,
William |

Brennan,
Harry |
Briard,
Kerry P. |

Broster, G.
Arnold
|

Brown,
Kenneth F.
|

Brown,
Norman L. |

Brown,
Robert W. |

Browne,
Randall W. |

Brownrigg,
John A.L.
|

Brushett,
Gerald
|

Buchanan,
Donald A.
|

Buchner,
Dalton M.
|

Bush,
Charles L.
|

Butler, Russel
A.
|

Butts,
Thomas H.
|
|
Ca-Cl

Cairney,
John D. |
Callard, John
E.B. |

Calver,
William F. |

Campbell,
Alexander A. |

Canning,
Kevin M. |

Carter,
Austin W. |

Cassidy,
Charles H |

Cassivi, Louis
A. |

Castleman,
David H. |

Caudle,
Douglas A. |

Chadwick,
Edward A. |

Chandler,
Thomas H. |

Charles,
John A. |

Choat, Russell
F. |

Clark,
David W. |

Clark,
Howard V. |

Clarke,
William M |

Clarkson,
Henry L. |

Clifford,
Brian E.V. |

Clothier,
G.W. |
Co-Cz

Cocks,
Robert W.J. |

Collier,
Andrew L. |

Conners, Percy
H. |
Conrad, H.
J. |

Conroy,
Francis D. |

Cooke,
Philip C.H. |

Coolen,
Douglas C.
|

Copley,
Lloyd Guy |
Cormack,
Bruce |

Cote,
Joseph J.P. |

Coughlan,
John |

Cowan,
James A. |

Crickard,
Frederick W. |
Cumming,
James M.
|
Cummins,
John J. |
Cunningham,
Gerald |

Curry,
Walter
|
|
|
|
D

Darveau, J.H.
Maurice |

Davison,
James M. |

Day,
Kenneth A.M. |
Dayton,
Francis J. |

De
Costa, Edward L.
|

Deck, Gregory
O. |

Deschenes,
Roland J. |

DeWolf,
Henry G. |
Dibben, Basil
J.C.D. |
Dixon,
John H. |

Dubois,
Bernard |

Doucette,
Donald J. |

Doucette,
Raymond J.F. |

Dowdall,
Francis T. |

Duggan,
Joseph D. |

Duiven,
Richard C. |

Dunham,
Douglas A. |

Dutchak, William
R. |

Dyer,
Kenneth L. |
|
E
F

Fallen,
Edward A.
|

Falls,
Robert H. |
Fane,
Peter E.
|

Farquharson,
Kenneth L. |
Farrell,
William L.D. |

Favreau, Jean-Marc
|
Fenn, Frank
|

Ferguson,
Elmer A. |

Fisher,
Ralph E. |

Fitchett,
Roy E. |

Fitzgerald,
James O. |

Flecknell,
Neil P. |

Forster,
Edward R. |

Fortier,
Louis-Philippe |
Fotheringham,
James B. |

Foster,
Kenneth S. |

Fox,
Alexander E. |

Francis,
Edward D. |

Frank, John
F. |

Fraser-Harris,
Alex |

Frawley, Nigel
H.H. |

French, A.
Adrien |

Frewer,
Frederick C. |

Fulford,
Cameron H. |
|
G

Gagnier,
Camille |
Gamblin,
Donald K., Sr |

George, William
G.S. |

Gerrior,
Marshall J. |

Gibbs,
Kenneth L. |

Gigg, Edmund
G.
|

Gilhen, Cyril |

Gillespie,
Alexander W. |

Gillis,
Harold G. |
Ginter,
Arthur S. |

Glover,
James A.G. |

Goldring,
Gerald A. |

Goneau,
Leo A. |

Goodwin,
W. |

Gorman,
Andrew D. |

Gould,
Norman A. |

Gould, Sidney
C. |

Govan, Brian
F. |

Greco, Vincent
C. |
Green,
George C. |

Green,
Raymond A. |

Greenwood,
Harold M. |

Grentz,
Reginald J. |

Guatto, D. Al
|
Guile, Gerald
E. |

Guinta,
Francisco J. |
Gummer, Ernest
M. |
|
|
|
H

Halliday, Richard
G. |

Hanington,
Daniel L. |
Hardy, Kenneth
R. |

Harper,
Irvine L. |
Harris,
Edward |

Harris,
Kenneth H. |
Hart,
William E. |

Harwood,
John |

Hatter,
Marven K. |

Hawboldt,
Robert W. |

Hawrysh,
Frederick J. |

Hayes, William
P. |

Hearn, Thomas
C. |

Heittola,
Elmer J. |

Henshaw, William
S. |

Hill,
Donald J. |

Hill,
Edwin B. |

Himsl,
Francis |

Hodge, Clayton |

Hodge,
Frederick |
Hood, Donald
F.
|

Hornby,
Daniel I. |

Howard,
Eugene C. |

Hughes,
Robin L. |

Hunt,
George C. |

Hunt,
Ramsey L.
|

Hunter,
Donald F. |
Hunter,
Edgar R. |

Hunter,
Hubert J. |

Hurtubise,
Albert J. |
Hynes,
Charles C.
|
|
|
|
|
I
J

Jaeger,
Albert |

Jamer,
Dick |

Janson,
Frederick N. |

Janusas,
Edmund A. |

Jatiouk,
Donald M. |

Jellett,
John D. |

Jenkins,
Donald |

Jenson,
George A. |

Jobson,
Wilson F. |

Johnson, James
R. |
Jones,
Walter |
|
|
|
|
K

Keeler,
Anthony P. |

Keindel,
William |

Kerley,
Alfred H. |

Kidd,
Denzill |

Kidd,
Richard W. |

King,
Augustine R. |

King, Eric
T. |

Kingswell,
Albert E. |

Knapman,
Norman W. |

Knight,
Garnet L. |

Kuhn,
Fredric H. |

Kushner,
Francis J. |

Kyle, Ted |
|
|
L

Lacelle,
Ronald |

Lalonde,
Maurice J.A. |

Lambie,
Vincent F. |

Laming,
Carl D. |

Langman,
Donald G. |

LaRamée,
Laurent G. |

Large, J.
Donald |

Laurie,
Douglas T.L.
|

Laurie,
William F.S. |
Laverty, George |

Law, C.
Anthony F. |

Lawless,
James C. |

Learmonth,
Kenneth W. |

Lees,
Joseph C. |

Lesage, Marcel |

Light,
Charles E. |

Lilly, John
W. |

Lloyd, William
H. |
Lofgren,
Harry |

Logan,
John W. |

Lowe, John
A. |

Lowe,
John D. |

Lusk,
Gord |
Lynch,
John A.M. |

Lysens, P.
Paul |
Ma

MacArthur,
Archie |

Macaulay,
Colin M. |

MacCullough,
Harold A. |

MacEachern,
Allister J. |

MacGillivray,
Darroch N. |
MacKay,
Donald |

MacKay,
Donald A. |

MacKinnon,
Colin N. |

MacLean,
James A. |

MacLean,
Owen K, |
MacLean,
Ronald W. |

MacLellan,
Allan F. |

MacLeod,
Donald M. |
MacMillan G.
Ronald |

MacNeil,
John A. |

MacNeil,
Peter J. |

Malcolm,
Kenneth I. |

Maloney,
Gerald J. |

Mander,
Douglas N. |
Manifold, C.
Robin |

Manning,
Vivian C. |

Marcotte,
Grant W. |

Markle,
Howard W. |

Marlow,
Russell B. |

Marsden,
Ernest H. |

Marshall,
William J. |

Martin,
Charles R. |

Martin,
Michael A. |

Martin,
Sidney J. |

Mason, Eric B. |

Mason,
Stanley L. F.
|

Martel, Louis |

Mattatall,
Frank |

Matthews,
Russell T. |

Maxwell,
Donald E. |

Mayhew,
Milton M. |

Maze,
Richard M. |
|
|
|
Mc-Mu

McCue,
George A. |
McCulloch,
Paul L.S. |

McEwen,
Hugh |

McKenna, Peter J. |

McInnis,
Lloyd H. |

McLaughlin,
John E. |

McLean,
Alexander |

McMillin,
Andrew C. |

Mcmillan,
Gordon Ian |
McPhee,
Arthur D. |

McRae, Allan
R. |

McRobb,
James F. |

Mercure, R.
Roland |

Michalko, Orest
P. R. |
Miles,
George R. |

Miller,
Eugene V. |
Mitchell, Earl C. |

Mitchell,
Marvin E. |

Mitchell,
Stanley F. |

Moodie,
James D. |

Moore, Robert
J.
|

Morris,
Edward B. |

Muir, John |

Mulock,
Arthur F. |

Mulock, William
R.
|

Munro, Gordon
W.
|

Murphy,
Daniel J.
|

Murphy, Thomas
S. |
Murray,
Sherman E. |

Murray,
Wallace N.
|

Myers, Edgar
A.
|
|
|
|
|
N
O

O'Brien,
Jack L. |

O'Brien,
John C. |

O'Neill,
John D. |

O'Brien.
Joseph M. |

O'Quinn,
Michael T. |

Oivanen,
Gary L. |

Okros, Richard
D. |

Ormsbee, Charles
L. |

Oswald, Ian M. |

Owens,
Mick |

Oxholm,
Bendt A. O. |
|
|
|
|
P

Pace, Robert
T. |

Page, Michael
H.E. |

Palmer, Robert
T.W. |

Parfitt,
Edward S. |

Panteluk,
William |

Parsons,
William C. |

Pattenden,
John P. |
Patterson,
Merville J. |

Paul,
Lawrence A. |

Peebles, David
G. |

Peeling,
Donald A. |

Peters,
Delbert A. |

Petty,
Harold |

Picard, R.
Leonard M. |

Piers,
Desmond W. |

Pinnell,
Alfred O. |

Pippard,
Frederick A. |

Plant,
Gordon |

Plant, John F. |

Plant,
Robert |

Poirier,
Edmond J. |

Porter,
Henry A.
|

Potter,
Douglas |

Potvin,
Jean-Paul |

Powell, William
G. |
Preston,
Thomas P. |

Price,
Raymond F.
|
Pringle,
Gilbert J.
|

Publicover,
Donald S.
|

Pullen,
Thomas C.
|
R

Randall, Fred
C. |

Rayner,
Herbert S. |
Redden, C.
Aubrey |
Redden,
Gerald |

Rees,
John E. |
Reid,
John M. |
Richardson,
Harry H. |

Ring,
Gordon R. |

Roberts,
Ralph D. |

Roberts,
Trevor J.F. |

Robertson,
Ronald A. |

Rogers,
Eugene S. |

Ross, Sterling
M. |
Rowat,
Gordon L. |

Rowse,
Arthur W. |
Rumsam, Jack |
Ruppert,
George W. |

Ryan, David Hugh
P. |
|
|
Sa-Sh

Saleski,
George J. |

Salsiccioli,
Peter P. |
Salsman,
Melvin H. |

Sands,
Percy J. |
Saunders, Joseph
E. |

Sawyer,
Thomas A. |
Saxby, Arthur
E. |
Scanlon,
Thomas E. |

Schweier,
Oscar G. |

Schuckburgh,
Trevor C. |

Scott, Allan
E. |

Scott,
James E. |

Scougal,
Gordon J. |

Scribbans,
Angus M. |

Sharkey,
Roy M. |

Shaw, Colin
H. P. |

Shellinck,
Anton A. |

Shellnutt,
Ernest G. |

Sheppard,
Robert E. |

Sherwood,
Frederick C. |

Shimmin,
Robert A. |

Short, Gilbert
E. |

Short, Samuel |

Sircom,
George R.C. |

Sly, George A. |

Smart,
James P. |
|
|
|
|
Si-Sz

Sircom,
George R.C. |

Sly, George A. |

Smart,
James P. |

Smith,
Edward S. |

Smith,
Graham N. |

Smith,
Ralph L. |

Smith,
Robert N. G. |

Spicer, Robert |

Spiers,
Ernest |

Spiesz,
John-Henry |
Sproxton, John |
St.
Germain, Jean J.D |

Steinburg,
Noel |

Stephenson,
John F. |

Stiles,
Russell A. |

Stitt, Don
M. |
Stone,
George A.
|

Storrs,
Antony H. G. |

Strachan, Jack
H. |

Sunderland, Albert
E. |
Sutherland,
Bob |

Swan, Douglas
W. G.
|

Swansburg,
Robert H. |
|
|
T

Talbot,
Lyle R. |

Talbot,
William F. |

Tate, David
H. |

Taylor, James
L. |
Thibault,
Joseph T. L. |

Thomas,
Robert E. |
Thompson,
C. H. |

Thompson, Ross
E. |

Tisdall,
Ernest P. |
Tizard,
John |

Tobin, Bruce
T. G. |

Troy,
William T. B. |

Turnbull,
Douglas |

Turner, Allan
B. |

Turner,
Anthony N. |
Tweedie,
Tom |
|
|
|
|
V
W

Walter,
John B.L. |

Walton,
William J. |

Watson, Donald |

Watson, Jack
E. |

Watts, M.
Keith |

Weatherup,
James A. |
Webb,
Kenneth |
Weir,
David R.E. |

Wellman Marvin
C. |

Whitby,
John P. |

Whitby, Joseph
E. |

White,
Frederick A.W. |

White, Thomas
C. |
White,
William A. |

Whittaker,
Robert G. |

Wickson,
William F.
|

Williams,
William R. |

Williamson,
Albert C. |

Williamson,
Thomas R. |

Willson,
Robert A. |

Wilson, A. Howard |
Wilson,
James H.
|
Wilson,
Joseph F.
|

Wilson,
Wellington B. |

Winter,
Richard W. |
Witthoeft,
Karl A. |

Witwicki,
Stanley W.
|

Wood, James C.
|

Wooder, Frank
K. |
Woods,
Eugene |

Woolf,
Ronald |
Wyatt, William
C.
|
|
|
|
Y
Z
Former Crew Members
Abbott,
Harry - 1949-1950
Anderson,
Lyle (Andy) - 1949
Ashworth,
Michael
Ayres,
Harvey - 1950
Balfour,
Robert (Red), Cdr (E), RCN - as LCdr, RCN - 16 Jun 1947 (Stand by) /
as Cdr, RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Barlow,
Frank Ernest, Ord/Lt, RCN - 20 May 1950
Barritt,
Frank
Bartlett,
Richard (Dickie) Edward, A/LCdr (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn, CO
Bates,
Peter James, Wt/Wtr, RCN - 07 Apr 1948 Bird,
Henry John Gibb (Dickie), A/LCdr (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn, CO Bishop,
Boyd (Bish) - 1949-1950  Blakeney,
Gareth D. Booth,
Philip Sydney, Lt (TAS), RCN - 23 Jul 1948 Boulanger,
Gaston, AB - 1952 Bourque,
Charles Alfred, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn Braithwaite,
"Rick" - 1949  Brown,
Alan (Al) Charles, Lt (E) (A/E), RCN - 21 May 1948, 19 CAG Bruce,
Brill - 1949  Bryan,
Harry - 1950  Buchanan,
Ross (Buck) Budd,
Robert James (Bob) Burchell,
"Bulb", Commander, RCN - 1950  Burns,
John Martin Joseph, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn Bryne,
Albert (Abbie) John, Lt (P), RCN - 23 May 1948 Campbell,
John Glidden Starr (Rocky), Lt (E) (A/E), RCN - 16 Jul 1951 Cannon,
Bucky - 1949
Carlson,
"Ollie" - 1949-1950 
Carr,
Douglas, AB, Observer's Mate, RCN (of Chesterville, ON)
Case,
Charles, LSRT3, 19826H, RCN
Chance,
Peter Godwin Coade,
Paul - 1950  Considine
- 1961  Connolly,
Valentine Patrick Louis (Val), Surg LCdr, RCN - 27 Jul 1950 Copping,
"Cop" - 1949  Cooper,
Sidney G., Cdr (P), RN - 29 May 1950 Coryell,
John Warren, LCdr (L), RCN - 30 May 1949, Flight Deck Party Cribb,
John - 1949  Currie,
Graham - 1950  Dandeno,
"Dan" - 1949  Dickenson,
"Dick" - 1950  Donkin,
"Chas" - 1950 
Dowdall,
Francis (Frank) (Paco) - 1949
Dubuc,
Pierre (Pete), 35822-H, RCN - 1956
Dumaresq,
Selwyn (Buzz) Duncan,
"Dunc" - 1949  Easton,
"Red" - 1950  Elton,
Joseph William, Lt, RCN - 16 Jul 1951 Evans,
John Charles Hudson, A/Cd/Gnr - 24 Jun 1949 / A/Gnr - 25 Jun 1949 Failey,
William, AB, RCN (of Scarboro, ON) Foster,
Bob - 1950
|
Fredette,
Don - 1949
Frost,
Jim - 1950
Fry,
George - 1949
Gibson,
"Alice" - 1950
Gillespie,
Frederick Thomas, Cdr (L), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Gillis,
Harold George, Lt (E), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Guscott,
William E., PO
Guttorsom,
Baldur Franklin, LCdr (L), RCN - 16 Jul 1951
Harvie,
Jeffrey (Jeff) James (Jay Jay), Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn
Heard,
Huntley - 1950
Heath,
Ron, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn
Holden,
Jim - 1949
Hutcheson,
James Gordon Rodgers
Hutton,
Robert (Bob), Sig
Isaac,
Henry (Hank) Wightman, Lt (L) (A/R), RCN - 19 May 1948, 19 CAG
Janes,
Ralph G
Janicki,
Henry - 1949
Jarvis,
Carl - 1949-1950
Johnson,
James Harold, A/LCdr (E) (A/E), RCN - 19 Jun 1950
Johnston,
William (Bill) David Falconer, Lt (ND), RCN - 05 Jul 1948
Kings,
Dennis (Denny), Wt (A/E), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Kirkendale,
George, Wt (L), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Kynaston,
Bernie - 1949
LaPlante,
Jean-Guy - 1949
LaRue,
George Albert, LCdr, RCN - 07 Jun 1948
Lavack,
Robert (Robbie) Francis Joseph Ferdinand (Curt) (Kurt), Lt (P), RCN
- 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Lebert,
William - mid 1950s
Leclair,
Jim - 1949
Lewry,
John (Jack), Lt (O), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Long,
Charles, SLt (P), RCN (of Calgary) - 1955-56
Lyons,
Rodney (Rod) Albert, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn
Marshall
- 1961
Mathewson,
"Skip" - 1950
Mattatall,
"Bones" - 1949
McArthur,
"Mac" - 1949
McCartney,
D.
McIntosh,
Frank - 1952
McKay,
Robert Lewis, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn
McKelvie,
"Mac" - 1949
McLlelland,
"Mac" - 1950
McLure,
Donald, Cdr (S), RCN - 02 Jul 1951
Mecredy,
Harold C.
Mingo,
Leslie Stewart
Mitchell,
"Mitch" - 1950
Murphy,
Avard - 1949
Murphy,
Vincent John, Lt (P), RCN, 18 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Muschamp,
"Mus" - 1950
Nodwell
- 1949
Ouellet,
Guy - 1952
Pattison,
"Pat" - 1949
|
Patton,
Cyril (CY) George, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Peacock,
Douglas (Doug) Dennison, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Pelerine,
Andy - 1952
Piers,
Desmond (Debbie) William, Cdr, XO - 07 Apr 1948
Pipe,
Merv - 1949
Porter,
David, CPO1, RCN - 1953
Porter,
Edward Young, Cd/Wdm, RCN - 10 Jun 1950
Potter,
Victor Howard, 14360-H - 1949 - 1953
Power,
Jim - 1949
Pulfer,
Clarence James (Jimmy), Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn
Quirt,
Ronald (Dick) Earl, Lt (O), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn / 16 May 1949
Radburn,
John (Slip) - 1949-1950
Raeside,
Vaugh - 1949
Reed, John Curwen (Cocky), Cdr (L), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Renaude,
"Frenchy" - 1949
Reynolds,
"Gabby" - 1950
Riddell,
Robert McMillen, Cd/Rad, RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Robertson,
Donald Alexander, A/Int/Lt, RCN - 07 Jun 1948
Scarth,
George Alexander, LCdr, RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Shankland,
Leigh - 1956
Sheppard,
"Shep" - 1950
Shuttleworth,
Dennis Holt, Lt (E), RCN - 22 May 1950
Skelton,
Lt (O), Frederick Arnold (Bones) Skelton - 30 May 1949
Slater,
Frederick Gordon, Cdr (L), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Slocumb,
George Anthony, Cd/Wdm, RCN - 19 Jul 1948
Smith,
Torchy - 1952
Stevens,
John Clement, Lt (E), RCNVR - 31 Jul 1945 (Standby)
Stevens,
Warren Allison, Wt/Shpt, RCN - 05 Jul 1948 Stewart,
Norm
Sturgeon,
Clarence Alfred, Cd/Ord, RCN - 02 Jun 1948
Sullivan,
Gerald (Jerry)
Tasse,
Albert Clarke, Lt (S), RCN - 31 Jul 1950
Taylor -
1961
Taylor,
David Swanson, A/Gnr, RCN - 05 Jul 1948
Thompson,
Keith "Osmo", ABMO - 1956-1957
Watson,
"Doc" - 1949-1950
Webb,
Jack - 1949
Whitby,
John Patrick, Lt, (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 803 Sqn White,
Donald Ross, Cd/Com, RCN - 11 Jul 1949
Whyte,
Robert Roger, Lt (L), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Wilkinson,
Norman Leslie, Wt/Ord, RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Williams,
John Arthur, Inst/Slt, RCN - 03 Jul 1950
Winnett,
Henry (Harry) Albert, LCdr (E), RCN - 31 Jul 1946 (Stand by) / 07 Apr 1948
Wood,
Fritz - 1950
Wood,
Richard Frank, Lt, RCN - 30 Jun 151
Woods,
Alan John, Lt (P), RCN - 20 May 1948, 825 Sqn
Wright,
John Gern (Gerry), Lt (P), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Young,
Maxwell Boe, Wt (S), RCN - 07 Apr 1948
Young,
Ron, 31076-H, EM - Paying-off crew |
Photos
and Documents

DU001 |

DU002 |

DU003 |

DU004 |

DU005 |

DU006 |

DU007 |

DU008 |

DU009 |

DU010 |
This group of photos is believed to be of the
commissioning of HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Courtesy of David Upright

DA30 |

DA31 |
(DA30)
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT in Belfast - 1946
(DA31)
HMCS MAGNIFICENT - RCN photo
From
the collection of Daniel Armstrong, Sto
1c, RCNVR
Courtesy
of Shaun Wallace

photo 1 |

photo 2
|

photo 3 |

photo 4 |

photo 5 |
HMCS MAGNIFICENT during trials - 1948
(2) Launching a Fairey Firefly - May 1948. Neg
# RE81-338 (3) Neg # VR992.162.9 (4) Neg #
VR995.42.57 (5) Neg # VR995.42.60

Newspaper article on HMCS MAGNIFICENT running aground southwest of Halifax
The Belleville Intelligencer 06 Jun 1949
Source: Belleville Public
Library microfilm collection
Researched and complied
by: © John Lyons 2017

Articles on the Court Martial of HMCS
MAGNIFICENT'S Commanding Officer and Navigating Officer from when
she ran aground 04 Jun 1949
(1) Article from the Belleville Intelligencer
24 Jun 1949 (2) Article from the Belleville
Intelligencer 28 Jun 1949
(3) Article from the Belleville Intelligencer
29 Jun 1949 (4) Article from the Belleville
Intelligencer 30 Jun 1949
Source: the Belleville
Public Library Microfilm Collection
Researched and complied
by: © John Lyons 2017

DU014 |

DU015 |

DU016 |

DU017 |

DU018 |

DU019 |

DU020 |

DU021 |

DU022 |

DU023 |
Damage to HMCS MAGNIFICENT after running
aground near White Lodge Beacon 04 Jun 1949
Courtesy of David Upright

Article on HMCS MAGNIFICENT coming out of
dry dock after repairs from her grounding
Halifax Chronicle-Herald - either 12 or
13 Oct 1949
Research by / courtesy of George Newbury

DU024 |

DU025 |

DU026 |

DU027 |

DU028 |

DU029 |

DU030 |

DU031 |

DU032 |

DU033 |
Undated photos of some form of
celebration on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Courtesy of David Upright

DU037 |

DU038 |

DU039 |

DU040 |

DU041 |
(DU040) HMCS MAGNIFICENT in dry dock

DU042 |

DU043 |

DU044 |

DU045 |

DU046 |
(DU042) HMCS MAGNIFICENT arriving in
Halifax

DU047 |

DU048 |

DU049 |

DU050 |

DU051 |
(DU049-DU050) HMCS NOOTKA fueling from
HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1950 (DU051) HMCS HAIDA G63 fueling
from HMCS MAGNIFICENT

DU052 |

DU053 |
(DU052) HMCS HAIDA 215 fueling from HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Undated photos of, on, and from HMCS MAGNIFICENT and her crew
Courtesy of David Upright
"Prangs on the
Maggie" circa 1949


These photos show the dangers of landing on an aircraft
carrier
"I
spent 29 years in the RCN/CF with all of my sea time on MAGNIFICENT
and Bonaventure. I spent several months on Maggie
as the crane operator during flying stations. My crane was hit
twice on the same day and as a result I could no longer stay
in the crane during aircraft recovery but had to stay in a
position aft of the crane ready to operate it if necessary. To
my knowledge, I was the last crane operator on Maggie to
remain in the crane during recovery. I am not sure what the
policy was on Bonnie. The angled deck on Bonnie made it less
likely to be hit by an aircraft on recovery."
Submitted by Francis
Dowdall, RCN/CF,
Ret'd

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT CVL21
From the photo collection of Lt VS
Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)
Courtesy of Gerry Curry |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT with HMCS Haida passing astern. Photo
taken off Puerto Rico
From the collection of William Henshaw
Courtesy of Fred Appleton |

|
William Stuart Henshaw - served in HMCS MAGNIFICENT. Date and place of photo unknown
From the collection of William Henshaw
Courtesy of Fred Appleton |

|
Maggie Set To Sail East When Asked
Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Mon 26 Nov 1956
Researched by George Newbury |

|
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT carrying
Canadian army vehicles to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Egypt Source: Canadian War Museum George
Metcalf Archival Collection |

|
Stoker (Mascot) Standeasy, of HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Source: Maritime
Museum of BC
Image courtesy of CFB Esquimalt Naval
& Military Museum |
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT - 1951-1953

AM21
|

AM22
|

AM23
|

AM24
|

AM25
|
AM26
|
(AM21)
Frank Mattatal on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1949 (AM22) Smoker on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
- 14 Oct 1949 (AM23) MAGGIE Smoker - names on back of photo (AM24) HMS
VICTORY - 1950 (AM25) Archie
MacArthur on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1949 (AM26) Archie MacArthur and Frank Mattattal - 1949

AM27
|
AM28
|

AM29
|

AM30
|

AM31
|

AM32
|
(AM27)
Archie MacArthur on the flight bridge on HMCS MAGNIFICENT (AM28) Unidentified Tribal class
destroyer (AM29) HMCS IROQUOIS G89 coming alongside HMCS MAGNIFICENT to fuel - 1950
(AM30) A/C landing on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1949 (AM31) A/C aborting
landing (AM32) A/C about to crash in the ocean

AM33
|

AM34
|

AM35
|

AM36
|

AM37
|

AM38
|
(AM33)
Sea Fury crash on deck of HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1950 (AM34) Sea Fury crash
on deck of HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1950 (AM35) Lee Stewart on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1950 (AM36) HMCS NOOTKA R96 fueling from HMCS
MAGNIFICENT
- 1950 (AM37) Unknown destroyer fueling from HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
1951 (AM38) Portsmouth - 1951

AM39
|

AM40
|

AM41
|

AM42
|

AM43
|

AM44
|
(AM39)
Gibraltar. HMCS MICMAC 214 alongside - 1951 (AM40) Riviera -
1951 (AM41) Lee Stewart and Archie MacArthur - 1951 (AM42) Pompeii,
Italy - Archie MacArthur in middle (AM43) newspaper article on 1951 cruise
to Mediterranean (AM44) MacElvoy on HMCS MAGNIFICENT- date unknown
AM45
|

AM46
|

AM47
|

AM48
|

AM49
|

AM50
|
(AM15)
Entrance to Valetta, Malta (AM46) L-R: Chatterton, Archie MacArthur, Lee
Stewart, Len Keen on HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Malta (AM47) Len Keen (centre),
Malta (AM48) Valetta, Malta - 1951 (AM49) Valetta Harbour, Malta -
1951 (AM50)
Archie MacArthur, Lee Stewart, Chatterton in Malta

AM51
|

AM52
|
AM53
|

AM54
|

AM55
|
AM56
|
(AM51) Archie MacArthur in
Malta - 1951 (AM52)
Archie MacArthur in Malta - 1951 (AM53) Chatterton,
Keen and Archie MacArthur in Malta (AM54) Jack Chatterton, Malta -
1951 (AM55) HMS OCEAN and HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Malta - 1951
(AM56)
Location unknown - possibly Valetta, Malta
AM57
|
AM58
|
AM59
|
AM60
|
AM61
|
AM62
|
(AM57-AM58) Archie MacArthur in Athens - 1951
(AM59) Archie MacArthur in Southern
France - 1951 (AM60) Lee Stewart and Archie MacArthur in Athens - 1951
(AM61) Lee
Stewart on right (AM62) Possibly Stern on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
(AM63)
Len Keen (left) and Archie MacArthur (AM64) Len Keen (left) and Lee
Stewart (AM65) San Juan, Puerto Rico (AM66) Archie MacArthur
(left) and Rod Chandler, Grenada - 1953
From
the collection of CPO1 Archie
MacArthur, RCN Courtesy
of Colleen Coons
'
(RM32)
HMCS MAGNIFICENT - Welcome to USNAS QUONSET booklet - PDF file (RM33) HMCS
MAGNIFICENT Damage Control Training notes - PDF file (RM34) Invitation of a ship's
company dance for HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 27 Nov 1953 (RM35) Page from a
letter to Russell Matthews about a Radioman named McCann whose grandmother
had passed away (RM36) Communications duty watch 06 Nov
From the collection of Russell
Matthews, LSCR1, RCN
Deck operation on HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
dates unknown


From the
collection of John J. Cummins
Courtesy of Bill Cummins

|
An Avenger flying over HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
1950-53 time frame
The Avenger is still flying in western
USA, still wearing her RCN paint work
Photographer: unknown
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT with HMCS Micmac astern,
March/April 1951
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Petty Officers Williams on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
1952
From the collection of William R.
Williams
Courtesy of Brian Williams |

|
Victory Smiles
Newspaper article on crew of an Avenger
on HMCS MAGNIFICENT credited with a submarine "kill"
during EX MAINBRACE 1952
Halifax Mail-Star 06 Oct 1952
Research by / Courtesy of George Newbury
Aircrew in photo: LCdr Marc Favreau
of Ste Eustache, QC; Lt William Atkinson, of Winnipeg;
and AB Douglas Carr of Chesterville, ON. |


|
Petty Officer Williams with his son Brian
on HMCS MAGNIFICENT circa 1952-53
From the collection of William R.
Williams
Courtesy of Brian Williams |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT at the Coronation Fleet
Review, Spithead, U.K., 1953
From the collection of John Cummins
Courtesy of Bill Cummins |


|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, returning to Halifax from the 1953 Coronation
Fleet Review, in a North Atlantic gale - Jun 1953
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS
Micmac preparing to tow M.V. Gilbert Jr. - HMCS MAGNIFICENT standing off in the background
April
1951, I was bridge messenger in HMCS MAGNIFICENT, proceeding
south in Caribbean Sea. At first light, radar picked up
drifting Dominican coastal ferry the Gilbert Jr. which had
been drifting for several days - out of fuel, water &
food. The so-called engineer thought the Captain had fueled
vessel; the so-called Captain thought that the engineer had fueled. Our
escort, destroyer Micmac put crew, food & water aboard,
found 12 female passengers as well as a number of chickens and
two (horses??). Micmac took vessel in tow to nearest port
Curacao. We then proceeded east along Venezuelan coast to
Trinidad for R&R, rum ($1.00 a bottle) & coke. We had
been at sea for more than two weeks, time for a little run
ashore.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT, G-6 Mess - 1951
No
more space than a single car garage, we are sitting on the
boot lockers, lockers on opposite side of mess, nothing fancy
here, 20-25 men in mess. Note the hammock bar top of photo,
each loop indicates a mick, kind of cozy with full crew on
extended deployment. We are alongside in Halifax, ships
laundry shut down, until we return to sea, did our own laundry
in 10 gallon bucket with toilet plunger, some laundry seen top
of photo. Number of shipmates seen here are Newfoundlanders -
great guys to sail with. Few days later we were off to the
Mediterranean with full crew and many stops along the way.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
MAGNIFICENT at anchor off San Raphael,
French Riviera, fall, 1951
We
were operating with RN carrier HMS
Ocean, and French navy on NATO exercises in the
Mediterranean. Attached photo was taken by a French
professional photographer, apparently, shortly after we
anchored. Liberty boats can be seen alongside forward gangway
and proceeding towards shore. Around 2230-2300 returned to the
jetty after a run ashore in San Raphael & Nice, to wait
for the Liberty boats back aboard. There was a French civilian
flogging photographs to the Ocean Hands, telling them it was a
photo of Ocean, light was poor, and they were buying them. He
was down to his last photo when I took a look at it and could
see it was the MAGNIFICENT, Avengers on flight deck &
Maple Leaf on ships funnel. Realized it was a great
20”X12” colour tinted photo. Paid him remaining Francs I
had left. Frenchman didn't know one ship from the other.
Wonder what the Ocean hands did when they realized it was MAGNIFICENT. I had mine framed when home on leave.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
OSNQ Gerald (Jerry) Sullivan in Rome, Oct
1951
"I
was an A/B NQ (Not Qualified) on MAGNIFICENT at the time.
Later that day we had an audience with Pope Pius XII at his
summer residence."
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Boudro & Considine having a beer in
Rome Oct 1951
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Oct,
1951 - MAGNIFICENT & Micmac alongside in Naples, ships
companies travelled to Rome by train on a tour and audience
with Pope Pius XII. Late in the day, before retuning to Naples
we had dinner in a 1st, class Italian restaurant, Chianti was
plentiful, as fast as bottles emptied they were replaced. Ken
Book on right I`m on left, Boots Boudro next to Book.
In
photo, L-R: Jerry Sullivan, unknown, unknown, Boots Boudro and
Ken Book.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
"Hands
ashore on Capri, toured the island in a Rolls Royce taxi,
visited Gracie Fields, villa & had couple of drinks at her
bar. Interesting times!!"
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
"Abandon Ship!"
Crew of HMCS MAGNIFICENT go for a swim
off Greece in 1952 after Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten (seen
in the photo to right) orders "Abandon Ship!"
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan
(See RCN
Memories - Abandon Ship!! for the full story behind
the photo) |

|
Admiral
Lord Louis Mountbatten, Commander of the RN Mediterranean
Fleet, boards HMCS MAGNIFICENT, July 1952
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Marven Karl Hatter (right) HMCS MAGNIFICENT
and unknown friend on left - date and place
unknown.
Source: Obituary
for Marven Hatter |

|
Some of HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S crew at
Norfolk, Va, 1953
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Audience with Pope Pius X II at his
summer residence Castle Gandolfo attended by members of the
ship's company
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan
(See RCN Memories - An
Audience with the Pope) |


HMCS MAGNIFICENT & HMCS MICMAC
Mediterranean Cruise - 1951
(1)
Album cover (2) HMCS MAGNIFICENT and HMS OCEAN, Malta
(3) HMCS MAGNIFICENT entering Naples Italy (4) Sight-seeing in
Naples (5) Gibraltar - Photo taken from HMCS MAGNIFICENT
(6) Mount Vesuvius as seen from Naples Harbour - Photo take from
HMCS MAGNIFICENT (7) Ruins of Pompei, Italy (8)
Capri (9) Capri (10) "Marine Grande",
Capri (11) Unknown place in the Mediterranean (12)
Unknown place in the Mediterranean (13) Valetta,
Malta (14) Halfar, Malta - 1951
From the collection of Eugene Miller
Courtesy of Rene Miller

|
Sunday Divisions on HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
1951. Barbados Police Band in attendance
From the collection of C.
Aubrey Redden, CPO1, RCN
Courtesy of Sherri Redden |


|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT off the volcanic island
of Stromboli in 1952
MAGNIFICENT
sailed from Halifax 2nd June 1952, working with Royal Navy in
the Mediterranean, it was now August and we were leaving Malta
for a NATO deployment with US Navy in Denmark & Norway,
operating as far north as North Cape. All hands were aboard,
sea boats inboard & secure, when the Captain K.L. Dyer
announced on the loud hailer that a movie had been made a
short time ago in the Tyrrhenian Sea on the volcanic island of
Stromboli, and there had been some fooling around with the
actress Ingrid Bergman, and director Roberto Rossellini. And
as this ship had never traversed the Strait of Messina, we
were going to have a look. Special Sea Duty Men close up,
close all X & Y doors, we are off. Through the Strait of
Messina, circled Sicily and proceeded to Gibraltar.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
40 mm gun crew of HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
Spring 1951 in the Caribbean Sea
Bernard (Bernie) Dubois loading
ammunition, Gerald (Jerry) Sullivan to his immediate right is
supplying the ammo.
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT with HMS Ocean astern
with the Dghaisa boats waiting ferry crew members out to the
ships - 1951
There
were not too many ports where we go that we could go
alongside, ship would go to a buoy or anchor. Ship's boats
provided some means of getting ashore, space was limited, so
there were delays in crew getting ashore. If working with the
US Navy they had some liberty boats, small landing craft that
would get us back aboard. In other ports, the ship would
arrange with boats ashore that we could use. Anchored off
Istanbul, the ferry that plied the Bosphorus between Europe
and Asia would drop us off at the ship. But, without a doubt
the best port for getting ashore was Grand Harbour, Valetta,
Malta. The ship secured to a buoy and we could use the
civilian Dghaisa, loosely pronounced (Dicer). Two or three
hung around the gangway waiting for a hand going ashore;
others waiting at the jetty until about 2300. If you missed
all means of getting back aboard, one could swim; a couple of
hands did, or you could put your head down at the Iron Duke,
or Dreadnaught a couple of doors down. (see photo below
right) Nothing fancy; a half a crown. Wakey-wakey at 0530.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT entering Grand Harbour,
Malta - 1951
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT entering Grand Harbour,
Malta - 1951
Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw
Note: Un-cropped version of the photo
immediately above, though faded. |

|
HMS Ocean and HMCS MAGNIFICENT (right) - Malta
From the collection of LS.NS Robert Brown
Courtesy of Gordon Brown |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT and HMS Ocean in Malta - 1951
From the collection of Thomas
H. Chandler, C1EM3, RCN
Courtesy of Mike Chandler |

|
Five Chief Petty Officer on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1951
1st on right CPO Thomas H. Chandler
From the collection of Thomas
H. Chandler, C1EM3, RCN
Courtesy of Mike Chandler |

|
USS Wasp, moored Valletta, Malta
Aug 1952. HMCS MAGNIFICENT is coming around to port
to a buoy astern of Wasp. Note the aircraft on deck of the
Wasp - Douglas Skyraiders, F4U Corsairs, Banshee Jets. I had
never seen that many aircraft in one place before. Shortly
after our arrival a Pipe was made inviting any hands to supper
aboard Wasp. We had sailed from Halifax 02 Jun 1952, so by this
time we were being victualed by the RN. An invitation to
dinner aboard Wasp was too good to pass up. We were eating
kippers for breakfast, yellow spuds and at some point goats
milk. The following day it was Torchy Smith's birthday - the
cooks baked a cake and later we took over a Valletta bar for a
“few” wets. US Marines joined us,
as well as a Wasp hand.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Torchy Smith's birthday, Malta, Aug
1952 - Torchy Smith is in the back row 4th from left
The
ship's baker baked a cake. Jerry Sullivan - top right of photo
with Marine cap, USN Swabbie from USS Wasp, CV 18 Marines USS
Rolette AKA 99. All other Matelots are Maggie`s Air Branch,
recognize any?? Bugs Lane, McIntosh ??
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Torchy Smith's Birthday, Malta, Aug
1952
Torchy Smith is on the right in the front
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT at Navarino - 1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Iron Duke Lodge House, with the
Dreadnought two buildings to the right
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Lifebuoy sentry on HMCS MAGNIFICENT circa
1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Map of HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S Jun-Oct 1952
Deployment
From the collection of William R.
Williams
Courtesy of Brian Williams |

Poem written about 871 Sqn on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Courtesy of John Crawford - whose father served
in Maggie in 1952
|
Near
the end of the Jun-Oct 1952 Deployment, HMCS MAGNIFICENT stopped at
Belfast, Ireland, to bring aboard a Hawker Sea Hawk, and a pilot,
Frank Murphy, to transport back to Canada for Arctic test
flights. After departing Belfast for the trip to Halifax, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT took part in Exercise Emigrant, a North Atlantic convoy
exercise. This exercise was cut short a couple days due to extreme
weather conditions and HMCS MAGNIFICENT arrived in Halifax on 10 Oct
1952. Below is the letter the Frank Murphy wrote to his wife after
arrival at Halifax.

Courtesy
of Angela Bailey
Click
here to see Angela Bailey's photo gallery of some of her father's
photos |

|
RN
Hawker Sea Hawk on HMCS MAGNIFICENT in Sydenham Airport, just
outside of Belfast, Ireland. We were transporting them back to Canada for cold
weather testing at Cold Lake Alberta
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
"The Rat Patrol"
G-6 Mess members, (L-R) Taylor, Marshall,
Considine, Sullivan at Gibraltar, 1961
See the story in RCN Memories - The
Rat Patrol |

|
US Navy blimp landing on HMCS MAGNIFICENT, May, 1952
In
May 1952, off the Virginia coast, a US Navy blimp landed
aboard MAGNIFICENT. Apparently this was the first landing of
air ship aboard carrier “underway”. I was in starboard
side gun sponson, opposite the blimp. The roar of those Pratt
& Whitney engines was deafening. The craft was tethered by
cordage through snatch blocks, Hands standing by with fire
axes top chop lines if necessary. It did not stick around too
long, the pilot had problems controlling aircraft.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
US Navy Blimp landing on HMCS MAGNIFICENT, May, 1952
Courtesy of Dave Upright |

|
Maggie's electrician enjoying a beer at
the PX in Guantanamo Bay - Nov 1949
(L-R)
Harry Abbott, Frank Dowdall, Bucky Cannon, ‘Bish’ Bishop,
Jack (John) Sproxton and Don Fredette
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Funeral service on board HMCS MAGNIFICENT
for Lt. Peever - 18 Feb 1950
Lt. Peever was killed while making a free
launch in a Firefly enroute to Charleston SC
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |
Special Service Squadron Cruise
- 1950
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, HMCS HURON,
HMCS MICMAC

SSS01 |

SSS02 |
SSS03 |

SSS04 |

SSS05 |
|

SSS06 |
SSS07 |

SSS08 |
|
(SSS01)
Special Service Squadron certificate - courtesy of John Hawley
(SSS02) Postcard showing the Canadian Special Service
Squadron Cruise - courtesy of Francis Dowdall (SSS03) HMCS
HURON with HMCS MICMAC (outboard) at the Langeline pier, Copenhagen.
The Trekroner seafort is visible in the background on the right -
from the collection of Reg (Smokey)
Rhymes - courtesy of Gordon Rhymes. Location identification by
Erling Baldorf (SSS04) HMCS Huron and HMCS Micmac arriving in
Amsterdam, Oct 11, 1950 - courtesy of Erling Baldorf (SSS05)
Article on the 1950 Special Service Squadron deployment from the
Crowsnest magazine - courtesy of Erling Baldorf (SSS06) HMCS MAGNIFICENT
in Rotterdam during the Canadian Special
Service Squadron Cruise - courtesy of Dennis Cardy
(SSS07-SSS08) HMCS MAGNIFICENT, flagship of the CSSS, visits
Copenhagen; the largest warship to do so - courtesy of Erling
Baldorf |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT Summer Cruise 1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
"Maggie's crash crew ham it up"
- June 1952
(L-R) Frank Dowdall, Bob (Suds)
Sutherland, Dick Jamer and Mick Owens
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Working on Maggie's flight deck in rough
weather - 1953
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Working on Maggie's flight deck in rough
weather - 1953
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
"No Right turns allowed on flight
deck allowed"
Fairey Firefly crash on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - 1951
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Photo of the Hotel-Restaurant Bar de la
Paix - 1951
Click
here to read the story behind the photo in RCN Memories
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |


|
MAGNIFICENT
& Micmac sailed for the Caribbean in March 1951, April
found us in Port of Spain. We had entered the Gulf of Paria
via Dragon`s Mouth Strait and were alongside astern of a CPR
cruise ship. Ashore we visited Dirty Jim`s Swizzle Club, rum
was one Trinidad dollar a bottle, bottle of coke was extra. No
doubt you are familiar with the Andrew Sisters, Rum & Coca
Cola!! Couple of us took a taxi up into the hills to Isaac
Terrace Recreation Club, where mother and daughter were still
working for the Yankee dollar. Couple of days there and we
were pulled off the jetty, proceeding towards the Strait when
we were overtaken by a Trinidad Port Police boat, seems one of
our Petty Officers was distracted while ashore, damn near
missed us. Defaulter next morning, commander will be
interested in his “yarn”.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT visiting Havana, Cuba
- Mar 1950
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |
 |
Some of the crew from HMCS MAGNIFICENT ashore in Cuba
From the collection of Donald Lory
Stuart Lory |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Rotterdam, Mar 1950
"A
group of us were on a catamaran waiting to go ashore and catch
a bus to Nijmegen War Cemetery when a canal barge narrowly
missed us and hit the Captains Barge. I am not sure if it
actually hit the Maggie. At any rate, it was the end of our
bus tour."
Courtesy
of Francis Dowdall |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Gibraltar, 06 Nov 1950
Offloading
a sailor with appendicitis to a hospital in Gibraltar with the
ships crane. Frank Dowdall was the crane operator
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Lieutenant
Commander Anthony (Tony) Law, DSO, Official War Artist, on
HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S flight deck in 1952. As a MTB
Commander he saw action in the English Channel 1942 with
Battle cruiser Scharnhorst & Gneisenau. One of the finest
men I had the privilege to serve with. He held art classes
with crew interested, one seen here with painting. I won the
painting in a draw; never managed to leave ship with it; a
yarn for another day.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |


|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT in a North Atlantic gale
- 1951
Click
here to read the story behind the photos in RCN Memories -
"A Gale of a Time"
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
The Great Imposter - Ferdinand Waldo
Demara
Click
here to read to story behind the photo in RCN Memories -
"The Great Imposter
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
September/October
1953 Exercise Mariner, somewhere near Denmark Strait. USN
Oiler Elokomin, fueling HMCS MAGNIFICENT, AV gas forward, oil
aft
"I
was Gunners Yeoman, one of my duties was putting line across
to begin transfer, bronze rod fired from 303. Elokomin fueled
us again, 10 – 12 days later, at 2359. Both ships steaming
under blackout conditions. We did it, don't recall how."
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |


|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Friday Rounds, Best
Mess - M29 Mess, Bermuda, Nov 1949
Front Row (L-R) Cmdr Boulton,
"Ollie" Carlson, Jack Webb, Commodore Adams, George
Fry, "Dan" Dandeno
2nd
Row (L-R) "Andy" Anderson, Frank Dowdall, John
Cribb, Jim Leclair, Jim Power, "Pat" Pattison, Brill
Bruce, "Frenchy" Renaude, Nodwell, Jean-Guy LaPlante,
Carl Jarvis
3rd
Row (L-R) Vaugn Raeside, "Cop" Copping,
"Mac" McKelvie, "Bones" Mattatall,
"Mac" McArthur, John Radburn, Merv Pipe, Jim Glover,
"Doc" Watson
4th
Row (L-R) Bernie Kynaston, Avard Murphy, "Dunc"
Duncan, Henry Janicki, Jim Holden, "Rick"
Braithwaite, Orville Boicey
2 guys in rear-right (L-R)
"Don" Fredette, Jack (John) Sproxton
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Then - 1949 and Now - 2011
The
top photo is cropped from Best Mess photo, Bermuda, Nov 1949.
The young sailors are Lyal Anderson, Frank Dowdall, Vaughn
Raeside and Jack Cribb. I have kept in touch with these
three former messmates for 60 + years and in Sep 2011 my
wife and I flew to Vancouver to have our own reunion. The
bottom photo shows the four of us in the same positions left
to right as in the original photo taken in 1949.
Courtesy
of Francis Dowdall |


|
Souvenir from the Benelux Restaurant,
London,1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT departing Halifax to sea
circa 1952
Pier 21 ahead to starboard
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Piccadilly
Commandos - Frank McIntosh (left), Jerry Sullivan (Right),
Benelux, London Piccadilly 1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Three
matelots in English Pub May 1952 - (L-R) Jerry Sullivan, TAS
Rate and Andy Pelerine. It was Jerry's 23 birthday
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
(L-R) Jerry Sullivan, Publican and her
Spanish bar maid.
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT, 1952, Exercise Mainbrace - MAGNIFICENT was
anchored out in Firth of Forth Scotland, off Queensferry. I
went ashore; took bus into Edinburgh and stopped for a pint in
Pub.
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Friday Rounds, Best
Mess - circa 1950
Kneeling in Front (L-R) -
"Andy" Anderson, Frank "Paco" Dowdall
Front
Row (L-R) "Skip" Mathewson, Carl Jarvis,
"Doc" Watson, Commodore Adams, Commander
"Bulb" Burchell, Commander Boulton, "Chas"
Donkin, "Slip" Radburn, "Gabby" Reynolds,
Fritz Wood
2nd
Row (L-R) - "Cop" Copping, "Mitch"
Mitchell, Paul Coade, "Alice" Gibson, Graham Currie,
"Mus" Muschamp, Harry Abbott, "Shep"
Sheppard, Keith Watts, Harvey Ayres, "Dick"
Dickenson, Jean Guy LaPlante, "Red" Easton
3rd
Row (L-R) - Jack (John) Sproxton, Vaughn Raeside, Huntley
Heard, "Mac" McLlelland, Jim Frost, Boyd Bishop,
"Ollie" Carlson, Harry Bryan, Bob Foster
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
A Douglas Skyraider, piloted by Ensign
Estler, USN, preparing for takeoff from HMCS MAGNIFICENT.
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
Ensign
Estler, USN being presented a ship's plaque from HMCS MAGNIFICENT
by Commander (Air) Abrams, senior air officer
aboard the Maggie, just prior to his take off after his
unplanned visit to HMCS MAGNIFICENT.
In
September 1953 MAGNIFICENT, Wasp and Bennington were part of a
carrier force taking part in Exercise Mariner. The fleet was
transiting one of the most treacherous areas involving the
combination of the Labrador Current, Greenland Current and
Gulf Stream. At some point off Cape Farewell en route to
Iceland 42 aircraft from the three carriers were caught in a
dense fog covering the whole area, they could not get back
aboard. They were in the air circling for hours attempting to
get back aboard, at one point one of our Avengers pilots
spotted through the fog a large area of deck, he was making
his approach when he realized it was the quarter deck of USS
Iowa. The aircraft had been in the air for hours, running out
of fuel, it was decided the carries would steam abreast,
aircraft pass overhead and ditch near a USN submarine, Redfin,
boats crews from carriers would attempt to pick up aircrew, I
was in # 1 sea boat, turned out and lowered ready to drop into
a sea running around 12 feet. As the aircraft approach from
astern we suddenly came into an open area of sea; it was
getting dark by this time but visibility was good. The Douglas
Skyraider was close to us and came aboard, taxiing forward his
engine stalled, as he was out of gas. The pilot Ensign Estler
USN was delighted to learn MAGNIFICENT had three bars aboard -
Happy Hour during the night. I seem to recall he was aboard a
couple of days due to “sloppy” weather. A member of our
Mess had a connection with a steward in Ward Room, managed to
get us a bottle of scotch. The aircraft were just aboard when
the fog rolled back in, also darkness, close call!!
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan
After
the landing: While Ensign Estler was imbibing in the
officer's mess, about 10 of us from the deck crew went up to
the flight deck that night and proceeded to paint his aircraft
in various colours with slogans like, "For Sale
$1.98," "Wrong way, Corrigan." "Yankee Go
Home! etc. etc. The next morning Commander (Air) was totally
ticked off and ordered a bunch of us to clean up the aircraft
with varsol. However, the incident obviously had an impression
because he arranged for the "Maple Leaf" and
"Maggie" logo to be stencilled inside the white
American star. Hence the photo. An addendum to this story came
years later from an American airframe tech in the USN. He
stated that this particular aircraft, the Douglas Skyraider,
eventually made it's way to Vietnam in an air-to-ground
support role, which is quite dangerous by the way because of
intense ground fire while flying at very low levels. This
aircraft completed hundreds of sorties and went through the
Vietnam war without a scratch. The "Maple Leaf" and
"Maggie" paint job was faithfully maintained
throughout, because they believed it was a lucky charm logo.
Courtesy
of ABAC Bill "Bibs" Farley RCNAS 1951 - 1956
A bit more of the
story: US Mail was painted on it and
also the prop blades were painted yellow. The aircraft was in
the hanger when I observed the art work. We heard that Estler
was OK with the graffiti, just remove the yellow paint from
the prop blades. Interesting Times !!!
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS
Quebec off the Starboard bow of HMCS MAGNIFICENT near Iceland,
1953
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
(L-R) Frank McIntosh,
unknown, Gerald Sullivan.
Three
of HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S hands at the Porch of the Maidens,
Acropolis, Athens, Greece, 1952
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |


|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S Christmas day menu for
1949
Courtesy of Francis Dowdall |

|
Royal
Navy Fairey Firefly taking off from MAGNIFICENT. Note how high
the tail is off deck - this pilot knew what he was doing
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT CVL21 alongside Sydenham,
Ireland in 1948
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan
"We
would walk across runways to catch bus into Belfast proper.
Astern of MAGNIFICENT, right of photo are Harland & Wolff
shipyards. A number of times when ashore in Belfast, having a
pint or two, we would be approached by older workers from the
yards that had help build MAGNIFICENT, and they would buy us a
pint. Those certainly were interesting times!!" |

|
Admiral Nelson's HMS Victory
Photo taken during HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S visit to Portsmouth in 1951
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS
MAGNIFICENT leaving Portsmouth, England, 1951
"MAGNIFICENT
is just out into the stream proceeding to sea. HMS Victory can
be seen in a dry dock ashore. Had a very interesting tour of
Victory. In those days of sail, it certainly was wooden ships
and iron men. I believe the carrier alongside (in the
foreground of the photo) is HMS Indomitable."
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |
OM’s Course nineteen…
I'm thinking back to fifty-nine,
Observer's Mates nineteen.
I hoped to wear those wings so fine,
those wings you need not preen.
At any cost, with fingers crossed, I
hoped to make the grade.
There’s something new to learn about,
and flight pay; rightly paid.
A bunch of men from different trades,
were gathered in the cinema,
And what's in store, would be no bore;
but rather, an enigma.
So while we wait, contemplate our fate,
we’re looking at the screen,
at Yankee planes that crash in flames,
some faces turned quite-green.
I'm thinking it’s their likely ploy,
for separating man from boy.
Some they'd lose, and some they’ll
choose; those that they would employ.
As luck would have it, from force of
habit, I answered honestly.
I hoped I’d passed, be accepted fast,
to that great fraternity.
It seems I did, found myself amid, a
class with eleven others,
My life it changed, was rearranged, when
I joined that “Band of Brothers.”
I spout no guff, the course was tough,
‘twas not an easy road,
for me; when I found; I had to pound,
that bloody Morse’s code.
I persevered, and even cheered, with
those wings on my left cuff,
wore them with a pride I couldn’t hide,
eventually sure enough,
at eight-eighty fixed wing, I did my
thing, and then to “ H.S. fifty”
When I got my hand in, I got to land on,
those bouncing seaborne aeries.
Author: John Thompson
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT entering Saint John, NB,
June 1953
We
returned from Coronation, air groups ashore, all reservists
getting sea time on a “Jammy” deployment ashore and home. MAGNIFICENT
was going into dry dock for hull inspection.
Remaining Hands granted two weeks annual leave. Problem
getting into dock and getting gangway in place, time running
out for Hands to catch trains. Dock yard rigged bucket to get
them ashore. We had some very talented people aboard and a
sketch was done by one of them. (See picture below, left)
Courtesy
of Gerald Sullivan |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT being manoeuvered into
dry dock at Saint John, NB - Jun 1953
Courtesy of Luc Normand |

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT in dry dock at Saint
John, NB |

|
Cartoon
of the crane set up used to get crew from the MAGNIFICENT onboard and ashore during her refit at Saint John, NB in 1953
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |

|
May
of 1952, MAGNIFICENT is being pulled off Jetty Four by the use
of aircraft engines (Avengers). Apparently it was a method
used by US Navy. What a hell of noise involved, engines full
out to do the job. It did to some degree, never used again
while I was in MAGNIFICENT.
Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan |
 |
Flight deck crew on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - date unknown
Courtesy of Michael Wellman |
 |
Air crew (maybe) on HMCS MAGNIFICENT .... event unknown
Courtesy of Michael Wellman |
HMCS MAGNIFICENT transiting the Panama
Canal Oct 1954
Courtesy of Michael Wellman
|

|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT arriving at Victoria, BC
- 1954
From the collection of Francis Walsh
Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe |
Aircraft prang on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - date
unknown
Courtesy of Michael Wellman
|
(1)
Larry Zbitnew climbing in to a Firefly (2) A/Slt Larry Zbitnew on the flight deck of
HMCS MAGNIFICENT, Jun 1955 (3) Flight deck of HMCS MAGNIFICENT
(4) HMCS MAGNIFICENT (5)
Sikorski Helo RCN 221 landing on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
From the collection of LCdr Larry Zbitnew,
RCN
Courtesy of Dennis Cardy |
|
Chief
Petty Officer Robert (Bob) James Budd (left), and Petty
Officer Ron Woolf (right), service this AN/APS-4 radar aboard
HMCS MAGNIFICENT during NATO exercise New Broom IV on October
10, 1955. (Photo by R. Orell. DND/PAC/PA-136584)
Source: Jerry Procs family of
web pages |
|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Original source unknown
From the collection of
Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster
Courtesy of Cathy Robinson |
(GK03) Albany Pub, England, Apr 1954 - L-R: LSEM
Beaudry (of Saint John, NB), ABEM Knight (of Orillia, ON), ABEM Patterson
(of Verdun, QC), and LSEM Moore (of Toronto, ON) (GK04) Garnet Knight
on the gun sponson on HMCS MAGNIFICENT - Sep 1954 (GK05) HMCS MAGNIFICENT
- Ship's program 04 Sep - 07 Dec 1955
(GK06) HMCS
MAGNIFICENT, Trondheim, Norway 03 Oct 1955 (GK07) On 29 Oct 1955, HMCS
MAGNIFICENT, while enroute from Rotterdam to Gibraltar, conducted a memorial
service at sea for those lost in the sinking of HMCS ATHABASKAN G07 on 29
Apr 1944 (GK08)
Sailors from HMCS MAGNIFICENT ashore in Barcelona, Spain 06 Nov 1955 - L-R:
Boyde Anderson (of Sydney, NS), Blaize MacKenzie (of Antigonish, NS), Don
Ferris (of Windsor, ON) and Garnet Knight (or Orillia, ON) - (GK09) Sailors
from HMCS MAGNIFICENT throwing coins into a fountain - location
unknown (GK10) HMCS MAGNIFICENT conducting RAS with unknown AOR - date
unknown
(GK11) Divisions on the flight deck of HMCS
MAGNIFICENT enroute to Cairo, Egypt during the Suez crisis (GK12) Army equipment
on HMCS MAGNIFICENT being off-loaded in Port Said, Egypt. Note the UN
flag and UN berets on the small craft in the foreground. (GK13) On the
occasion of the paying-off of HMCS MAGNIFICENT in 1957 (GK14) Message
from LCdr R.M. Greene, CO of HMCS Sault Ste Marie and Commander of the 11th
Canadian Escort Squadron (CANCORTON 11) to the ships of CANCORTON 11
after a successful deployment

GK15 |

GK16 |
(GK15)
Telegram received by Garnet Knight's parents after he was admitted to the
RCN Hospital at HMCS Stadacona after ingesting drinks spiked with duplicating
machine fluid - methyl alcohol - 23 Jan 1955 (GK16) Second telegram 24 hours later
informing his parents he was removed from the seriously ill list - 24 Jan
1955
(GK17-GK21) Newspaper articles from 1955 on the incident where 47 sailors from HMCS
MAGNIFICENT were hospitalized after having drinks spiked with methyl alcohol
- definitely not the Navy's finest hour.
(GK22)
Article on HMCS MAGNIFICENT departing Halifax for European deployment - 2
Sep 1955 (GK23) Article mentioning 2 of HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S sailors -
AB William Failey and SLT (P) Charles Long (GK24) Article on HMCS MAGNIFICENT
departing Halifax for a European deployment - Toronto Daily
Star, Friday, 02 Sep 1955 (GK25) HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S sailing schedule -
Spring Cruise 27 Feb - 07 May 1956

GK25 |

GK26 |
(GK26)
AB Knight's joining card for HMCS MAGNIFICENT (GK27) Stores Pass to allow AB.EM Knight to take a carton
of duty free cigarettes out of the dockyard - dated 15 May 1957
From the collection of Garnet
Knight, LS, RCN
Courtesy of Garnet Knight
|
|
Tom Pollard (Pilot), OBS Michail Lowe and
Nav Bob McNish in front of Grumman Avenger 308 on HMCS MAGNIFICENT, 15 Dec 1956.
Click
here to read the back of the photo
From the collection of Mike Lowe
Courtesy of Clint Gilbank |
|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT
Source: CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military
Museum
From the collection of
Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster
Courtesy of Cathy Robinson |
(LP02) HMCS
MAGNIFICENT with HMCS MICMAC
214 astern - circa Mar/Apr 1951 (DND/RCN photo) (LP03) LCdr Leonard
Picard signing out books to 2 ratings from the library on HMCS MAGNIFICENT -
Feb 1956 (LP04-LP05) Newspaper articles on HMCS MAGNIFICENT preparing
for UN mission to Egypt during the Suez crisis
(LP06)
Article on HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S send-off from Halifax for Egypt during the
Suez crisis (LP07) HMCS MAGNIFICENT unloads equipment at Port Said,
Egypt (LP08) LCdr Leonard Picard on a camel while in Egypt -
1957 (LP09) LCdr Leonard Picard (right) with two fellow officers off
HMCS MAGNIFICENT by the pyramids in Egypt - 1957 (LP10) Article on
MAGGIE'S big storm after her return from Egypt - with a stop in Glasgow,
Scotland to pick up 50 Sabre jet aircraft and bring them to Canada.
From the collection of LCdr
R. Leonard M. Picard, RCN
Courtesy of Penny Glencross
|
|
The Last Sunset
Cdr William Bremner salutes as the White
Ensign is lowered at sunset on HMCS MAGNIFICENT for the final
time.
Cdr Bremner was the CO of MAGNIFICENT during the paying off period in Portsmouth
Source: CROWSNEST Magazine, Sep 1957 |
|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT - Captain's Rounds -
date unknown
H-8 mess - Best Mess
From the collection of Maurice (Moe)
Lalonde
Courtesy of Marc Lalonde |
|
HMCS MAGNIFICENT |

(left) some of the Maggie's flight deck
crew - John F. (Bud) Plant standing, first on left
(right) A not so gentle landing that almost
took out John Plant and his brother Robert Plant who were both
flight deck crew on the Maggie
From the collection of John Plant
Courtesy of James Plant |
HOME PAGE SHIP INDEX
CONTACT
|