HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

 

C - Class Destroyer (RN)

 

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

 


 

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

Commissioned: 15 Jun 1938

Paid off: 05 Oct 1945

Fate: Broken up in 1946

 

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     

 

BURNFIELD, George W

AB, RCN

MPK - 25 Jun 1940

HAMILTON, Delmar

Supply PO, RCNVR

died - 01 Oct 1944

JEWETT, George S.

CPO, RCN

MPK - 04 Oct 1944

SORENSEN, Svend S.

OA4c, RCNVR

MPK - 28 Nov 1942

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

A

 

 

B

 

 

C

 

 

D

 

 

E

 

Elford, Clyde H.

 

 

 

 

 

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L

 

 

M

 

 

N

 

Nettleton, Walter D.

 

 

 

 

 

P

 

 

R

 

 

S

 

 

T

 

Thomson, John I.

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

Vondette, Henry W.

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

 

Hartman, D.A., LS - 1943

 

Hood, G., LS - Dec 1940

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)

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

 

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

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 circa 1940

 

Source: Flickr collection of Ron Bell

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.

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00, date unknown

 

Courtesy of John Hawley

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Plymouth, 1940

 

Source: Flickr collection of Ron Bell

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 at Malta

 

Source: Flickr collection of Ron Bell

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Hamilton, Bermuda

 

From the World War II collection of James Edward Lowe, RCN

 

Courtesy of Kathleen Lowe

HMCS NEW WATERFORD envelope addressed to LS D.A. Hartman, Mess 4, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

 

Postmarked 02 Nov 1943, New Waterford, NS

 

Courtesy of Michael Erwin

 

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(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

 

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(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

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

Don on watch on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1943

From the collection of Larry Hartman

Courtesy of Ray Hartman

Don on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - 1942

From the collection of Larry Hartman

Courtesy of Ray Hartman

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

From the collection of Eric Baird

Courtesy of Roger Clarke

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00 - 11 Aug 1940

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

Photo Catalogue #VR1994.38.15

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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(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

 

 

"LCdr" Bianco

Captain for the Day

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

Christmas 1942

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

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.

 

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

 

From the collection of Jim Silvester

 

Courtesy of Jim Silvester

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE H00

 

From the collection of William Holland McNally

 

Courtesy of Greg McNally

 

HMCS RESTIGOUCHE postcard from Harry Swanson to his parents

 

From the collection Harry Swanson

 

Courtesy of Jason Belanger

 

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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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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

 

 

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

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

 

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(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

 

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(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

 

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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

 

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(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

 

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(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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(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

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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

 

 

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.

 

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(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

 


 

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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.

 

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 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.

 

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(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 

 

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(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

 

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(JB21) SA John Burchell (left) and Chief Rainsford on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

(JB22) SA Chillcot by depth charge thrower on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE

 

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(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

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(JB27-JB29) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE rescues survivors of the SS BLITAR on 10 Apr 1943

 

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  (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

 

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(JB34-JB36) Unknown dignitary visiting HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and addressing the crew

 

From the collection of SA John Burchell, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Mark Burchell

 


 

FM716

FM717

FM718

(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

WJ61

WJ62

(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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