HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70

Source: Public Domain photo from Naval History Net

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic 1943-44,   Normandy  1944,   Biscay  1944

Laid down: 25 Jul 1933

Launched: 29 Aug 1934

Commissioned: 27 Apr 1935

Transferred to the RCN: 31 May 1943

Commissioned: 31 May 1943

Paid off: 27 Jan 1946

Placed on Disposal List: 28 Jan 1946

Fate: Broken up at Sydney, N.S., in 1946

Banks, Robert R., Sto (of Amherst, NS) - 1944

Barton, Cyril F., AB (of Saint John, NB) - 1944

Bell, Alex - 1944

Belyea, Holly Dan, AB (of Saint John, NB) - 1944

Brackett, John, S.P.O. (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Bradley, Bill (of Charlottetown) - 1944. Wounded in Channel action in 1944.

Brooks, Charles Edgar, SLt, RCNR - 31 May 1943

Cartier, Howard B., C.P.O. (GM), (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Cavers, J. Arthur, L/SBA (of Ottawa) -1944

Desrosiers, Jacques, Lt, RCNVR - 14 Feb 1944

Ennis, Mark - 1944

Fenton, Edward J., S.P.O. (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Ferne, Harry Curtis, Lt, RCNVR - 31 May 1943

Forbes, Peter Whyte, Lt (E), RCNR - 07 May 1943 (Stand by) /  31 May 1943 / 15 Feb 1944

Fortier, Thomas de Blois, A/Lt, RCNVR - 03 May 1944

Gallant, Joseph, AB (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Goodwin, John F., AB (of Saint John, NB) - 1944

Green, Lewis, L/Sig (of Saint John, NB) - 1944

Guelenchyer, Nicke, 4.7 Gunner (of Oshawa) - 1944

Hencher, Thomas, ERA (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Humble, Bob, SLt, Naval Photographer (of Ottawa) - 1944. Wounded in 1944 Channel action. Hit in back by schrapnel

Hume, Lorne, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Apr 1945

Hyndman, Harry Harland, Lt, RCN - 31 May 1943

Irving, Alonza P., LS (of Murray Harbour, PEI) - 1944

Irwin, John Robert, SLt (E), RCNVR - 20 Mar 1944

Kayle, John, Sto (of Fort William) - 1944

Keeley, Charles Douglas, Surg/Lt, RCNVR

Kimber, John R (Jack), Chief Stoker (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Kitz, Joseph Russell, A/Lt (E), RCNVR - 08 May 1945

Lesslie, William Van Arnam, A/SLt, RCN - 31 May 1943

Levy, John Givson, Lt (El), RCNVR - 24 Mar 1944

Lockhart, Burton V., AB (of Saint John, NB) - 1944

Mason, John Kingsford Herbert, Lt, RCNVR - 19 Feb 1944

McAllister, William Lawrence (Laurie), PO 

McCormack, Leo Patrick, Lt, RCNVR - 31 May 1943

McKeigan, Donald A., AB (of Glace Bay, NS) - 1944

McLeod, George, Coder (of Moncton, NB) - 1944

Millman, Frederick, AB, (of Alberton, PEI) - 1944

Mossman, Hector H., AB (of Milton, NS) - 1944

Murphy, William, AB (of Charlottetown) - 1944. Wounded in Channel action in 1944.

Nickerson, George V., A/PO Tel (of Boylston, NS) - 1944

Phillips, Al - 1944

Pride, James D., PO (of Halifax, NS) - 1944

Rainnie, Phil, L/Sto (of Toronto) - 1944

Richardson, Oscar Billings, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 31 May 1943

Schonenals, Lloyd, AB (of Goderich, ON) - 1944 - Wounded in Channel action in 1944, Capt No. 5 Oerlikon gun.

Skelly, Doug, SD (of Toronto) - 1944

Sweeney, Claude F., AB (of New Victoria, NS) - 1944

Thomas, William Alfred, Lt (E), RCNVR - 15 Feb 1944

Tucker, Floyd A., AB (of Elgin, NB) - 1944

Wade, John Howard, Lt, RCNVR -31 May 1943

Webber, Reginald Amand, Lt, RCN - 31 May 1943

Whalley, Arthur George Cuthbert, LCdr, RCNVR - 13 Jun 1945

Whitman, George S., Shipwrite 3c (of Beaver Harbour, NS) - 1944

Whyte, William Methvin, Lt, RCNVR - 31 May 1943

Wickett, Francis Dudley, Lt, RCNVR - 31 May 1943

William, Harold Hoslin, Lt (E), RCNVR - 15 Feb 1944

Williams, Thomas H., Sto (of Dalhousie, NB) - 1944

Wartime badge of HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70

Courtesy of David Freeman

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70

From the collection of James Robertson

Courtesy of Jim Robertson

Patrick Chambers and shipmates on the gun of HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70.  Patrick is on the end (left) of the gun barrel

Source: Obituary for Patrick Chambers.

Patrick Chambers on board HMCS SASKATCHEWAN in the North Atlantic

Source: Obituary for Patrick Chambers

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 Leaving St John's Harbour.

Source: The photo collection of the late Samuel L. Anderson, CPO, RCN

Published with permission of Bob Anderson.  To view the entire collection, click here.

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 departing St John's, Nfld

Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

Patrick Chambers on board HMCS SASKATCHEWAN

Source: Obituary for Patrick Chambers

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70

From the collection of H.J. Simmons

Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville

Photos from the collection of H.J. Simmons and John Carpenter

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 or HMCS ST LAURENT H83

The photos here are from the collections of two sailors. It is known that H.J. Simmons served in HMCS SASKATCHEWAN and it is known that John Carpenter served in HMCS ST Laurent. However, it is not known which ship these were taken from. Did both serve on the same ship at some point, or were they friends and shared photos.  

As it is not known which ship these were taken on - they have been included on the pages of both HMCS ST LAURENT and HMCS SASKATCHEWAN

Webmaster's note:  above photos 2, 9, 12, 14 and 15 - were from the collection of John Carpenter.  There were included in this section as they appear to have been taken on a destroyer and some fit the sequence of photos that were identical

The photos below are from the collection of H.J. Simmons.  It is known he served in HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 - and these photos were in a album which included his leave ticket while on HMCS SASKATCHEWAN.  However, a number of his photos (above) are identical to those in the collection of John Carpenter.  It is known John served in HMCS St Laurent H83. While the photos below are not found in John's collection, there is reason to wonder if they were taken on/from SASKATCHEWAN or ST LAURENT.

None of the photos from either sailors collection has their ship's name written on the back - so at this point, until these photos can be positively placed as being taken on one ship or the other, they will be included on the pages for both.

From the collection of H.J. Simmons

Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville

Leave ticket for H.J. Simmons, March 1944

From the collection of H.J. Simmons

Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville

Newspaper article from the Oshawa Times, 09 Apr 1991

Jack Kimber, HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70,  remembers what it was like to return from war

From the collection of H.J. Simmons

Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70, Rothesay Bay, Scotland

Courtesy of John Coburn

Click here to view the names on the back of the photo

Newspaper article on HMCS SASKATCHEWAN's participation in Operation Dredger 5/6 Jul 1944 off the coast of France

Names of sailors from the Maritimes that are listed in the article:  Fenton, Edward J., S.P.O. (of Halifax, NS); Nickerson, George V., A/PO Tel (of Boylston, NS); Brackett, John, S.P.O. (of Halifax, NS); Barton, Cyril F., AB (of Saint John, NB); Kimber, John R., Chief Stoker (of Halifax, NS); McKeigan, Donald A., AB (of Glace Bay, NS); Cartier, Howard B., C.P.O. (GM), (of Halifax, NS); Belyea, Holly D., AB (of Saint John, NB); Pride, James D., PO (of Halifax, NS); Whitman, George S., Shipwrite 3c (of Beaver Harbour, NS); Hencher, Thomas, ERA (of Halifax, NS); Goodwin, John F., AB (of Saint John, NB); Tucker, Floyd A., AB (of Elgin, NB); Sweeney, Claude F., AB (of New Victoria, NS); Banks, Robert R., Sto (of Amherst, NS); Irving, Alonza P., LS (of Murray Harbour, PEI); Gallant, Joseph, AB (of Halifax, NS); Lawrie, John M., AB (of Halifax, NS); Millman, Frederick, AB, (of Alberton, PEI); Green, Lewis, L/Sig (of Saint John, NB); McLeod, George, Coder (of Moncton, NB); Williams, Thomas H., Sto (of Dalhouse, NB); Lockhart, Burton V., AB (of Saint John, NB); Mossman, Hector H., AB (of Milton, NS)

Courtesy of Noreen Millman

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

WR05

Article on Operation Dredger 5/6 Jul 1944 - The Albertan 14 Aug 1944

Sailors listed in the article:

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN - LS Dugald Leitch of Calgary;  AB Basil Goodrich of Calgary;  AB Henry Dyer of Edmonton;  AB Lennox Riley of Calgary;  Tel William Romanchuk of Stry;  AB George Clark of Edmonton;  LCdr Allan Easton, CO of Halifax, Lt Alfred William Everett of Winnipeg;  Surg-Lt Doug Keeley;  SLt John Nichol of Vancouver

HMCS QU'APPELLE - Cdr Sandy MacKillop, RN, CO

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 - 22 Nov 1944

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 at anchor, Halifax - 22 Nov 1944

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

Submarine alongside at Tobermory - date unknown

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

Robert Murry (left) and Jacques Desrosiers ashore in Edinburgh, Scotland - Mar 1945

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

Robert Murray (left) and Mo in Edinburgh, Scotland - Mar 1945

in Edinburgh, Scotland - Mar 1945

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

Canadian naval officers visit Blackpool, Thursday 29 Mar 1945

LCdr T.C. Pullen, Commanding Officer HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 - front row 2nd from right

From the collection of Robert Murray

Courtesy of Ann Haver

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 - date unknown

From the collection of Ron Critchley

Courtesy of Diane Brown

A mess deck on HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70

Aubrey Baker - 1st on right

From the collection of J. Aubrey Baker, RCNVR

Courtesy of Bryan Baker

HMCS SASKATCHEWAN H70 astern of HMCS WALLACEBURG J336

From the collection of William (Bill) Dougall, LTO (LP), RCNVR

Courtesy of Grant Dougall