HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

Algerine Class Minesweeper

 


 

HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

From the collection of Lt James Hicks, RCNVR

Courtesy of Ian Simpson

 

Battle honours and awards;  Atlantic  1944-45

 

 

Laid down: 21 May 1942

Launched: 05 Nov 1942

Commissioned: 10 Sep 1943

Paid off: 25 Sep 1946

Fate: Unknown

 

Built at Port Arthur, Ont., she was commissioned there on 10 Sep 1943, ST BONIFACE arrived at Halifax late in Oct 1943, and worked up at Pictou from Nov to Dec 1943. She was then assigned as Senior Officer's ship to EG W-5 of Western Escort Force until mid-Apr 1944. She then transferred to W-4, again as S.O., until early Dec 1944 when, following minor repairs at Halifax, proceed to Bermuda to work up. Upon returning to Canada, she rejoined W-4 until the group was disbanded in Jun 1945. On 18 Apr 1945, ST BONIFACE was in collision with SS Empire Chamois in the Halifax approaches, as the freighter's convoy, SC.173, was forming up for passage to the U.K. ST BONIFACE suffered extensive damage to her bows, but made Halifax under her own power and was under repair there for three months. In Aug 1945, she became a training ship at HMCS CORNWALLIS until Jan 1946, when she was placed in reserve at Halifax. She was finally paid off on 25 Sep 1946, and sold for mercantile use. She was last noted under Panamanian flag as Bess Barry M. in 1954.

 

The wedding ceremony of Kathleen (Kitty) Keen and Russell Daniels, Stoker 1st Class, took place on board HMCS ST BONIFACE while the ship was at Port Arthur, Ontario

 


 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

 


 

HMCS ST BONIFACE - Deck Log - 10 Sep 1943 - 06 Dec 1943

 

HMCS ST BONIFACE - Deck Log 14 - 22 Nov 1943

 

Engineering ratings on HMCS ST BONIFACE

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr John James Hodgkinson, RCNR - 10 Sep 1943 - 12 May 1944

A/LCdr John de la Fosse Frewer, RCNVR - 13 May 1944 - 14 Apr 1945

LCdr John Manuel Watson, RCNR - 15 Apr 1945 - 25 Jun 1945

Lt Charles William King, RCNVR - 26 Jun 1945 - 19 Aug 1945

LCdr R.N. Smillie, RCNVR - 20 Aug 1945 - 29 Jan 1946

Lt Harold Richard Tilley, RCN - 21 Mar 1946 - 26 Apr 1946

Skpr/Lt Paul Perrault, RCNR - 27 Apr 1946 - 25 Sep 1946

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

 

 

Apple, Barnabas William Nixon, SLt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

Cordes, James

 

Dickson, Robert Hamilton, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Feb 1944

 

Dyson, John (Jack)

 

Harrison, John Ross, Lt, RCNVR - 05 Feb 1945

Jackson, George Alexander, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 16 Mar 1945

 

Kirby, Charles Douglas, A/Lt, RCNVR - 27 Jul 1944

 

MacKenzie, Donald Allan, Lt, RCNVR - 02 Feb 1943 / 02 Feb 1944

 

Montgomery, Richard Alan, SLt (SB) (R), RCNVR - 03 Feb 1944

 

Moreton, Alan Winsford, Lt, RCNVR - 18 May 1944

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Article on the Christening of HMCS ST BONIFACE

From the collection of Sto 1c Russ Daniels

Courtesy of Greg Daniels

LCdr John James Hodgkinson, RCNR

1st Commanding Officer, HMCS ST BONIFACE J333

10 Sep 1943 - 12 May 1944

HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown crew on the bridge wing of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown crew on the bridge wing of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

 

William (Bill) Connor on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

William Gilbert on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailors on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

William (Bill) Connor (holding a stuffed toy rabbit) on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor (holding a stuffed toy rabbit) on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor (holding a stuffed toy rabbit) on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor (seen in photo above holding stuffed rabbit)

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Jacking around for the camera.  Unknown sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailors on the Quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown Petty Officer on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown ship astern of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor on the Quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor sitting on the breakwater on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Unknown sailor by the air vents / carley float rack on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 transiting the locks at Sault Ste Marie

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Minesweepers in formation - altering course - HMCS ST BONIFACE lead ship

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Blow Gentle Breeze"

White Ensign flying on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

 

"Boys on the ST BONIFACE"

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

 

 

The two men in the photo with beards are (left) Al Barker and (right) Sam.  Crouching, front right is Cecil Muzzerall

 

    

Al Barker (left), and Sam (right)

 

"Dhobying on Blue Monday"

HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Gone to Bed"

Machine guns on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 covered up

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"the Haystack"

Storage rack for depth charges on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Two sailors standing behind the breakwater of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 - unknown River class destroyer off port beam

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Hello again!"

Unknown River class destroyer off Starboard quarter of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Unknown sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"In the Gates"

Convoy astern of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Looking astern on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Results Nil"

Depth charge explodes astern of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Our better half"

Looking after from the crows nest of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Unknown corvette, seen from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332, rolling heavily in the seas

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

"Skyward Bound"

Looking up towards the mast from the quarterdeck of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Twin machine gun mounts on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Looking up the mast on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Robert Macklem

Courtesy of Kelly Macklem

Newspaper article on HMCS ST BONIFACE's Basketball undefeated team

The Crow's Nest newspaper - Apr 1945

HMCS ST BONIFACE with a damaged bow after her collision with SS Empire Chamois in the Halifax approaches - 18 Apr 1945

Splice the Mainbrace on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

Note: possibly VE day

 

Cecil Muzzerall - centre, far back, immediately above the cox'n who is issuing tots

Don Patterson with ship's mascot WUPS

 



 

JH01

JH02

JH03

JH04

JH05

(JH01) Unknown officer on HMCS ST BONIFACE J331

(JH02) Lt (E) Carl Bartlett Britnell, Lt (E), RCNVR, HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 - 1944

(JH03) Unknown Wren and SLt James (Jim) Gordon MacLennan Hicks, RCNVR on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(JH04-JH05) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Lt James Hicks, RCNVR

Courtesy of Ian Simpson

 



 

PJ09

PJ10

PJ11

PJ12

PJ13

(PJ09) Paul James on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 just forward of the after gun mount  (PJ10) USN Blimp searching for U-boats  (PJ11) Paul James with shipmates on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332  (PJ12-PJ13) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 iced-up all the way to New York

 

* PJ11 - Click here to view the photo with sailors numbered for identification

 

PJ14

PJ15

PJ16

PJ17

PJ18

(PJ14) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 conducting a stern fueling at sea  (PJ15) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 Christmas card  (PJ16) Frigate HMS GLENARM K258 approaching HMCS ST BONIFACE J332  (PJ17) HMCS GALT K163 at St. John's, NFLD  (PJ18) Unknown frigate alongside HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

PJ19

PJ20

PJ21

PJ22

PJ23

(PJ19-PJ23) Unknown sailor on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

PJ24

PJ25

PJ26

PJ27

PJ28

(PJ24) Shipmates Pete Dalphe and Jack Dyso  (PJ25) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 jacket patch - based on the ship's badge  (PJ26) Convoy escorts in line ahead - photo taken from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332  (PJ27) A foggy day at sea - with a ship barely visible, approaching HMCS ST BONIFACE J332  (PJ28) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 bites into a wave in heavy seas

 

PJ29

PJ30

PJ31

PJ32

PJ33

(PJ29) Paul James and shipmates on weekend R&R  (PJ30) Stray dog that was on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 for a while  (PJ31) Stoker Al Gardener on HMCS ST BONIFACE, Halifax, NS  (PJ32) Stoker Paul James on HMS ST BONIFACE J332, Halifax, NS  (PJ33) Stokers from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 on the jetty with HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 in the background

 

PJ34

PJ35

PJ36

PJ37

(PJ34-PJ37) Unknown sailors on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

PJ38

PJ39

PJ40

PJ41

(PJ38) HMCS VALLEYFIELD K329 - taken not long before she was torpedoed and sunk  (PJ39) Tribal Class destroyer HMCS IROQUOIS G89  (PJ40) Damage of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 after her collision with the freighter SS EMPIRE CHAMOIS on 18 Apr 1945 in the Halifax approaches as the freighter was forming up for convoy SC173  (PJ41) Unknown sailor sitting on the damaged fo'c's'le of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

PJ42

PJ43

PJ44

PJ45

(PJ42-PJ43) Troopship Ile De France in convoy  (PJ44) Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC)  (PJ45) Anti-aircraft balloon - possibly somewhere in England

 

(PJ46) Volunteers for the Pacific Theatre before they go on leave

 

Webmaster's note: it is not known if these sailors are all from ST BONIFACE J332 or if the are from various ships

 

PJ47

PJ48

PJ49

PJ50

HMCS U-190 (former German U-boat U-190) arrives in Halifax

Photos taken from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

 

PJ64

 

PJ64

(PJ64) William Edward, son of SLt (E) and Mrs. Carl B. Britnell christened on ship

 

From the collection of Paul James, Stoker, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Gary James

 



 

 

WD153

RCN Neg # S-1329

WD154

RCN Neg # S-1330

 

(WD153-WD154) Christening of  William Edward, son of SLt and Mrs. Carl B. Brittnell aboard HMCS ST BONIFACE.  Godparents  Lt John De La Fosse Frewer, CO, HMCS ST BONIFACE and Mrs. H.F. Richardson, of Larder Lake, Ont.

 

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

 

Courtesy of Grant Dougall

 



 

 

AD20

AD21

(AD20) Guests at the commissioning of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 10 Sep 1943 //  Photographer Clarke Seaton, News Chronicle Publishing Company

(AD21) Article on the Christening (Commissioning) of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

 

AD22

AD23

(AD22) Ship's Company HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD23) Officers of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

These 2 photos are also found on the Ship's Company Photo page for HMCS ST BONIFACE

 

AD24

AD25

AD26

AD27

AD28

(AD24) Engine Room Ratings on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD25-AD26) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 at Port Arthur, Ontario 10 Sep 1943. Photographer Clarke Seaton, News Chronicle Publishing Company

(AD27-AD28) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 - location unknown

 

AD29

A30

AD31

AD32

AD33

(AD29) LCdr J.J. Hodgkinson, C.O., HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD30) LCdr Hodgkinson, (left). Officer on the right unknown on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD31) Lt (E) Allan Dougall (left) and Surg-Lt William R. "Doc" Fraser on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD32) Surg-Lt William Fraser (left) and LCdr J. Hodgkinson (back, centre) on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD33) Lt Lawrence G. (Larry) Hampson on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 

 

AD34

AD35

AD36

AD37

(AD34) L-R: Lt Hugh Barton (Hughie) Young, Lt Lawrence (Larry) Hampson and Walter J. Barrett-Lennard on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD35) Lt Hughie Young on the bridge of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD36) Officers of HMCS ST BONIFACE on the bridge of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD37) ST BONIFACE officers ashore in the Latin Quarter, New York, NY -  L-R:  J. Hughes,  J.J. Hodgkinson, H. Young, W.J. Barrett-Leonard, A.T. Dougall and  R. Angus

 

AD35

AD36

AD37

AD38

AD39

(AD35) Port Oerlikon gun on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD36) Aft Oerlikon gun on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD37) Forward 4-inch gun, port and starboard Oerlikon mounts on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD38) A few sailors on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 enjoying a bit of quiet time on the quarterdeck

(AD39) Bridge and 4-inch gun of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 as seen from the crow's nest

 

 

AD40

AD41

 

(AD40) HMCS ST BONIFACE in the Dartmouth slips - May 1944

(AD41) Lt Allan Dougall extinguishing a fire in the ST BONIFACE'S funnel - photo between Apr-Nov 1944

 

AD42

(AD42) Click on the above image for the story behind the painting of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Allan Dougall, LCdr (E), RCN(R)

Courtesy of David Dougall

 


 

HMCS ST BONIFACE 1994 Reunion

 

Madam Deputy Speaker, as the representative for the provincial constituency of ST BONIFACE, it is for me a singular honour to speak on the resolution that is before this House. In particular, I would like to make special mention to the veterans who will be celebrating this evening at the ST BONIFACE City Hall the 50th anniversary ship's reunion of the HMCS ST BONIFACE. Their valour and bravery brought glory not only to the country under whose flag they fought, but also to the city their ship's name so proudly bore. St. Boniface is a community rich in 175 years of history of western Canada. Their vessel and its crew stand as proud memorials to this history. (Excerpt from the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Thursday, June 2, 1994)

 

 

AD43

AD44

 

(AD43) Former crew members of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

(AD44) Former crew members of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 with spouses

 

 

AD45

AD46

AD47

 

 

AD48

AD49

AD50

AD51

 

AD52

AD53

AD54

AD55

 

From the collection of Allan Dougall, LCdr (E), RCN(R)

Courtesy of David Dougall

 



 

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