For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 

 

HMCS PORT ARTHUR K233

 

Flower Class Corvette

 

 

HMCS Port Arthur K233

 

Laid down: 28 Apr 1941

Launched: 18 Sep 1941

Commissioned: 26 May 1942

Paid off: 11 Jul 1945

Fate: Broken up at Hamilton, Ont., in 1948

 

Built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Port Arthur, Ont., she was commissioned on 26 May 1942 at Montreal. She arrived at Halifax on 10 Jun 1942 and was allocated to WLEF at the end of Jul 1942. In Sep 1942 she was appointed to Operation "Torch" duties, arriving at Londonderry on 01 Nov 1942 from convoy SC.105, and during the next four months escorted U.K.-Mediterranean convoys. On 19 Jan 1943, while so employed, Port Arthur sank the Italian submarine Tritone off Bougie, Algeria. She arrived at Halifax on 23 Mar 1943, and, after brief repairs there, joined Western Support Force at St. John's. On 01 May 1943, her CO, Lt E.T. Simmons, was awarded the DSO. Early in Aug 1943 she began a major refit at Liverpool, N.S., completing on 31 Dec 1943. After working up at Halifax, she joined EG W-9, WEF. In Apr 1944, she was assigned to Western Approaches Command for invasion duties and left St. John's on 24 Apr 1944 for Londonderry. During the following four months she was occupied as a convoy escort in support of the invasion, and in September joined Portsmouth Command. In Feb 1945, she returned to Canada, where VE-Day found her still under refit at Liverpool, N.S. She was paid off 11 Jul 1945 at Sorel and broken up at Hamilton in 1948.

 

Submarines Sunk:  Italian Sub Tritone sunk on 19 Jan 1943 by HMCS Port Arthur off Bougie, Algeria

 

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          Looking Astern, "Port Arthur" Bags a U-boat

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt Edward Theodore Simmons, DSC, RCNVR - 26 May 1942 - 08 Jul 1943

 

A/LCdr Kenneth Taylor Chisholm, RCNVR - 09 Jul 1943 - 11 Jul 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

(R72) - name from 1972 crew reunion letter

 

Ableson, Gord, Stoker (R72)

 

Adams, Dave, Seaman (R72)

 

Allard, Bernie, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Allen, Leslie, Stoker (of either Windsor or Sarnia, ON) (R72)

 

Astle, Grant, Seaman (of Metix Beach, QC) (R72)

 

Bagnell, Jack, Seaman (R72)

 

Bain, Hugh,, L/Sig (of Toronto, ON. Moved to Philadelphia) (R72)

 

Batchelor, Ron, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Beazley, George, Stoker (R72)

 

Bendick, Irwin, Seaman (R72)

 

Bennett, Russell, ERA (R72)

 

Boileau, Armand, Seaman (R72)

 

Boyer, Gerry, AB.SD (R72)

 

Brady, Terrence, ERA (R72)

 

Brennan, Gerald, Seaman (of Ottawa, ON) (R72)

 

Brooks, Charles, Comm Rate (R72)

 

Brooks, Ernest, Stoker (R72)

 

Brooks, Tom, Seaman, R72)

 

Brooks, Vic (Mother), Stoker (R72)

 

Budden, Grant (Comm Rate) (R72)

 

Burns, Harvey Douglas, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Caron, Gunnery Rating (from QC) (R72)

 

Chalmers, Charles (Chuck), Seaman (R72)

 

Cherry, William Edward (Ted), A/Lt, RCNVR - 20 Apr 1944 (R72)

 

Chisholm, Ken, Lt, RCNVR (R72)

 

Clegg, Rosey, Stoker (R72)

 

Collins, Murray, Seaman (R72)

 

Connoy, Louis, Cook (R72)

 

Contant, Victor Seaman (of Fort William, ON) (R72)

 

Cowan, Peter Robert, SLt, RCNVR - 25 Apr 1942 / 26 May 1942 / 03 Apr 1943

 

Crone, Jim, SD (R72)

 

Cross, Vernon, Stoker (of Nelson, BC) (R72)

 

Davis, John Malcolm Bancroft, SLt, RCNVR - 01 May 1945

 

DeMerchant, Millie, Stoker (R72)

 

Dionne, Stwd (R72)

 

Donovan, Les, ERA (R72)

 

Duncan, Bob, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Durston, Wilf, ERA (R72)

 

Eagles, Jim, Stoker (R72)

 

Elliott, Harry, Stoker (R72)

 

Fitzpatrick, Glen, Gunner (of Fort William, ON) (R72)

Fleming, Leo, Seaman (of Moncton or Fredericton, NB) (R72)

 

French, Bev, Seaman (R72)

 

Gallagher, John, Stwd (poss from Smiths Falls, ON) (R72)

 

Garbet, John

 

Gelinas, Denis, VA (of Montreal, QC) (R72)

 

Gerrard, Gerald, Seaman (of Prince Albert, SK) (R72)

 

Gothard, Harry, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Harkness, John, Seaman (R72)

 

Hesp, Bob, Comm Rate (R72)

 

Hill, Jimmie, Cook (of Montreal, QC, later Windsor, ON) (R72)

 

Hoar, Lyle Robert, Lt, RCNVR (Stand by) / 26 May 1942

 

Hoban, Jim, Radar (R72)

 

Holub, John, Cook (poss from Saskatoon, SK) (R72)

 

Ince, William

 

Jackson, Lorne, Seaman (R72)

 

Jennings, Davidson Cumming, Lt (E), RCNVR - 25 Feb 1944

 

Johns, Gerald, VA (of Vancouver, BC) (R72)

 

Johnston, Mike, Gunnery Rating (R72)

 

Kempton, Russ, SBA (R72)

 

Kilbank, Sidney Charles, Lt, RCNVR - 24 May 1945

 

Kirk, John

 

Labbe, Roger, Seaman (R72)

 

Lambert, Joseph

 

LeBer, Stan, SD (R72)

 

Leger, George, SD (R72)

 

Lees, Reg, Stoker (R72)

 

Lindsay, Gordon, Stoker (of Toronto, ON) (R72)

 

Lohnes, Roy, Seaman (R72)

 

MacDonald, Don, Electrical Branch (R72)

 

MacDonnell, Joe, Radar (of Peterborough, ON) (R72)

 

Malysheff, Andy, Seaman (R72)

 

Mathieson, Andrew Fraser, A/Wt (E), RCNR - 14 May 1942

 

McFaden, John, Radar (of Port Colborne, ON) (R72)

 

McIntyre, Roy, Stoker (R72)

 

McLaren, Dave (officer) (R72)

 

McLean, Donald, OS.SD (R72)

 

McLennan, Angus, Seaman (R72)

 

McLellan, Bob, ERA (R72)

 

McLeod, Jack, ERA (poss from Sudbury, ON) (R72)

 

McMenamon, Jim, Stoker (R72)

 

McNeill, Bruce, Seaman (of St. Thomas or Leamington, ON) (R72)

 

Miller, George Scott, Lt, RCNVR - 30 Jul 1944

Mitchell, Blyth Alexander, SLt, RCNR - 29 Jul 1943

 

Murray, Harry, Seaman (R72)

 

Nelson, Charlie, Seaman (R72)

 

Nutley, Frank, Seaman (R72)

 

Oswald, John William, A/Wt (E), RCNVR - 22 May 1945

 

Panchyshak, Walt, Seaman (R72)

 

Peddle, John, Stoker (of Toronto) (R72)

 

Pengelly, Gordon Allan (Al), SLt, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1945 (R72)

 

Pipe Gordon Frederick (Gord), Lt, RCNVR - 03 Apr 1943 (R72)

 

Piper, Jim, Comm Rate (R72)

 

Quance, Harold (Kidd), VA, (R72)

 

Ranger, Gerard, Seaman (R72)

 

Ritchie, James Douglas (Doug) SLt, RCNVR - 16 Sep 1942 (R72)

 

Robertson, Howard, Stoker (of Montreal, QC) (R72)

 

Robinson, Sydney Alban, Mate, RCNR - 26 May 1942 (R72)

 

Roznoski, Alex (Ross), Stoker (R72)

 

Russell, Raymond, Stoker (of Truro, NS) (R72)

 

Saunders, Sandy, Writer (R72)

 

Scudamore, Bill, Electrical Branch (R72)

 

Seboyer, Gerry

 

Siberry, Frederick Stewart (R72), SLt, RCNVR - 23 Aug 1943 (R72)

 

Sinnott, John, Seaman (R72)

 

Skinner, Jack (of Willowdale, ON), Electrical Branch  (R72)

 

Smith, Alton, Stwd (of Saint John, NB) (R72)

 

Smith, W. Gil, SD (R72)

 

Smith, Gord R., SD (R72)

 

Stanley, Darrell, SD (R72)

 

Stewart, John, Comm Rate (R72)

 

Sutton, Dick, Radar (of Liverpool, England) (R72)

 

Switzer, Myron, Stwd (R72)

 

Weatherdon, Frank, Stoker (R72)

 

Weatherton, Joe, Stoker (of Montreal, QC) (R72)

 

Whelan, Bob, Seaman (R72)

 

White, Leonard (Knocker), Radar (of Bristol, England) (R72)

 

William, Bob, Comm Rate (R72)

 

Wilson, Richard T., Sig (of Sarnia, ON. poss moved to Detroit) (R72)

 

Wilson, William George, Lt, RCNR - Jan 1944 (of Verdun, QC) (R72)

 

Winslow, Bert (of Saskatoon, SK) (R72)

 

Wolf, Bill, Seaman (R72)

 

Wood, Radar (R72)

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

 

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

photo 4

(1) The launching of Port Arthur at Port Arthur, Ontario 18 Sep 1941  (2-4) HMCS PORT ARTHUR on her commissioning day - 26 May 1942

DND/RCN photos

Courtesy of Bruce Hulbert

Distinguished Service Medals went to Able Seaman Gerry Boyer, left, the "Port Arthur's" HSD, and Ord. Sea. Donald McLean, the submarine detector who was on watch and picked up the V-boat contact

Source: CROWSNEST Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 11, Sep 1950

Lieut E. T. Simmons, DSC, RCNVR, who commanded HMCS "Port Arthur" when she sank the Italian submarine "Tritone." Lieut. Simmons was awarded the DSO for his "outstanding skill and judgment". He is now a Commander, RCN(R), Ret'd.

Source: CROWSNEST Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 11, Sep 1950

Sub-Lieut. Peter Cowan, RCNVR, anti-submarine control officer of the "Port Arthur," who received the DSC for his part in the submarine sinking. He is now a Lieut., RCN(R), Ret/el.

Source: CROWSNEST Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 11, Sep 1950

Lieut E.T. Simmons, RCNVR, Commanding Officer, HMCS Port Arthur, which sank the Italian submarine Tritone on 19 Jan 1943. April 1943

Source: Lt George A. Lawrence / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-191074

Premier of the movie "Corvette Port Arthur", Port Arthur, Ontario, 1943

 

     

 

Photos of the premier of the move "Corvette Port Arthur" in 1943at Port Arthur, Ont. This movie illustrates the Royal Canadian Navy's part in battling the U-boats and protecting Britain's supply lines, featuring the crew of the Port Arthur. This propaganda film used a British submarine on training duty to represent a U-boat that was forced to the surface; the U-boat's surrendering crew was played by the British submariners.

Source: Hot Rods and Jalopies

Submitted by Bruce Hulbert

HMCS Port Arthur K233

From the collection of Edouard Ouellette

Courtesy of Cathy Fitzgerald

HMCS Port Arthur K233 alongside unknown vessel

Sailors and ship's mascot "Kitty" on HMCS Port Arthur at Mers-El-Kebir after sinking of the Italian sub Tritone

Poster for the movie Corvette K225

Based on the wartime actions of HMCS Port Arthur K233

From the collection of Dick James

Courtesy of Steve Hlasny

Sailors on HMCS PORT ARTHUR

John Garbet, Howard H. (Ham) Greenwood, Alex Robertson, Clarence (Hoot) Gibson, Jack M. Wheelton

From the collection of Alex Robertson

Courtesy of Douglas Robertson

 

LM01

LM02

LM03

LM04

LM05

Newspaper clippings from the Port Arthur News-Chronicle Monday May 18, 1942

 

(LM01) Article on the presentation of comforts and gifts to the crew of HMCS Port Arthur

 

(LM02) Port Arthur crew members - L-R: Front - J.R. Elderbroom, C.J. Barrett, C.F. Brooks, J.J. Reeves, A.J. Gallo, V.T. Robson, E.O. Williams, M.Craing. Back - S. Wilson, A. Crilly, T. Brooks, H. Winslow, L. Manuel, J. Skinner, N. Longworth, H. Quance, E. Sorel, K. Robertson, R. Batchelor

 

(LM03) Three Lakehead men in Port Arthur crew - L-R: Telegrapher C.F. Brooks, Stoker I.L. Manuel and, Stoker I.E.C. Sorel

 

(LM04) Officers of Port Arthur:  L-R: SLt G.S. Richardson, Lt Simmons, DSC, CO, LT L. Hoare and SLt R. Cowan

 

(LM05) Photo of the presentation with ship's CO and dignitaries

 

From the collection of Louis Arthur Manuel, Stoker

 

Courtesy of Bruce Hulbert

 

 

WC02

WC03

WC04

Letter sent to the attendees after the crew reunion of HMCS PORT ARTHUR in 1972

 

From the collection of William Crombie, Tel, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Robert Crombie

 

 

 

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