HMCS PORT ARTHUR K233 - For Posterity's Sake

For Posterity's Sake

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS PORT ARTHUR K233

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.

Ship's company photos Photos and Documents 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
A-B
Aust, Edward G. 1916-2009
C-D
Clegg, Harold 1921-2013
E-F
French, Beverley 1922-2012
G-H
Gibson, Clarence C. ____-2012	Goulet, Eugene 1923-2008	Greenwood, Howard Hamilton 1918-1990	Honey, Gilbert Leonard 1920-2006	Hulme, George Frederick 1920-2010
I-J
Jackson, Herbert William 1914-2008 Drafted to HMCS Port Arthur on 09 Apr 1945 as Slt, RCNVR
K-L
Kathrens, Harold Arthur 1923-2005	Lawson, Graham 1913-1998	Lyons, Douglas Burnell ____-2007
M-N
Manuel, Laurence Arthur 1914-2001 Served in Port Arthur 1942-1943 as a Stoker	Merryweather, Bruce 1923-2009
O-P
Palmer, Clifford 1892-1983
Q-R
Reeves, Joseph John 1919-2000	Richardson, Raymond George 1921-2009 Drafted to Port Arthur K233 on 25 Apr 1942 as Slt, RCNVR, Stand by, then 26 May 1942	Robertson, Alexander ____-1966	Robertson, Alexander 1907-1986
S-T
Simmons, Edward Theodore 1910-1988 1st Commanding Officer
W-X
Wheelton, John 1921-2006

Submarines Sunk

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

Former Crew Members

Boileau, Armand

Boyer, Gerry, AB

Burns, Harvey Douglas

Chalmers, Charles

Cherry, William Edward, A/Lt, RCNVR - 20 Apr 1944

Cowan, Peter Robert, Slt, RCNVR - 25 Apr 1942 (Stand by) / 26 May 1942 / 03 Apr 1943

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

Garbet, John

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

Ince, William

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

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

Kirk, John

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

McLean, Donald, OS

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

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

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

Pengelly, Gordon Allan, Slt, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1945

Pipe Gordon Frederick, Lt, RCNVR - 03 Apr 1943

Robinson, Sydney Alban, Mate, RCNR - 26 May 1942

Seboyer, Gerry

Wilson, William George, Lt, RCNR - Jan 1944

Photos and Documents

	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 Arhtur, 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
	HMCS Port Arthur clearing Port Arthur Harbour for Overseas Service 16 May 1942 Source: ourOntario.ca
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 Source: Flickr photo collection of Don Gorham
	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

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