HMCS MARGAREE H49

 

D - Class Destroyer (RN)

 

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

 


 

HMS Diana H49

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1940

 

 

Laid down: 12 Jun 1931

Launched: 16 Jun 1932

Commissioned: 21 Dec 1932

Transferred to RCN: 06 Sep 1940

Commissioned: 06 Sep 1940

Sunk: 22 Oct 1940 after a collision with the freighter Port Fairy

 

Commissioned on 21 Dec 1932 as HMS DIANA, she was serving on the China Station when the war broke out, and transferred to the Mediterranean for a short time before returning to Britain to join the Home Fleet. In May 1940, she took part briefly in the Norwegian campaign and in mid-Jul 1940 commenced refit at Albert Docks, London. There she was transferred to the RCN to replace the lost FRASER, commissioning as MARGAREE on 06 Sep 1940. On 20 Oct 1940 she left Londonderry for Canada with a five-ship convoy, OL.8, and two days later was lost in collision with the freighter Port Fairy. 143 of her ship's company were lost, 86 of them survivors of Fraser.

 

The British flagged Port Fairy was a refrigerated ship built in 1928 and weighed 8,337 gross registered tons. Here next port of call was Bermuda, at which she called in November, 1940, landing the six officers and 28 enlisted men which she had rescued from the stern portion of HMCS Margaree before it sank. Men were either killed outright on the forward section or survived intact on the aft section. Two men perished whilst climbing up the side of the rescuing Port Fairy when they fell and were crushed between the ships. The survivors rescued by Port Fairy were returned to Canada by November 13th. Four of the surviving officers became rear admirals or commodores, and the Port Fairy survived the war.1

 


 

Photos and Documents

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Cdr Joseph Wilton Rouer Roy, RCN - 06 Sep 1940 - 22 Oct 1940

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

AKAM, Thomas

CERA, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

AMYES, Alfred William Bratton

E.A. 4c, 21606, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ARCHER, George

CPO, 2556, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ARMSTRONG, Arthur Webster

Tel, 2235, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ARNOTT, Robert Sydney

LS, 2639, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

AULENBACK, George Vallellie

AB, 2966, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BAKER, Owen Charles

AB, A1795, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BAKER, Thomas Morley

AB, 3265, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BARROW, Israel

Sto PO, 41077, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BEATTIE, William Ironside

AB, V17026, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BEAUCAMP, Gerald Joseph C.

AB, 2807, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BINGHAM, Edward John B.

CPO, 1998, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BOILEAU, Joseph Phileas L.

OS, 3496, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BOUTET, Charles Henri

OS, 3340, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BREBBER, John Grant

L/Sto, 21501, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BROCKWAY, Harold T.

A/L/Sto, P/K 66783, RN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

BURNETT, John Henry

Sto, 21619, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CALDER, William Allen

LS, 2482, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CAMPBELL, Donald Leslie

AB, 3086, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CANDY, Alexander Aylett

LS, 2516, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CANN, Malcolm Angus

AB, A1717, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CARSE, James Gilbert

Sto, 21680, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CARTER, Victor Edward

LS, 2818, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CHEDISTER, Ward Donald

LS, 2661, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CLARKE, Ralph Leslie

Tel, 2824, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

COLE, John W.

Sig, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CONWAY, Leo Charles

AB, V2215, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CORBIN, William Harold

PO, 2531, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

COXON, Thomas

AB, 2838, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CRANE, Alan Creighton

ERA 4c, 21550, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

CUNNINGHAM, Edward Arnott

AB, 2934, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

DAY, Stanley Gordon

L/VA, 40513, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

DICKENS, Alex James William

OS, V9575, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

DOMEIER, Eric Curt

AB, 3173, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

DONALDSON, William

LS, 2816, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

EDWARDS, Norman W.

OS, V6372, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ESTABROOKS, Vernon Williams

AB, 2870, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FEAREY, Charles Edgar

OS, 3251, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FENERTY, Morris St. G.

POTel, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FERGUSON, Robert Scott

OS, 3239, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FLEMING, Ronald Joseph

VA, V25157, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FRANCIS, James Augustine

Ck(S), A938, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FRANKHAM, David George

AB, 3313, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FRAYER, Donald Lauren

AB, 2809, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FROST, Lawrence Valentine

AB, A1777, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

FULLER, Raymond Harold

AB, 3273, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

GILL, John Henry

OA 4c, 40657, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

GOLDSMITH, William Edward

AB, 3180, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

GRAY, Harold Frederick

Sto, V248, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

GUTTRIDGE, Neville Howard

Sto PO, 21314, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HANCOCK, Sydney Clarence

PO, 2622, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HARRINGTON, Edgar

Sto 2c, 21680, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HARTLEY, Ernest Ovila

Sto 1c, V5395, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HARVEY, William James

AB, 3021, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HEALE, Renfred Charles

AB, 2689, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HEAN, John Davies

 L/Sig, 2278, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HENDERSON, James M.

Sig, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HEYCOCK, Selwyn Reese

AB, 3283, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HOLLAND, James Robert

Sig, 2882, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HOLLOWAY, Arthur George

Ck(S), 40487, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HOPPER, Jack Herbert

Sto 1c, 21763, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

HUOT, Robert

L/Ck(O), 40443, RCN

killed - 07 Sep 1940

JAINES, George F.

A/L/Sto, P/KX 88543, RN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

JONES, Ackland Hubert

OS, 3421, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

JONES, Alfred Ernest

OS, 3422, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

KEEPING, Robert

AB, A1178, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

KELLY, James George

ERA 3c, 21390, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

KIRKWOOD, Thomas Andrews

OS, 3499, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

KYLE, Kenneth Harvey

AB, 3182, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LAAK, Mike

LS, V13193, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LAMB, Thomas Henry

ERA 4c, 21552, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LANGHAM, Edward M.

A/L/Sto, P/KX 56315, RN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LEGAULT, Marcel

Sto 1c, 21416, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LEMIEUX, Joseph Edward

Sto PO, DSM, BEM, 21248, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LEWIS, Bernard Arthur

Cd Gnr, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

LINDSAY, James

Sto PO, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MACDOUGALL, Gordon Willard

Shpt 4c, 40667, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MACKIE, Ronald

AB, 3263, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MARA, John Joseph

PO, 2489, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MARTIN, Jean Marie

L/Sto, 21407, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MARTIN, Merle Garnet

Ck(S), V25198, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MARTIN, Sidney Francis

PO Ck(S), 40406, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MATTHEWS, Thomas H.

AB, 3136, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MAYNARD, William Henry

Stwd, A826, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCALISTER, William James

AB, 3389, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCCONNELL, James Clifford

S.B.A., V6389, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCILDOON, Edward

LS, 2819, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCKINNON, Desmond Scott

Ch Sto, 21202, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCLUSKIE, William Richard

VA, V25209, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCMURTRY, Alexander Eric

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MCTAGGART, David Alexander

Tel, 2710, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MEADOWS, Charles Blackburn

Tel, 3012, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MILLAR, James Ralph

OS, 3475, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MILLER, James Bertram

AB, 2592, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MILLS, Frederick J.

OS, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MOORE, Ronald Joseph

AB, V273, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MUNRO, Gordon Whitney

LS, 2995, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MURRAY, Wallace Haig

Sto 1c, 21569, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

MYLREA, Russell Edward

Sto 2c, 21597, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

NORRIS, Cyril Anthony

Tel, 2686, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

OLSON, Clarence Joseph

OS, 3326, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

OLSON, Ole Adrian

Sto 1c, 21555, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

OVERY, Ernest Kenneth

Sto PO, 21344, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

PEGNEM, John Charles

PO Instructor, 3227, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

PENNEY, Selby Jack

AB, A991, RCNR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

PETTS, Clifford

LS, V7403, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

PONDER, Harold Russell

AB, 3632, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

POPE, Rufus Campbell

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

POWELL, Stephen B

OS, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

READING, William Joseph

Sig, 3634, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

REID, Robert Benzie

OA 4c, 21639, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ROBERTSON, William Dalton

Sto, 21566, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ROWE, Frederick Edward

LS, 2719, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ROWSE, Edward Grant

LS, 2926, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

ROY, Joseph Wilton Rouer

Cdr, RCN, Commanding Officer

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SANDERS, Leslie

AB, 3494, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SIMPKIN, Donald Harry

L/VA, 40525, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SKINNER, Edward Lomas

AB, 3306, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITH, Cedric De Herries

L/Sig, 2533, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITH, George Burnett

EA 4c, V5469, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITH, Gordon Elsworth

AB, V3220, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITH, Robert

AB, 3317, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITH, Robert Borden

OS, V266, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SMITHSON, David Baker

AB, 3279, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

SNOWSELL, Ernest Walter

AB, 3308, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

STANDING, Thomas

LS, 2415, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

STARK, Horace G.

Tel, V6408, RCNVR

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

STEPHENS, Richard Henry

Sto 1c, V5387, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

TODOS, William

AB, 3398, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

UNDERWOOD, John Comber

AB, 3072, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

VENNE, Joseph Raoul Georges

VA, 40502, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WALKER, William

L/Sto, 21275, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WATKINS, Harry

Sig, 3031, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WEBB, Horace Merle

LS, 2822, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WEBB, Valentine Gordon

Sto PO, 21195, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WEISER, Lincoln Edward

Sto, 21672, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WHEELER, Victor Spencer

AB, 3268, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WIGHT, Allan E.

Sto, 40555, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WILLIAMS, Robert J.

AB, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WILLIS, Daniel Curtis

AB, 3175, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WILSON, Charles McNeil

PO, 2371, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WILSON, George Reynolds

ERA 4c, 25041, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

WOOD, Stanley Edmondson

AB, 3094, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

YOUNG, Alfred

AB, 3007, RCN

MPK - 22 Oct 1940

 

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

(s) - Survived the sinking of HMCS MARGAREE on 22 Oct 1940

 

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Frederick Edward Rowe - MPK 22 Oct 1940 when HMCS Margaree was sunk

From the collection of Jean Martin

Courtesy of Jean Martin via Vignettes of Reta

Letter received by Reta Rowe about the loss of her husband when HMCS Margaree H60 was sunk

From the collection of Jean Martin

Courtesy of Jean Martin via Vignettes of Reta

Newspaper clipping on PO John Mara's MPK 22 Oct 1940 when HMCS Margaree was sunk

Hamilton Spectator, October 29, 1940

Newspaper article on 3 Margaree survivors and two casualties from the Toronto area

Newspaper article on the loss of HMCS Margaree H49

The Daily Colonist, Victoria, BC, 29 Oct 1940

 

Note: AB Francis Millan is listed as one of those lost in the sinking of HMCS Margaree, however, AB Millan did not sail with Margaree and was later reported safe in England.

Photos of MARGAREE crew members from all parts of Canada - Missing and Survivors

MARGAREE Casualties and Survivors from the Toronto area

 


 

HMCS MARGAREE survivors return home

 

           

 

Article 1:  Lt William Landymore,  Cd Eng E.J. Sawdy,  Surg-Lt T.B. McLean

Article 2:  Stanley Medding

Article 3: AB Doug Watson

Article 4: Stoker Harold Hart

Article 5:  Leading Seaman Harry Leggett,  ERA Allan C. Kent

Articles courtesy of "Operation Picture Me"

 


 

The H.M.C.S. Margaree

 

The poem below - The HMCS Margaree - was written by the brother of a sailor lost when HMCS Margaree was sunk on 22 Oct 1940.  The sailor, identified only as Gus, survived the sinking of Fraser, only to be lost on the Margaree.

 

Of those lost on the Margaree, there are two possibilities as to whom the poem may be about ....  

 

Robert Scott Ferguson - Robert joined the RCN in 1938 as a Boy seaman, age 17. He survived sinking of Fraser. He had one brother David Pollock Ferguson.

 

James Augustine Francis.  James joined the RCNR on 21 Oct 1939, age 20.  He survived sinking of Fraser. He had 3 brothers, Henry, Lonell and Lloyd Francis.

 

Based on the poem I'm leaning toward James Augustine Francis as the subject of the poem - and hope one day to confirm.

 

The H.M.C.S. Margaree

 

It happened back in thirty-nine

When I left to do my part,

To join the active service force

To fight with all my heart.

 

My brother shortly after this

Did join the R.C.N.

And landed aboard the Frasher

With a jolly bunch of men

 

It seems she was a hardluck ship,

And just why it had to be,

Hardluck and misfortune did follow her

When ere she put to sea.

 

They patrolled the South Atlantic

They patrolled off Britain's shore,

But allas my darling brother

He shall patrol no more.

 

The Frasher was rammed off Dunkirk

And sank without a trace

He had a narrow escape there

And was saved by Gods kind grace.

 

They lost all their belongings

And everything they wore

And were lucky to escape disaster

And be landed on Britain's shore

 

A new ship then commissioned

And proudly put to sea

Twas on this ship he gave his life

On the ill-fated Margaree

 

Coming home on convoy duty

Guarding Britain's ships out there

That never knew that in the dark

Lurked danger everywhere.

 

Then out of the fog and darkness,

A strange hulk came into view

Too late to avoid the accident

As she cut the Margaree in two.

 

Now brother Gus was one of the many

Who their life for England gave,

And now sleeps beneath the Atlantic

In a dark, unknown grave.

 

Now All who read this story

And who fight for liberty

Offer up a kindly prayer

For the men of the Margaree.

 

A jinx ship she was christened

And such she had to be

And twas a very sad ending did come

for the H.M.C.S Margaree

 

Author Unknown

The H.M.C.S. Margaree

Author unknown

 

From the collection of Murray Flewelling, SPO, RCNVR

 

 

 

 

Click on the above pages to read the original poem

 


 

Footnotes:  (1) - Info on MV Port Fairy and her rescue of the officers and men from HMCS Margaree is from the research of Capt. Eric T. Wiberg, Esq

 


 

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