HMCS ORILLIA K119

Flower Class Corvette

Commissioned 25 Nov 1940, at Collingwood, she arrived at Halifax on 11 Dec 1940 for completion and was assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force until 23 May 1941. ORILLIA sailed that day for St. John's to become one of the seven charter members of the NEF, and for the balance of the year escorted convoys between St. John's and Iceland. In Sep 1941, she was escort to convoy SC.42, which lost 18 ships. She arrived at Halifax 24 Dec 1941 for a refit, upon completion of which on 22 Mar 1942, she joined EG C-1, leaving St. John's 02 Apr 1942 with SC.77 for Londonderry. On her arrival she was sent to Tobermory for three weeks' workups, then returned to the "Newfie-Derry" run until Jan 1944. ORILLIA took part in major battles around convoys SC.94, which lost 11 ships in Aug 1942 and ON.137 in Oct 1942, which lost only 2 ships despite being heavily attacked. She was a member of EG C-2 from Nov 1942 to May 1944, when she joined EG C-4 following two months' refit at Liverpool, N.S. She left Londonderry for the last time on 16 Jan 1944, to commence a long refit, again at Liverpool, which included the lengthening of her fo'c's'le. This refit was completed on 03 May 1944, but further repairs were completed at Halifax late in Jun 1944. She arrived in Bermuda on 29 Jun 1944 for three weeks' workups, on her return joining EG W-2, Western Escort Force, for the duration of the war. Paid off on 02 Jul 1945, at Sorel, she was broken up at Steel Co. of Canada, Hamilton, Ont., in Jan 1951.

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

Battle for Convoy HX-133

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

EPSTEIN, Irving

AB, RCNVR

Died - 12 Dec 1942

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(ORL001) HMCS ORILLIA at the Collingwood shipyard after launching  //  Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

(ORL002) HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

(ORL003 - ORL004)  HMCS ORILLIA K119 after her refit when she got her extended fo'c's'le  //  Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

(ORL005) HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  the photo looks like the camera was moved just as the picture was taken, but her gunshield art - the ORILLIA Gorilla is still discernable  //  From the collection of Robert Macklem  //  Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

(ORL006) HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  RCN Photo  //  Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe

(ORL007) HMCS ORILLIA K119 at sea 24 May 1941  //  Source: Ontario Public Library Digital Archives  //  Credit: Public Archives, Canada. DND REN 0-693A

(ORL008) HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  From the collection of George Rose, Sig, Royal Navy  //  Courtesy of David Rose

(ORL009) Ralph Moxley (left) and L/Ck Bruce Laing on HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  Ralph Moxley's was drafted to Orillia 02 Nov 1941as a RDF Operator. The Early radars were a little temperamental -- the Orillia's RDF unit operated fine when the ship was in harbour at St. John's but once the ship was on the open sea it ceased to function. ORILLIA's second cook had been taken ashore ill in St. John's so until the RDF could be repaired, Ralph was assigned duty as the assistant cook.  //  From the collection of Lt W. Ralph Moxley, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Robert Moxley

(ORL010) John R. Wilson on HMCS ORILLIA K119 - location unknown  // From the collection of John R. Wilson, Able Seaman, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Jeff Bobbie

(ORL011) Three corvettes tied up alongside in St. John's Newfoundland - note Signal Hill in the background  //  Date unknown - inboard ship is dressed  //  Photo taken from HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  From the collection of John R. Wilson, Able Seaman, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Jeff Bobbie

(ORL012) Unknown Wren (from ORILLIA, Ontario) greeted by Skpr-Lt Sharpe on HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  Note: she is also in the wedding photos in ORL013  //  From the collection of John Sharpe  //  Courtesy Scott Miniou

(ORL013) Wedding onboard HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  According to the memoirs of LCdr John Sharpe this was the first wedding conducted onboard a ship of the RCN  //  From the collection of John Sharpe  // Courtesy Scott Miniou

(WL01) "ORILLIA Gang" - J. "Frame", Wilson, Ranton, Sheddon, Kennedy, Belmore, F. Stratton, C. Clarke. Taken Sunday, 11 May 1941

(WL02) "Doing Jetty Time" - Baker (foreground), L. Williams (background)

(WL03) "On the boat deck after divisions" - Backrow L-R: L. Williams, J. Willson, J. Sheldon, E. Rivers Front row L-R: J. “Frame” (France??), Mattews, D. Baker - HMCS ORILLIA 11 May 1941

(WL04) William K. Littlefair on HMCS ORILLIA

(WL05) William K. Littlefair on HMCS ORILLIA

From the collection of William Kenneth Littlefair, PO Tel, RCNVR

Courtesy of Bill Littlefair