HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136

Flower Class Corvette

Built by George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon, Que. Commissioned on 19 Sep 1941, at Quebec City, SHAWINIGAN arrived at Halifax on 27 Oct 1941. She joined Sydney Force in November but on 13 Jan 1942, arrived at St. John's to join Newfoundland Command. She left 25 Jan 1942 to escort convoy SC.66 to Londonderry, the first of three round trips. In mid-May 1942 she left 'Derry for the last time, and in Jun 1942 was assigned to Halifax Force as escort to Quebec-Labrador convoys. She joined WLEF that November, almost immediately commencing a refit at Liverpool, N.S. This refit was completed in mid-Mar 1943, and in Jun 1943 SHAWINIGAN joined the recently established EG W-3. In Apr 1944, while undergoing another refit at Liverpool, during which she had her fo'c's'le extended,, she was transferred to W-2 and, on completion of the refit on 16 Jun 1944, proceeded to Bermuda to work up. At 0230 hours on 25 Nov 1944, while on independent A/S patrol out of Sydney, she was torpedoed in the Cabot Strait by U-1228 (Oberleutnant zur See Friedrich-Wilhelm Marienfeld). She exploded and sank immediately with all hands. A memorial monument dedicated to the 91 lost was erected at SHAWINIGAN, Quebec.

RCN Memories:     Remembrance

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

The Search for the HMCS SHAWINIGAN

Casualty List

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

Webmaster's note: Postwar analysis of German records shows that HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136 was sunk at 0230 on 25 Nov 1944 by U-1228.  The service records of all those who died on her show their date of death as 24 Nov 1944.  At the time she would have been presumed lost based on her last known contact, which in this case would was on 24 Nov 1944.

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(SHW001) Ship's badge for HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136  //  Courtesy of James Gilbert

(SHW002) HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136  //  Courtesy of Roger Litwiller, Naval Historian

(SHW003) HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136  //  RCN Photo # O-6625  //  Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum

(SHW004) HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136  //  From the collection of Robert Macklem  //  Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

(SHW005) The gun shield badge of HMCS SHAWINIGAN  //  A British bulldog wearing an HMCS cap is tearing the flag of NAZI Germany to shreds  //  From the collection of Thomas Joseph Simpson  //  Courtesy of Ron Simpson

(SHW006) HMCS SHAWINIGAN in St. John's, Newfoundland circa Nov/Dec 1943  //  Note that her mast snapped off from the weight of the ice  //  From the collection of David Simon, ERA  //  Courtesy of Matthew Simon

(SHW007) What Happens When The North Atlantic's 'Mad'  //  Newspaper article on HMCS SHAWINIGAN in a North Atlantic storm  //  Crow's Nest newspaper - Apr 1944

(SHW008) HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136 in 1943  //  From the collection of Thomas J. Simpson

(SHW009) Signalman McDougall - Missing at Sea  //  Written on clipping - 26 June 1945  // Source: City of Kawartha Lake Public Library

(SHW010) Signalman Donald McDougall - Missing at Sea  //  Written on clipping - 26 June 1945  //  Source: City of Kawartha Lake Public Library

(SHW011) AB Milton Whymark - Missing at Sea  //  Written on clipping - 26 June 1945  //  Source: City of Kawartha Lake Public Library

(SHW012 - SHW13) Newspapers on the loss of HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136  //  From the collection of Rodney Carson, QR III, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Chris Carson

(SHW014) Newspaper article about Ontario sailors lost when HMCS SHAWINIGAN was sunk  //  The Evening Telegram, Toronto, 07 Dec 1944  //  Courtesy of Bill Watson

(SHW015) 4 Calgary, 5 Alberta Men Lost In SHAWINIGAN Sinking  //  Courtesy of Operation Picture Me

(SHW016) Newspaper article on SLt Haddow Baird and AB Alfred Savoy who were reported missing when HMCS SHAWINIGAN was sunk  //  From the Fredericton Daily Gleaner  //  Courtesy of Ian Baird

(SHW017) A poem honouring those lost on HMCS SHAWINIGAN  //  From the collection of David Simon, ERA  //  Courtesy of Matthew Simon

(SHW018) Monument dedicated to all those who died on HMCS SHAWINIGAN at Shawinigan, Quebec

(SHW019) Transcription of newspaper article on HMCS ANTIGONISH search for survivors of HMCS SHAWINIGAN  //  Source: Service file of Tel Howard Barlow

(SHW020) Article on the loss of the SHAWINIGAN  //  The Edmonton Bulletin Dec 1944

(SHW021) Photos of Edmonton and District men who were lost when SHAWINIGAN was sunk  //  The Edmonton Bulletin Dec 1944  //  Courtesy of Operation Picture Me

(DL007) "Start Chipping Boys, Winter At Sea"  //  HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136 covered in ice  //  Don , Stan Sutton, Corky Harris, Stan Green  //  Note that her mast has snapped off

(DL008) HMCS SHAWINIGAN K136 covered in ice

(DL009) Coming into port - St. John's, 1944

(DL010) Londoners Missing When Canadian Corvette Lost - 90 Missing After Canuk Ship Lost  //  The London Free Press, London, ON

(DL011) Missing at Sea - Leading Stoker Edward Ritzer  //  Article from the London Free Press, London, ON

(DL012) Londoner Missing On Lost Corvette - Leading Stoker Stanley L. Smithson  //  Article from the London Free Press, London, ON

From the collection of Don Lovell, Telegraphist, RCNVR

Courtesy of David Barlow