HMCS MIDDLESEX J328

Algerine Class Minesweeper

Courtesy of Frederic Salter and Robbie Robertson

HMCS MIDDLESEX J328

From the photo collection of Ian Ross

Courtesy of David Ross

Battle honours and awards: Atlantic 1944-45

Laid down: 29 Sep 1942

Launched: 27 May 1943 (Poss 22 Jul 1943)

Commissioned: 08 Jun 1944

Paid off: 1945

Re-commissioned: Mar 1946

Grounded: 02 Dec 1946 - declared a total loss. Broken up en situ.

MIDDLESEX was commissioned at Port Arthur on 08 Jun 1944, arrived at Halifax in mid-July and sailed for Bermuda in Aug 1944 to work up. Assigned to EG W-3 of Western Force, she joined the group in New York on 30 Aug 1944, direct from Bermuda. MIDDLESEX was principally engaged as southern local escort to U.K.-bound convoys out of New York. She was Senior Officer's ship from mid-Nov 1944, until the force was disbanded in Jun 1945, whereupon she refitted at Halifax and was placed in maintenance reserve there. In Mar 1946, she returned to service as emergency ship at Halifax. On 02 Dec 1946, en route to assist the fishing vessel Ohio, she ran ashore on Half Island Point, near Halifax. Her crew escaped unharmed. She was declared a total loss.

Photos and Documents

Commanding Officers

Lt Walter James Piercy, RCNR - 08 Jun 1944 - 05 Jan 1946

Lt James Butterfield, RCNR - 06 Jan 1946 - 15 Jan 1946

LCdr Breen Philip Young, MBE, RCN - 16 Jan 1946 - unk

A/Lt Harry Shorten, RCN(R) - 07 Mar 1946 - 02 Dec 1946

In memory of those who have crossed the bar