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HMCS THUNDER J156
Bangor Class Minesweeper
Built at Toronto, she was commissioned there on 14 Oct 1941. THUNDER arrived at Halifax 30 Oct 1941. After working up, she joined Sydney Force, but in Jan 1942, was transferred to WLEF and subsequently to Halifax Local Defence Force, Shelburne Force, Halifax Force, and back to Sydney Force. She sailed with BAYFIELD, GEORGIAN and MULGRAVE from Halifax on 18 Feb 1944, for Plymouth via the Azores. Arriving on 13 Mar 1944, she was allocated to the 32nd Minesweeping Flotilla as Senior Officer's ship but was later transferred to the 4th Flotilla, and was present on D-Day. THUNDER returned to Canada in Aug 1944, to refit at Sydney but was back at Plymouth in late November, assigned to the 31st Flotilla. In May 1945, in the Bay of Biscay, she accepted the surrender of the German auxiliary minesweeper FGi07. She sailed for Canada in Sep 1945, to be paid off on 04 Oct 1945 at Halifax, and was broken up at Sorel in 1947.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
Commanding Officers
Cdr Herman Dwight Mackay, RCNR - 23 May 1941 / 14 Oct 1941 - 25 Jun 1945
Lt Arthur Walter Moore, RCNR - 26 Jun 1945 - 04 Oct 1945
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(JF01 & JF02) J.P. Fortin on HMCS THUNDER J156 (JF03) J.P. Fortin (left) and (belived to be) James Tobias painting HMCS THUNDER's gunshield (JF04) HMCS THUNDER's funnel with the number of the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla with the Maple Leaf above (JF05) HMCS THUNDER J156 - note her gunshield art (JF06) J.P. Fortin on HMCS THUNDER
From the collection of Jean-Paul Fortin Courtesy of Colette Fortin
Messages saved by Fred Ambrose from his time on HMCS THUNDER J156
(1) Pre-D-Day message from Naval Commander Western Task Force (flagship USS Augusta)
(2) Post D-Day message from Admiralty congratulating Minesweeping forces and Pre D-Day message (01 Jun 1944) from S.C.F.O. (Vice-Admiral Percy W. Nelles) to all Canadian Ships, Plymouth
(3) Pre D-Day message from Naval Commander Western Task Force (flagship USS Augusta) to all British ships and craft in Western Task Force
(4) Post D-Day message from Commander Battleship Division Five (USS) Texas and Commander Task Force (US Atlantic Fleet) congratulating all ships involved.
Courtesy of Steve Ambrose
In May 1945, in the Bay of Biscay, HMCS THUNDER accepted the surrender of the German auxiliary minesweeper FGi07
The photos below are official RCN photos of the surrender of FGi07. They are sorted by their negative number (HN-xxxx) and may not necessarily be in sequences of events. The photo negative number is listed below Doug Newman's photo collection number. The photos are fairly self explanatory. Notes have been entered where deemed appropriate.
(DN100) Boarding party from HMCS THUNDER holding a NAZI flag from FGi07
(DN106) Signalman Lewis Truscott, RCNVR, guarding German prisoners on the quarterdeck of HMCS THUNDER
(DN115) THUNDER crewmember speaks with German sailor while another crew member stands guard (DN116) German prisoners on the foc's'le of HMCS THUNDER (DN117-DN118) Sailors on HMCS THUNDER relaxing on the upper decks
From the collection of Harry Douglas (Doug) Newman, PO.HSD, RCNVR
Courtesy of Brian Newman
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
