
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00
C
- Class Destroyer (RN)
River
Class Destroyer (RCN)

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 |
HMS Comet
Follow the light |
Laid down: 13
Sep
1930
Launched: 30
Sep 1931
Commissioned: 02
Jun 1932
Transferred to RCN: 15
Jun 1938
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Commissioned: 15
Jun 1938
Paid off: 05
Oct 1945
Fate: Broken up in 1946
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Built by the Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, she
was commissioned on 02 Jun 1932 as HMS COMET. She was purchased
at the same time as Ottawa and commissioned as RESTIGOUCHE at
Chatham, U.K., on 15 Jun 1938. Like her sister, she arrived at
Esquimalt 07 Nov 1938, and left for Halifax 15 Nov 1939.
She performed local escort duties from that port until 24 May 1940,
when she left for Plymouth, Upon arriving there on 31 May 1940 RESTIGOUCHE
was assigned to Western Approaches Command. On 11 Jun
1940, RESTIGOUCHE took part in the evacuation of St. Valery and came
under shore fire. While
assisting in the evacuation of the French ports she rescued survivors of
Fraser. She left Liverpool at the end of August for a brief refit at
Halifax, returning to the U.K. in Jan 1941. In Jun 1941,
"Rustyguts" was allocated to Newfoundland Command, and in
Apr 1943, became a member of EG C-4, in the interval toiling
ceaselessly as a mid-ocean escort. On 13 Dec 1941, she
suffered storm damage en route to join convoy ON.44, and extensive
repairs were carried out at Greenock. From 12 Aug 1943 to 17 Dec
1943, she underwent refit at Jarrow-on-Tyne, England. She was allocated to EG 12 in
May 1944, for invasion duties, including D-Day, and afterward
carried out Channel and Biscay patrols from her base at Plymouth.
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE participated in operation "Dredger" against
German escort vessels at the U-boat meeting points off Brest and southward.
During the night of 5/6 Jul the 12th EG, comprising of QU'APPELLE,
SASKATCHEWAN, SKEENA and RESTIGOUCHE, attacked 3 patrol boats off Brest:
V715 was sunk but not before hitting QU'APPELLE and SASKATCHEWAN many times
with small calibre gunfire.
She returned to Canada in Sep 1944, for a major refit at
Saint John, N.B. and Halifax, and upon completion proceeded to
Bermuda for working up. Returning to Halifax on 14 Feb 1945,
she performed various local duties, and after VE-Day was employed
for three months bringing home military personnel from Newfoundland.
Paid off on 05 Oct 1945, she was sold for
scrap in 1945 to Foundation Maritime and was broken up in Halifax
the next year.
Photos
and Documents Ship's
company photos
Commanding Officers
Cdr William Boyd Love Holms,
RCN - 15 Jun 1938 - 25 Dec 1939
Cdr Horatio Nelson Lay, RCN - 26 Dec
1939 - 23 Jun 1941
Lt David Walter Groos, RCN - 24
Jun 1941 - 29 Jun 1941
LCdr Desmond (Debbie) William Piers,
RCN - 30 Jun 1941 - 05 Jun 1943 |
A/LCdr David Walter Groos,
RCN - 06 Jun 1943 - 03 Dec 1944
LCdr Philip Edward Haddon,
RCN - 04 Dec 1944 - 15 Apr 1945
LCdr Ronald James Herman, OBE,
RCNR - 16 Apr 1945 - 06 Oct 1945 |
Captain for the day
Captain
for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's
Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with
the youngest member of the ship's company.
AB Anthony Bianco - Dec
1942
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
A
B

Baker,
Terrance
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Barrick,
Geoffrey
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Beck,
Moyle K.
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Benjamin,
Carman L.
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Betts, Roy
H.
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Bianco,
Anthony D.
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Bojarksi,
Frank J.
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Bonnar,
James S.
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Brousseau,
Joseph A.
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Bryant (Broski),
Peter
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Burchell,
John H.
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Burton,
Raymond
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Butler,
Cedric E.
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Buzza,
Percival C.
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C

Charles,
John A. |

Chilcott,
Frederick N.
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Christison,
David R.
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Cole, Leslie
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Coles, Kenneth
J.
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Cook,
David H.
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Cosh,
Digby R.B.
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Cownden,
Walter C.
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Critchley,
Ronald W.
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Crossley,
Sidney R.
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Curliss,
George O.
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D
E
F
G
H

Hacker,
John W.
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Hackett,
Thomas J.
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Hancherow,
John W.
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Harvey,
William J.
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Heathorn,
Arthur J.
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Hennessy,
Ralph L.
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Heron,
William C.
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Hibbard,
James C.
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Higgs,
Herbert G
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Holms,
William B.L.
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Hughes,
Donald C.
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J
K
L
M
MacDonald,
John S.
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MacDougall,
James B.E.
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MacGillivray,
John
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Machattie,
Frederick G.F. |

Macklin, Franklin
G.
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Malin,
Richard R.G.
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Malott, Earl
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Marlin,
Cassam M.
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Martin,
William P.
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Matthews,
Charles J. |

Matthews,
Thomas H.
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May,
George E. |

Miles,
George W.V.
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Moore, Harold
B.
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Moriarty,
John J.
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Myatt,
Orent
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N
P
R
S

Sandberg,
John H. |

Schryburt,
Edward A.
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Sealy, Earl
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Senior,
James A.
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Shaver,
Delbert F.
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Shillington,
Alexander M.
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Silvester,
Charles V. |

Smedley,
Charles S.
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Smith,
Eldred M.
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Smith, Roy
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Somers,
Murray F.
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Spicer,
Wylie C.
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St.
Pierre, Frank
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Stone,
George A.
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Swanson,
Harry
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Sweeney,
Charles H.
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T
V
W
Former Crew Members
Agnew,
Sam - Dec 1940
Allen,
L.J.
Askin,
Alfred - Dec 1940
Blair,
D.
Bullen,
George, Lt/Paym, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944
Brown,
George Albert, Lt, RCNVR - 24 May 1940
Burchell,
John, SA - 22 Sep 1942 - 21 Jul 1943
Burns,
Charles P. Cox'n - Dec 1940
Cameron,
John David, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 31 Mar 1942
Candy,
Arthur - 1940
Chapman,
George William, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 02 Jul 1941
Coates,
John Anthony, SLt, RCN - 10 Mar 1945
Currie,
John, Sto - Dec 1940
Dalphere ??
Daliphere??, L.A. - Dec 1940
Dicks,
W.
Dodds,
Basil Hugh, Lt (E), RN - 31 May 1938 (Stand by) / 15 Jun 1938
Dunne,
John Hugh, Lt, RCNVR - 17 Mar 1944
Edwards,
James Charles Gordon, Lt, RCNVR - 06 Jun 1943
Farish,
Henry Greggs, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 03 Jun 1943
Fearman,
Frederick William, SLt, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1945
Ford,
Jazzy, AB - Dec 1940
Forster,
Dennis Thompson, Lt (E), RCN - 18 May 1941
Fraser,
Stuart Burbeck, Lt, RCNVR - 08 May 1944
Gann,
John Herbert Bevington, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Jun 1943
Griffin,
Frederick Elswood, Lt, RCNVR - 06 Jun 1943 Hanson,
Robert Charles - 1941-1945
Harrison,
Robert, SLt, RCNR - 03 Apr 1942
Harrison,
W.
Hood,
G., LS - Dec 1940
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Howard,
E.
Inman,
William Robert, Lt, RCNVR - 23 May 1945
Jamieson,
Ken, LS - Dec 1940
Kelly,
A.
Kilpatrick,
John Ross McLennan, Midshipman, O-38990, RCNVR - Aug 1943 for
training. Appointed SLt, RCNVR 15 Feb 1944 (Navy List Nov 1944).
Appointed Lt, RCNVR 15 Feb 1945 (Navy List Mar 1945)
King,
Albert George, LCdr, RCNR - 04 Apr 1940
Klein,
Kenneth A.
Knox,
George Edward - Jan 1941 - 1943
Livingston,
R.
Lowe,
L.
MacInnis,
H.
MacKinnon,
AM
MacLean,
John Harris, Lt, NavO, RCNVR - 11 Feb 1944
MacGillivray,
John, Lt (E), RCN - Jan 1940
Mann,
James, VA, V25625 - Dec 1940
Marcil,
Georges, Lt, O-46370, RCNVR - 27 Nov 1944
McCowan,
Jack, ABST, 3161 - Dec 1940
McCully,
William (Wild Bill) Selkirk Taylor, SLt, RCN - 14 May 1940
McKay,
F.
McPhee,
Maurice James, Lt (S), RCNVR - 19 Feb 1945
McPherson,
Joe, AB - Dec 1940
McLaughlin,
Thomas Crane, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1944
Middleton,
Robert Earl, RCN
Morley,
E.A., Sto - Dec 1940
Mulhern,
A.J., QM - Dec 1940 (home town - Red Deer, Alta)
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Noseworthy,
James, L/Sto 2c
(served in HMCS RESTIGOUCHE from 02 Jun 1943 - 31 Mar 1944 and from
15 Oct 1944 - 14 Dec 1944)
O'Leary,
C.
Oliver,
Maurice Faulkner, Mate, RCNR - Jan 1941
Parkin,
William (Bill), RCNVR
Paul,
Joseph Morrison, A/Gnr, RCN - 28 May 1942
Perry,
C.
Potter,
William Francis, Lt, O-59830, Torpedo Officer, RCNVR - 04 Dec
1944
Powell,
Robert Montague, LCdr, RCNVR - 27 Jan 1944
Rigby,
E.A.
Robb,
Murray, PO.ER
Roe,
James Browning, SLt, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1943
Rogers,
John Peter, RCNVR - 01 Jun 1943
Ross,
S.N.
Savard,
Clament, Lt, RCN - 27 Jan 1945
Shields,
Hugh, PO Cook
Skinner,
PO
Soupey,
Gord - Dec 1940
Southam,
Gordon Thomas, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Apr 1942
Stewart,
Frank - Dec 1940
Thomas,
Jack Arthur, SLt (E), RCNVR - 11 Feb 1944
Thompson,
Theo Walter, Lt, RCNVR - 16 Feb 1940
Toller,
Frederick Hughes, Lt, RCNVR - 05 Jun 1943
Treen,
R., LS - Dec 1940
Westgate,
Arthur Murray, SLt, RCNVR - 15 May 1943
White,
Melvin F., AB, RCNR - Dec 1939
Willmott,
Chuck B., CPO, CBM - Dec 1940 |
Photos and
Documents

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HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00 with HMCS Ottawa H60
ahead, in the lower chamber, Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 18 Apr
1938
Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and
Military Museum Photo # 2002.31.8 |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 circa 1940
Source: Flickr
collection of Ron Bell |

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Unidentified
naval ratings painting the destroyer H.M.C.S. RESTIGOUCHE, Halifax, Nova
Scotia, Canada, October 1940
Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence /
Library and Archives Canada / PA-104265
Note: The sailor on the left has been
identified as Cecil E. Reeves. |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00, date unknown
Courtesy of John Hawley |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Plymouth, 1940
Source: Flickr
collection of Ron Bell |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Malta
Source: Flickr
collection of Ron Bell |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Hamilton, Bermuda
From the World War II collection of James
Edward Lowe, RCN
Courtesy of Kathleen Lowe
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photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
(1)Petty
Officer Cook Hugh Shields, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (2) Three crewmembers
from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00. Centre - Ordnance Artificer Svend Solberg
Sorensen - lost at sea 28 Nov 1942 (3) A few crew on the stern of HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00 (4) Unknown aircraft carrier seen from HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00 (5) Unknown vessel with landing craft on deck as seen
from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (6) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (7) Corvettes
alongside - date and place unknown. HMS Polyanthus K47 is 2nd
from left (8) Torpedoes away
photo 8 |
photo 9 |
photo 10 |
photo 11 |
photo 12 |
photo 13 |
(9)
Unknown sailor on what is believed to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (10)
Unknown sailor on what is believed to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (11)
Landing Party from an unknown ship, possibly HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (12)
Officers on what is believed to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (13) Unknown
sailors - date and place unknown (14)
From the collection of Eldred Smith
Courtesy of Paul Smith
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Maritime Crew Members of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
Front Row (L-R) - S.N. Ross, L.J. Allen, E.A. Rigby, PO
Hugh Shields, O. Myatt, W. Harrison, A. Kelly
Second Row (L-R) - R. Christianson, W. Martin,
A.M. MacKinnon, C. Perry, F. McKay, L. Lowe, E. Howard, W. Dicks
Back Row (L-R) - C. O`Leary, R. Livingston,
Eldred Morton Smith, D. Reinger, D. Blair, H. MacInnis
From the collection of Eldred Smith
Courtesy of Paul Smith |

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Don on watch on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1943
From the collection of Larry Hartman
Courtesy of Ray Hartman |

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Don on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1942
From the collection of Larry Hartman
Courtesy of Ray Hartman |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
From the collection of Eric Baird
Courtesy of Roger Clarke |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - 11 Aug 1940
Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
Photo
Catalogue #VR1994.38.15 |

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HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00, Halifax, 1941
Photo
taken from HMCS BADDECK
From
the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM
Courtesy
of Gary Medford |

On the Farm
(1-2) Bill Parkin
(3) Sailors off HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00. Note:
Second sailor from the right has been identified as Herbert G.
Higgs, AB, RCNVR
The 'On the Farm' photos were taken in Hexham,
England - the ship was in for repairs and some of the crew spent
time working on local farms.
From the collection of William (Bill) Parkin
Courtesy of John Parkin
Click
here to view a newspaper article on sailors from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 helping out on local farms
Herbert Higgs 3rd from left in newspaper
article photo
From the collection of
Herbert Higgs
Courtesy of Bob Higgs.
Submitted
by Bob Higgs - My father, Herbert Higgs, told me that he
volunteered to help with the harvest when his ship was in for
repairs. They worked alongside Italian P.O.W.s. One of my father's
friends was Tony (Antonio Bianco) White. The Canadians were told not
to fraternize with the P.O.W.s, but being young men the would leave
them packs of cigarettes and Tony would tell my father things to
tell the Italians. Once they were reminded not to talk with the
Italians, and somebody said he was trying to get information off
them.
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photo 6 |
(1) Single Oerlikon on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00 (2) Looking after on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 from the
crow's nest (3) Easter Sunday Church service on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
(4) Ray and Stan on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (5) Gun crew on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00 circa 1943
(6) William (Bill) Parkin on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 circa
1943
From the collection of William Parkin
Courtesy of John Parkin
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"LCdr" Bianco
Captain for the Day
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
Christmas 1942
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Stores
Assistant John Burchell, "LCdr" Bianco and "OS Desmond
Piers
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
Christmas 1942
Click on the above photo to view a
larger image
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A
longstanding naval tradition is that on Christmas Day the CO of the ship
trades places with the youngest sailor on the ship. In the above two
photos, OS Anthony Bianco trades places with LCdr Desmond Piers, CO of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00 - and became LCdr Bianco for the day and LCdr Piers became
Ordinary Seaman Piers for the day - Christmas 1942. The
photo of SA Burchell, LCdr Bianco and OS Piers is from the
collection of SA John Burchell,
RCNVR.
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HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00
From the collection of Jim Silvester
Courtesy of Jim Silvester |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
From the collection of William Holland McNally
Courtesy of Greg McNally |


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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE postcard from Harry Swanson to his
parents
From the collection Harry Swanson
Courtesy of Jason Belanger |

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photo 5 |
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Sydney, NS circa Sep-Oct
1945
(1) Ray Burton & Pete Flykow (2) Pete
Flykow & Clem Placeido (3) Clem Placeido (4) Clem
Placeido (5) Pete Susiak
These photos are from the wartime photo
collection of Raymond Burton
They are not for reproduction,
distribution or sale
Copyright Elizabeth Wagner
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photo 1
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photo 2
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photo 3
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photo 4
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photo 5
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photo 6
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HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE - Crew at park in Sydney, NS
(1)
Raymond Burton and Pete Susiak (2) Raymond Burton (3) Pete Susiak and JP
(4) Pete Susiak (5) JP
(6) JP and Raymond Burton
Webmaster's
note: It is not known if these photos were taken while Raymond
Burton was serving in HMCS Merrittonia or HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. They
have been added to the galleries of both ships. |
These photos are from the wartime photo
collection of Raymond Burton
They are not for reproduction,
distribution or sale
Copyright Elizabeth Wagner
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Sydney, NS - looking down from
the mast - Forward & Aft - circa Sep-Oct 1945
These photos are from the wartime photo collection of
Raymond Burton
They are not for reproduction, distribution or
sale
Copyright Elizabeth Wagner |

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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - date unknown
"Later
than June 1940, before "Repairs at Greenock lasted until 9 March 1942
and her director-control tower and rangefinder above the bridge had been
removed by this time in exchange for a Type 271 target indication
radar."
Courtesy of Erling Baldorf |
photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
photo 8 |
(1) Lt Georges Marcil, RCNVR. Lt Marcil was drafted to
RESTIGOUCHE on 27 Nov 1944
(2) Lt John Harris MacLean, NavO, RCNVR. Lt MacLean was drafted to RESTIGOUCHE
on 11 Feb 1944
(3) Lt William Francis Potter, Lt, Torpedo Officer, RCNVR. Lt Potter was drafted to
RESTIGOUCHE on 04 Dec 1944
(4) Unknown sailor on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (5) Ringer, Skinner and Robinson on the fo'c's'le of HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE (6) Petty Officers Skinner and Robb on the fo'c's'le of
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (7) Badge, name tally plate and kisby ring of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (8) Starboard side of the quarterdeck on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE
photo 9 |
photo 10 |
photo 11 |
photo 12 |
photo 13 |
photo 14 |
photo 15 |
photo 16 |
(9) Rigby, Coxswain on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE
(10) Melrose and Seager on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(11) Melrose and Seager (with hat) on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (12) Stokers
Melrose, unknown and Seager on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (13) Looking forward, port side, from after gun deck of
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (14) Isbister as Quartermaster on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (15) PO Murray Robb on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE (16)
L-R: PO Murray Robb, Ron Critchley and unknown sailor on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
Note: for photos 10, 11 and 12 with Stokers
Melrose and Seager, it is possible that the names might be reversed

photo 17
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photo 18
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photo 19
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photo 20
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photo 22
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photo 23
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photo 24
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(17) Sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE. Ron
Critchley, standing 1st on left (18) Off Watch relaxing on the upper
deck on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (19) Ron Critchley sitting on gun barrel on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE
(20) PO.ER Murray
Robb by secondary gun on bridge wing of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (21)
Sailors between the depth charge rails on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE: Back:
Edmonds, Bremner, Soper, Teeple; Middle: Bowes, Robinson; Front:
Wilson (cook) (22) Sailors between the depth charge rails on
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Back: Soper, Teeple; Middle: Edmonds,
Bremner, Bowes, Robinson; Front: Wilson (cook) (23) Sailors
between the depth charge rails on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Back: L-R:
Edmonds, Bremner, Robinson, Bowes, Soper, Robb; Front: Ron
Critchley (laying down) other two unknown (24) Cooks Lovelace,
Wilson and Morris on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

photo 25 |

photo 26 |

photo 27 |

photo 28 |

photo 28 |

photo 30 |

photo 31 |

photo 32 |
(25
- 30) V.E.-Day in Halifax on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(27)
Back: Ringer, Hart, Davies, Broski, Metcalf, Baker; Front: MacKinnon,
Kimberley. Note: MacKinnon is front left, not known which of the
other two is Kimberley on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (29) Broski, Shaver, Moose
on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (30)
Chief Cook Saunders, Teeple and Ron Critchley on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (31) U-boat survivor on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE
(32) Unknown destroyer in Drydock at HMS Malabar, Bermuda. Believed
to be HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00
photo 33 |
photo 34 |
photo 35 |
(33) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (34 & 35) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00 in dry dock, Liverpool
From the collection of Ron Critchley
Courtesy of Diane Brown
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photo 1
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photo 2
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photo 3
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photo 4
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photo 5
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photo 6
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(1-6) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942, Belfast, Ireland
(1) LCdr Desmond Piers, CO (right) (2)
ship's cooks with Christmas dinner. Cook Joseph (Pop)
Brousseau in front. (3) event on the quarter
deck - possibly tot time (4) CO for the day - "LCdr"
Anthony Bianco, youngest sailor on the ship - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE ,
Christmas 1942 (5) "OS" Desmond Piers,
"LCdr" Anthony Bianco, and Chief Bissky (who is wearing an
OS or AB's uniform) - HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Christmas 1942

photo 7
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photo 8 |

photo 9
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photo 10
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photo 11
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photo 12
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photo 13
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(7-13) March 1943 - convoy from Liverpool to
Algiers
(7)
Sailors exercising on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 (8
& 9) Convoy seen from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. (10-12) Algiers
"We were the first Canadian destroyer to enter the
Mediterranean. Algiers was a very nice looking place from the
harbour, but rather dirty when ashore" (13) Cruiser HMS
Dido tied up at Algiers while we (HMCS RESTIGOUCHE) were there.

photo 14
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photo 20
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(14-17)
HMCS Restigoiuche H00 picking up survivors from the SS Blitar that
had been sunk on 05 Apr 1943 (18-20) Farm that farm that some of the crew from
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 worked on for a couple of months while waiting
for the ship. Farm was at Cranleigh, Surrey, England.

photo 21
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photo 22
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(21 & 21) Christmas 1943 at Tobermory
Christmas
of 1943 was spent at Tobermory, Scotland and also New Year's.
Christmas was very quiet. Not like the last one. After refit we came
here for our work up trials, which you do after a refit"
From the collection of Orent Myatt
Courtesy of Lynda D'Amour
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Newspaper
articles on operation "Dredger" against German escort
vessels at the U-boat meeting points off Brest and southward. During
the night of 5/6 Jul the 12th EG, comprising of QU'APPELLE,
SASKATCHEWAN, SKEENA and RESTIGOUCHE, attacked 3 patrol boats off
Brest.
(IN01)
Night Insane As RCN Mangled German Ships - Toronto Star 18 Jul
1944 (IN02) Canadian Sink 3 Ships As Star Shells Light Sky -
Toronto Star 11 Aug 1944 (IN03) 6 Supply Ships Sunk By Allies
Off France - undated newspaper article (IN04) Naval Forces
Fight in Channel - undated newspaper article
From
the collection of Innes Neil van
Nostrand
Courtesy
of Hugh van Nostrand

DC01
From
undated newspaper - Account of the action that took place during
Operation Dredger
From
the collection of AB Dave
Christison, RCNVR
Courtesy
of Thomas Christison
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(JB01)
SA Burchell on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE. Note the USN sailors cap he is
wearing
(JB02) Stores Assistant John Burchell, "LCdr" Bianco
and "OS" Desmond Piers, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00, Christmas 1942
**
(JB03) "OS" Desmond Piers and "LCdr" Anthony
Bianco on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Christmas 1942
(JB04) "OS"
Piers, "LCdr" Bianco and CPO Bissky (Chief Bissky is wearing
an OS or AB ratings uniform)
(JB05) Sailors fallen in on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - SA John Burchell,
front, centre, with beard. This photo is likely the Stores, Stewards,
SBA and
**
A longstanding naval tradition is that on Christmas Day the CO of the ship
trades places with the youngest sailor on the ship. In this photo, OS
Anthony Bianco trades places with LCdr Desmond Piers, CO of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00 - and became LCdr Bianco for the day and LCdr Piers became Ordinary
Seaman Piers for the day - Christmas 1942.
Writers. (JB06) Sailors on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - L-R: Abraham,
unknown, PO Walsh, CPO Rigby, PO Howard, Anderson, PO Rigg, PO Wilson. Note
- it is possible the two in the seaman's rig are Petty Officers (Square Rig
POs).
(JB07-JB10)
Memorial Service for Ordnance Artificer Svend Solberg (Sammy)
Sorensen, MPK
- 28 Nov 1942. Ordnance
Artificer Sorensen was lost at sea presumed drowned. He had been on Cypher
watch in the ship's office which is located aft. He was bringing the log up
to the bridge and got as far as the starboard torpedo davit when the ship
rolled. Before being engulfed in sea water Ordnance Artificer Sorensen was
seen clutching the davit with both arms. However he was washed away carried
aft, dashed against the forward D/C thrower, and then washed
overboard. His body was never recovered.
(JB11) Readying a smoke float on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Jules
Lafpointe, Peter Rigg T.I., Allan Morton
(JB12) Ship's Medical Officer
on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB13) SA John Burchell and Cook Joseph (Pop)
Brousseau on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB14) Doug Henderson, Jimmie Finn, Gus
Lafontaine, Roger Laiselle (of Montreal) and Chillcot on HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE. Jimmie Finn is the first on the left facing the
camera
(JB15) 11 Mess on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1942. MacMath, Sterns, Gus
Lafontaine, Morton, Pate, Jimmie Finn, John Burchell. Finn and Burchell
wearing white sweaters
(JB16) John Burchell (left) and Jimmie Finn, 11
mess, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB17)
Jimmie Finn on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB18) Jimmie Finn (left) and two
unidentified shipmates on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB19) L-R: Unknown,
Jimmie Finn and John Burchell on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE by the ship's bel
(JB20) STs - 11 Mess, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

JB21 |

JB22 |
(JB21) SA John Burchell (left)
and Chief Rainsford on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB22) SA Chillcot by depth
charge thrower on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(JB23) Jimmie Finn ashore in
Algiers
(JB24) RESTIGOUCHE sailors ashore in Algiers
(JB25)
Algiers
(JB26) SA John Burchell ashore in Algiers
Note:
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE was in Algiers 09 -10 Mar 1943 for a port visit between
escorting convoys KMF 010B and MKF 010B
(JB27-JB29)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE rescues survivors of the SS BLITAR on 10 Apr 1943
(JB30-JB32) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE conducts stern fueling from oiler in convoy
Historical
note: SS BLITAR was part of Convoy HX.231 when she was sunk on 06 Apr
1943 by U-632. On 10 Apr 1943, after 4 days life boats 23 survivors were
picked up by HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and 14 by HMCS TRENTONIAN. A 3rd life
boat with 16 survivors were rescued by HMS ECLIPSE. HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and
HMCS TRENTONIAN were part of the escort for Convoy ON.177. HMS ECLIPSE was
part of the escort for HX.231.

(JB33)
Training in rowing the sea boat from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
Names
on the back of the photo: L. Sea Hatlen; ERA; Sto White; WT;
"Tiny" Moorehouse - PA; SLt Waters; Banner; Arnold (of Montreal);
Neundorf (of Toronto); Gurney; S.T.
Click
here to view the names written on the back of the photo
(JB34-JB36)
Unknown dignitary visiting HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and addressing the crew
From the
collection of SA John Burchell,
RCNVR
Courtesy of Mark Burchell
(FM716) HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE H00 passing under the Jacques Cartier bridge in Montreal, QC.
Note: this photo has appeared in other collections as a postcard print
(FM717) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - 1942 (FM718) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE in the slips
for repairs
From the collection of François
Messier, AB, RCNVR
Courtesy of Denis Messier
(WJ60)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 making smoke while in port (Note: possibly flashing up
her boilers) (WJ61) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at sea (WJ62) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00 in dry dock

(WJ63) Manitobans serving in HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
H00
Front: AB Edward Huppe; LSA
Bill Jervis; Tel Lloyd Moffat; Sig Robert MacTavish
Back: AB Allan Rudd; AB John
Land; CPO Harry Dall; Yeoman of Signals Bill Grantham; and
Stoker Ernie Walker
From the collection of William
(Bill) Jervis, LSA, RCNVR
Courtesy of Brent Jervis
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