HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

River Class Frigate

 


 

HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1944-45

 

 

Laid down: 11 Sep 1943

Launched: 27 Nov 1943

Commissioned: 14 Jun 1944

Paid off: 19 Jan 1946

Fate: Sold for scrap in 1947. Scuttled as a breakwater in 1948

 

RUNNYMEDE was commissioned on 14 June 1944 at Montreal and arrived in Bermuda for workups toward the end of Jul 1944. On 21 Aug 1944 she returned to Halifax to become Senior Officer's ship of EG C-5, and was to wear its barber pole stripes the rest of her wartime career. She left Londonderry toward the end of May 1945, and made her passage home as escort to convoy ON.305. She left Halifax on 20 Jun 1945 for Esquimalt, arriving 18 Jul 1945 and early in Aug 1945 commenced tropicalization refit at North Vancouver. Work was soon suspended and she sailed for Esquimalt 20 Jun 1945 to be placed in reserve, though not paid off until 19 Jan 1946. Sold in 1947, she is reported to have been expended as part of a breakwater at Kelsey Bay, B.C., in 1948.

 


 

RCN Memories:  Wartime Memories of Larry Costello

 

Photo and Documents          The Ship's Bell          Ship's Company Photos

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

A/LCdr Richard Charles Chenoweth, RCNVR - 14 Jun 1944 - 22 Jan 1945

Lt Patrick Sproull Milsom, RCNVR - 23 Jan 1945 - 09 Feb 1945

Cdr Alexander McAllister McLarnon, RCNR - 10 Feb 1945 - 22 Mar 1945

LCdr Richard Cassels Chenoweth, RCNVR - 23 Mar 1945 - 08 Jun 1945

Cdr Clarence Aubrey King, RCNVR - 09 Jun 1945 - 09 Aug 1945

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Anderson, Norman Meldrum, A/Lt, RCNVR - 09 Jul 1944

 

Blakey, Kenneth Bertram, Lt, RCNVR - 10 Feb 1945

 

Chenoweth, Richard Charles, A/LCdr, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944 CO / 14 Jun 1944

 

Chenoweth, Richard Charles, A/LCdr, RCNVR - 08 Jun 1945

 

Hall, Paul Frank Thomas, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 08 Jun 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Henderson, John Ernest, Lt, RCNVR - 15 May 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Inman, Harry Chatfield, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

Kindree, Burt

 

Leigh, Robert Garwood, SLt, RCNVR - 23 Mar 1945

 

Lovell, William Ashton, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

MacDonald, John Hubert Smith, A/Cdr, RCNR - 23 Mar 1945

 

Marsland, Ken

 

McCandless, George Bartlett, Skpr/Lt, RCNR - 23 Mar 1945

 

McGeough, Leonard James, A/Lt, RCNVR - 15 May 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

McNeil, Chief Stoker

 

Meyer (Myer ??), Bertal Thomas, Cd (E), RCNR - 09 Apr 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Milsom, Patrick Sproule, Lt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944 / 14 Jun 1944

 

Ostro, Ken

 

Pearce, William James, Lt, RCNVR - 10 Feb 1945

 

Plaxton, John Melville, Lt, RCNVR - 23 Mar 1945

 

Sevanny, Allen

 

Shaw, Gordon McDougall, Lt, RCNVR - 10 Feb 1945

 

Taylor, C.N.

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

KW01

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KW05

(KW01) Christening of HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Montreal, Quebec

(KW02) Christening of HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Montreal, Quebec

(KW03) Carrying out a sweep for a sub

(KW04) Bow of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in foreground

(KW05) Waiting for survivors

 

KW06

KW07

KW08

KW09

KW10

(KW06) Preparing the seaboat

(KW07) Away seaboat!

(KW08) 4-inch guns of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW09) Hedgehogs on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW10) 12-pounder gun on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

KW11

KW12

KW13

KW14

KW15

(KW11) Rocket launcher on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW12) Ted and Scotty on the bridge of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW13) White Watch - Harvey?, Taylor, McDowell, Danny?, Costello, Noolivin, Boyce, Mike, Bobbet

(KW14) Sprague and Milhoff on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW15) Boyce on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

KW16

KW17

KW18

KW19

KW20

(KW16) Bolton, Smith and Fitzgibbons

(KW17) C.N. Taylor

(KW18) Doug - De-ammunitioning

(KW19) Ken Marsland

(KW20) Bridge of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

KW21

KW22

KW23

KW24

KW25

(KW21) Depth charge exploding

(KW22) Sailors off HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - Place and date unknown

(KW23-KW25) Rescuing survivors off the Isle of Mann

 

KW26

KW27

KW28

KW29

KW30

(KW26) Kirk Wipper on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW27) Unknown frigate

(KW28) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 approaching a carrier

(KW29) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in slips at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

(KW30) HMCS RUNNYMEDE at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

 

KW31

KW32

KW33

KW34

KW35

(KW31) Convoy Rescue ship

(KW32) 4-inch guns of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW33) 4-inch gun breech on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW34) Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde

(KW35) Forbes and Gertie

 

KW36

KW37

KW38

KW39

KW40

(KW36-KW37) A tattered ensign and its replacement on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW38) Airing Hammocks on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW39) Canadian Convoy Group Five - The Barber Pole Squardon

(KW40) Knobly Hall

 

KW41

KW42

KW43

KW44

KW45

(KW41) Forbes

(KW42) Wyman, Chapman, Bolton and Costello "murdering chickens"

(KW43) Sprague and Young

(KW44) Knobly Hall

(KW45) Massue, Forbes, Hall - Holy Stoning Bridge Boards

 

KW46

KW47

KW48

KW49

KW50

(KW46) Siguer (Irish)

(KW47) Chief Stoker McNeil

(KW48) Santa Henderson at sea in 1944

(KW49) Peltier

(KW50) Yarchuck

 

KW51

 

KW52

KW53

KW54

KW55

(KW51) Thompson

(KW52) Sellars

(KW53) Sellars, Yarchuck, Johnson

(KW54) Burial at Sea

(KW55) HMCS Runnymede in Dartmouth

 

KW56

KW57

KW58

KW59

KW60

(W56) Surrendered U-boats at Londonderry

(KW57) Looking astern from HMCS RUNNYMEDE entering St. John's Harbour

(KW58) Ensign of HMCS RUNNYMEDE

(KW59) Allan Sevanny

(KW60) (L-R) Allan Sevanny, Kirk Wipper

 

KW61

KW62

KW63

(KW61) Looking aft from the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(KW62) Taylor on the gangway

(KW63) "Entering Halifax harbour" - Gate vessels open the anti-submarine barriers as HMCS RUNNYMEDE enters Halifax Harbour

 

KW64

KW65

KW66

KW67

(KW64-KW67) Surrendered U-190 in St. John's Nfld

 

KW68

KW69

KW70

KW71

KW72

(KW68-KW72) Surrendered U-190 in St. John's Nfld

 

From the collection of Kirk Wipper

 


 

JH01


JW02

JH03

JH04

JH05

(JH01) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

(JH02)  Looking up at the bow of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 while she is in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

(JH03) An Atlantic Convoy - photo taken from HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JH04) Three unknown sailors off HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JH05) Anti-Aircraft gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

Courtesy of James Hussey

 


 

JM29

JM30

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JM33

(JM29) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 ship's badge.  The following is an excerpt from the book "Designs of Distinction" by David Freeman: "RUNNYMEDE was the name used to honour the township of York, ON. King John signed the Magna Carta on the field at RUNNYMEDE, England in 1215. In his memo to Capt (D), the CO, A/LCdr R.C. Chenowith, RCNVR, O-13420, stated the badge design came "from the official seal of the Urban District of Egham, Surrey . . . wherein Runnymede is located." He noted the township had no insignia and had suggest the use of the above design instead. Where the ship employed this insignia is not known."

(JM30) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 jacket patch

(JM31) The Launching of RUNNYMEDE at the Canadian Vickers Ltd Shipyard, Montreal, QC on 27 Nov 1943

(JM32) HMCS RUNNYMEDE in Montreal prior to her commissioning in Jun 1944

(JM33) "Do I Worry??  Yes!! - Poem about HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

JM34

JM35

(JM34-JM35) HMCS RUNNYMEDE - photos taken by Therese Murphy, John's wife, from the dock at Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC as the RUNNYMEDE made its 1st run to sea from the Vickers Yard in Montreal where she was built. John had called ahead to tell his wife that the ship would be passing by.

 

JM36

(JM36) Headline from the Toronto Daily Star on HMCS RUNNYMEDE'S readiness for sea - 30 May 1944

 

JM37

JM38

JM39

JM40

JM41

Individual photos from the above Toronto Daily Star headline article

(JM37) Shipwright B. Pattier check the ship's lifeboats

(JM38) Two survivors of HMCS WEYBURN, sunk in the Mediterranean, LT Pat Milsom, former Toronto Star reporter (right) and Stoker John MacNeil of Halifax on HMCS RUNNYMEDE

(JM39) CPO Charlie Lane is shown checking the Sperry gyro compass

(JM40) Leading Cook J. C. Peerzan of Halifax carries a pair of lime jugs used for storing water

(JM41) One of the officers Lt Don Taylor of Arlington Ave., Toronto. He went RUNNYMEDE collegiate, things that's a sign of good luck

 

JM42

JM43

Individual photos from the above Toronto Daily Star headline article

(JM42) Bigger, more heavily armed, faster than a Corvette, this is the RUNNYMEDE

(JM43) Depth charges boil up on her trail run

 

JM44

JM45

JM46

JM47

JM48

During work-ups in Bermuda

(JM44) Bermuda

(JM45-J 46) St. George's Harbour, Bermuda. Note the children on the cliff watching the ship

(JM47) Sea boat from HMCS RUNNYMEDE

(JM48) "Good-bye Bermuda" - HMCS RUNNYMEDE departing Bermuda. She arrived in Halifax 21 Aug 1944.

 

JM49

JM50

During work-ups in Bermuda

 

(JM49-JM50) L-R: John Murphy, Joe Missler, Ross Gordon and John McNeil on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in Bermuda

 

JM51

JM52

JM53


JM54

JM55

(JM51) Fish wharf at St. John's, Newfoundland

(JM52-JM55) Convoy to England

 

JM56

JM57

JM58

JM59

JM60

(JM56) Corvettes astern of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM57) Corvette HMCS BELLEVILLE K332

(JM58) Frigate HMCS ST STEPHEN K454

(JM59) British trawler, sunk the following night

(JM60) Passenger ship with war brides

 

JM61

JM62

JM63

JM64

JM65

(JM61) Liberty ship with locomotives and rail cars secured to deck

(JM62) Iceberg in the North Atlantic with a Frigate off to the right

(JM63) Iceberg in the North Atlantic

(JM64) unknown Bangor Class Minesweeper

(JM65) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 conducting a stern fueling at sea

 

JM66

JM67

JM68

JM69

JM70

(JM66-JM70) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in heavy seas

 

JM71

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JM73

JM74

(JM71-JM74) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in heavy seas

 

JM75

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JM77

JM78

JM79

HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in refit

(JM75) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

(JM76) John Kervin and Ross Gordon by HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

(JM77) HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 in the slips at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, Nfld

(JM78) Unknown sailor beside the port screw of HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

(JM79) Joe Marshall beside the port screw of HMCS RUNNYMEDE while in the slips at Bay Bulls, Nfld

 

JM80

JM81

JM82

JM83

JM84

(JM80) Bert Hazelwood and Curley Doyle on a barge alongside HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM81) Dusty Miller on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM82) Unknown sailor in the port gun tub on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM83) John Murphy (left) and Merill Sheffield on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM84) Unknown sailor on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

JM85

JM86

JM87

JM88

JM89

(JM85) John Murphy and Al Cormack on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM86) L-R: Johnny Cummins, Al Cormack and Norm Swan on the fo'c's'le of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM87) L-R: Bill Duncan, Chips Pottier, Merill Sheffield, Fred Sandever, Doug Park, Ross Gordon and Leo Burns

(JM88) L-R: Johnny Kervin, Tiny Faloona, Al Hebert and Herb Robb on the quarterdeck on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM89) Standing, L-R; John Murphy, Tiny Faloona, with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

JM90

JM91

JM92

JM93

JM94

(JM90) Frank Dowman on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM91) Arch Chambers and John Murphy by the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM92) Back row L-R: Bob Vreeland, George Crobar, Tiny Faloona, Sandy Sandever, Curly Doyle, Chips Pottier, Bill Fisher, George Wells - Front row L-R: Jerry Bowers, Frank Carey, Norm Swan, Jim Bullis (Shocks), Dick Hayward, Bert Hazelwood, Bill Olmstead on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM93) Tiny Faloona (left) and unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM94) L-R: Tiny Faloona, John Murphy, with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

JM95

JM96

JM97

JM98

JM99

(JM95) L-R: Johnny McDowell, Bill Evans, Bob Bacon, John Cummins, John Murphy, Joe LeBlond and Norm Swan on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM96) John Murphy (2nd from left) with unknown shipmates on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM97) Curley Astle on the ladder heading up to the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM98) Two unknown sailors on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 posing  for the camera

(JM99) Dick Hayward (left) and Curley Doyle on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

JM100

(JM100) Back L-RL: Tiny Faloona, John Murphy, unknown, Herb Robb, John Kervin, Curly Astle, Joe Marshall, Norm Swan. Front L-R: Chips McKinley, Al Hebert

 

JM101

JM102

JM103

JM104

JM105

(JM101) Leaning against the bulkhead on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - L-R: Frank Carey, Al Cormack and Dick Hayward. Sailor with his back to the camera unknown

(JM102) L-R: Al Cormack, Joe Marshall and Bob Bacon on the boat deck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM103) On the boatdeck, leaning against the funnel on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 - L-R: Freddy Orton, Frank Carey, John MacNeil and Bob Vreeland

(JM104) Arch Chambers, Royal Navy, by the after gun mount on HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

(JM105) John Murphy (right) with unknown shipmate on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678

 

 

 

JM106

 

 

(JM106) John Murphy on the quarterdeck of HMCS RUNNYMEDE K678 by the ladder heading up to the after gun mount

 

JM107

JM108

JM109

JM110

JM111

(JM107) Ireland

(JM108) The approaches to Lough Foyle

(JM109) Moville, Ireland

(JM110) The shores of Lough Foyle

(JM111) The banks of the Foyle River

 

JM112

JM113

JM114

JM115

JM116

(JM112-JM113) The Foyle River view from Northern Ireland looking towards Ireland

(JM114) Postcard of Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(JM115) Business card for the "Select Bar" and the "Classic Bar", Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(JM116) Bus ticket from Londonderry, Northern Ireland

 

JM117

JM118

JM118

JM120

JM121

(JM117) Street view in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(JM118) Ross Gordon on Strand Road, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(JM119) Unknown sailors ashore in Northern Ireland

(JM120)  Unknown sailor ashore in Northern Ireland

(JM121) Postcard of the Cannon "Roaring Meg", Londonderry, Northern Ireland

 

JM122

JM123

(JM122) Londonderry, Northern Ireland

(JM123) Somewhere in Northern Ireland

 

JM124

(JM124) Headline from the Toronto Daily Star 07 May 1945

 

JM125

JM126

(JM125-JM126) Surrendered U-boats in Lisahally, Northern Ireland

 

 

JM127

JM128

JM129

 

(JM127-JM129) Surrendered German U-boat U-190 at St. John's, Newfoundland

 

From the collection of John Murphy, ERA 4c, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Thomas Murphy

 


 

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