HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 / 197

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 

 

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

 

Laid down: 01 Oct 1941

Launched: 25 Jun 1941

Commissioned: 04 Dec 1941

Paid off: 06 Nov 1945

Re-acquired by RCN: 1951

Paid off: 29 Nov 1957

Transferred to the Turkish Navy: 29 Nov 1957

Paid off: 1963

Fate: Unknown

 

Built at Montreal, she was commissioned there on 04 Dec 1941. She arrived at Halifax on 13 Dec 1941 and was allocated to WLEF and then, in Jun 1942, to Sydney Force. In Jan 1943, she returned to WLEF but was transferred to Halifax Force in Jun 1943, and there remained until May 1944, apart from a brief absence from Nov to Dec 1943, when she was lent to Newfoundland Force. In May 1944, she returned to Sydney Force until Jan 1945, when she was transferred to Newfoundland Force until VE-Day. She was thereafter employed at miscellaneous duties on the Atlantic coast until 06 Nov 1945, when she was paid off at Halifax and laid up at Shelburne. In 1946 MEDICINE HAT was placed at strategic reserve at Sorel until re-acquired in 1951 and taken to  Sydney. She remained in Sydney until she was transferred to the Turkish Navy on 29 Nov 1957. Re-named Biga, she remained in service until 1963.

 

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt J. Bevan, RCNR - 04 Dec 1941 - 01 May 1943

Lt John Edisforth Heward, RCNVR - 02 May 1943 - 20 Dec 1943

Lt A.A.R. Dykes, RCNR - 21 Dec 1943 - 10 Jan 1944

Lt John Edisforth Heward, RCNVR - 11 Jan 1944 - 28 Aug 1944

Lt R.J. Keelan, RCNVR - 29 Aug 1944 - 07 May 1945

Lt Kenneth Guy Clark, RCNVR - 08 May 1945 - 11 Jun 1945

Cdr Alexander McAllister McLarnon, RCNR - 12 Jun 1945 - 18 Jul 1945

Lt William Rodney Aylwin, RCNVR - 19 Jul 1945 - 06 Nov 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Anthony, B., L/Sig - 1944

 

Bain, Ian Donald James, Coder - 1943-1944

 

Baines, G., L/Tel - 1944

 

Baker, James Dewy, Cd (E), RCNR - 23 Jun 1942

 

Belair, Paul, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1943

 

Bell, George Alfred (Dinger), Sto 

 

Bergen, B., Sto 1c - 1944

 

Blackwood, M., ERA - 1944

 

Borsellino, Joseph (Joe), AB - 1944

 

Bray, F., SPO - 1944

 

Brooks, S., AB - 1944

 

Burns, M., LS - 1944

 

Campbell, Robert Lane, SLt (E), RCNVR - 26 May 1943

 

Carnall, F., Sig - Feb 1944 - till the end of the war.

 

Cashato, T., Sto 1c - 1944

 

Chandler, M., Cox'n - 1944

 

Cooke, A., SBA - 1944

 

Cox, C., OS - 1944

 

Crawford, B., OS - 1944

 

Dansereau, Joseph Julian Bernard, SLt, RCNVR / Lt - 1944

 

Dilley, Walter Charles, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Downing, H., SPO - 1944

 

Dresser, J, LS - 1944

 

Elliot, J., SA - 1944

 

Farrell, J., LS - 1944

 

Fitzgerald, P., L/Sto - 1944

 

Forrest, J., AB - 1944

 

Ginter, R., Tel - 1944

 

Graham, Adam Henry, Lt (E), RCNVR - 02 May 1944

Hart, C., LS - 1944

 

Hartz, A., AB - 1944

 

Hillgartner, Harry Leonard, SLt (E), RCNVR - 04 Apr 1945

 

Hinchey, D., AB - 1944

 

Humphries, Donald Garth, SLt, RCNVR - 17 Jul 1944

 

Hutchings, Frank Goddard, Mate, RCNR - 03 Mar 1942

 

Johnson, George, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

 

Johnson, Kenneth Lorne, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1943

 

Johnson, S., AB - 1944

 

Kennedy, J., A/EA 4c - 1944

 

Laing, W., Sto 1c - 1944

 

Laurin, W., Sto 1c - 1944

 

LeBlanc, J., SPO - 1944

 

Little, R., OS - 1944

 

Little, W., SPO - 1944

 

MacLachlan, Henry Drake, SLt, RCNVR - 27 Mar 1943 / Lt - 1944

 

Madigan, F., Coder - 1944

 

Mallett, Jacques, Lt, RCNVR - 01 Feb 1943

 

Mann, R., LS - 1944

 

Mayer, E., L/Cook - 1944

 

McConnell, W., L/Sto - 1944

 

McIntyre, G., AB - 1944

 

McLane, R., Coder - 1944

 

McMillan, Norman McLeod, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Feb 1944

 

Mills, D., L/Stwd - 1944

 

Mills, W., Tel - 1944

 

Mitchell, John Douglas, Lt (E), RCNVR - 01 Jul 1943

 

Montgomery, Edward Wilfred, Lt (E), RCNVR - Jan 1945

Moore, Charles Edward, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

 

Moynihan, V., Sig - 1944

 

Nelligan, W., SPO - 1944

 

Nicolson, M., Sto 2c - 1944

 

Nower, B., Sto 1c - 1944

 

Piercey, H., LS - 1944

 

Pleasance, Ernest Stanley Nelson, Ch/Skpr, RCNR - 25 Mar 1942

 

Quinn, E., SPO - 1944

 

Reeves, A., AB - 1944

 

Solkoski, S., ERA - 1944

 

Spears, O., ERA - 1944

 

Steel, G., Cook - 1944

 

Steele, R., Sto 1c - 1944

 

Sutherland, H., AB - 1944

 

Sutherland, R., AB - 1944

 

Taylor, F., Sto 1c

 

Thomas, G., AB - 1944

 

Wagg, F., CPO - 1944

 

Warren, J., OS - 1944

 

Wells, W., L/Sto - 1944

 

Whitefield, S., LS - 1944

 

William, Franklyn Victor, Skpr, RCNR - 03 May 1945

 

Wilmot, J., Sig - 1944

 

Uebell, J., Stwd - 1944

 

Ukrainetz, W. O/Tel - 1944

 

Upton, C.W., CERA - 1944

 

Zaharuk, P., Sto 2c - 1944

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the photo collection of Gerald (Jerry) Cox, RCNVR

Courtesy of Sean Cox

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the collection of Roy T. Cardy

Photographer: Roy T. Cardy

Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the collection of John Edisforth Heward

Courtesy of Roger Heward

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the collection of John C. Orr

Courtesy of John P. Orr

Looking astern at the wake of HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

 From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

3-Inch gun mount on HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

 

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 iced up - either winter 43/44 or 44/45

 

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

(1) Starboard side looking forward towards gun mount and fo'c's'le  (2) Fo'c's'le looking after towards gun and bridge  (3) Starboard side looking after towards depth charge throwers

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

 

 

 Surrendered U-190 at sea.  Photos taken from HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

 

Webmaster's note:  Info that came with the photo indicates it is U-190, however, the number on the sail of the submarine starts with a "N" which indicates its an allied submarine not a German U-boat

Signalman Fred Carnall of HMCS MEDICINE HAT, on the deck of U-190 in St. John's, NFLD, May 1945

Courtesy of Chris Carnall

 

U-190 alongside HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256, St. John's, NFLD, May 1945

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

 

Bringing in cod fish that were "caught" with depth charges

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

Diver coming out of the water after working on the screw of HMCS MEDICINE HAT

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover

 

 

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