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HMCS
TORONTO K538 / 319
River
Class / Prestonian Class Frigate
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HMCS TORONTO K538
From the
collection of Thomas J. Simpson |
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Battle honours and awards: Gulf of St.
Lawrence 1944
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Laid down: 10 May 1943
Launched: 18
Sep 1943
Commissioned: 06 May 1944
Paid off: 27
Nov 1945
Re-commissioned: 26
Mar 1953
Paid off: 14
Apr 1956
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Loaned to the Norwegian Navy:
1956
Re-commissioned: 14
Apr 1956
Transferred
to the Norwegian Navy: 1959
Re-classed: 1965
Disposed: 1977/78
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Laid down as HMCS
GIFFARD, she was
renamed and commissioned on 06 May 1944, at Lévis as HMCS TORONTO. She
arrived at Halifax on 28 May 1944 leaving on 18 Jun 1944 for a month's
working-up in Bermuda. In Aug 1944 TORONTO was allocated to EG 16,
Halifax, but for the next few weeks operated principally from
Sydney. Following repairs in Nov 1944 she joined Halifax Force and
was employed locally until May 1945, when she began five months'
training duty at HMCS CORNWALLIS. Paid off on 27 Nov 1945, she was
placed in reserve at Shelburne, but was re-commissioned on 26 Mar
1953, after conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort. She was
paid off for the last time on 14 Apr 1956, having been lent to
the Norwegian Navy, which renamed her HNoMS GARM. She was permanently
transferred in 1959, and re-classed in 1965 as a torpedo boat depot
ship - simultaneously renamed HNoMS VALKYRIEN, she served a further 13
years before being disposed of.
Photos and Documents
Ship's
company photos
Commanding Officers
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LCdr Henry Knot Hill,
RCNVR - 20 Mar - 17 Mar 1945
LCdr Anthony George
S. Griffin,
RCNVR - 18 Mar 1945 - 17 Jun 1945
A/LCdr Edward Burton Pearce,
RCNVR - 18 Jun 1945 - 27 Nov 1945
LCdr William David
F.
Johnston,
RCN - 26 Nov 1953 - 31 Aug 1954 |
LCdr A.H. MacDonald, RCN - 01 Sep
1954 - 03 Jan 1956
LCdr Gordon Story Clark,
RCN - 04 Jan 1956 - 05 Apr 1956
LCdr William Wyness MacColl,
RCN - 06 Apr 1956 - 14 Apr 1956 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
They shall not be
forgotten
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Anderson,
William J.
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Bankes,
John M.
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Bielby, John
W.
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Bragg, James R.
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Cassidy,
William J.
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Eldridge,
Richard
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Fortington,
Roy E.
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Hainsworth,
John W.
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Hansen,
Frank A.
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Hardy,
Donald H.
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Higgs,
Herbert G.
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Hubley,
Allan M.
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Hughes,
Donald C.
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Johnston,
William D.F.
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Kersey,
Patrick J.
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Lovell, Donald
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Lowe,
Alan Gordon
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MacAlpine,
Gerald A.
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Manzer,
Robert B.C. |
Marshall,
Harry S.
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Naugle,
Allan B.
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Needham,
Arnold
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Porter, Robert
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Price, Bob
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Reid,
Douglas C. |
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Reilly,
Harold W.
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Salsiccioli,
Peter P.
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Savage,
Robert L.
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Samson,
Kenneth
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Simpson,
Thomas J.
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Sutherland,
Pius J.
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Willson,
Robert A.
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Former Crew Members
(CC) = Commissioning crew
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Beique,
Leon, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 12 Jun 1944
Brown,
Alexander, Lt (E), RCNR - 18 Mar 1944 (CC)
Chappell,
Norman Russell, Lt, RCNVR - 20 Mar 1944 (CC)
Curry,
Don, Radar Operator - Feb 1956 - Apr 1956
Gilbert,
Bruce Walter, SLt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944 (CC)
Gordon,
Arnold
Griffin,
Anthony George Scott, LCdr, RCNVR - 12 Mar 1945
Howard,
Ralph Turnbull, SLt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944 (CC)
Madden,
Frederick George, SLt, RCNVR - 21 May 1945
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Mann,
Roger James, Lt, RCNR - 16 May 1944
McBean,
Athol Oscar, Lt, RCNVR - 07 May 1945
Merkel,
James William Arthur, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Mar 1945
Spears,
Lawrence, AB 
Thomas,
Charles Humbert, A/Lt, RCNVR - 06 May 1944 (CC)
Tofflemire,
Bob, RP
Turnbull,
Walter Gordon Gay, SLt, RCNVR - 05 Mar 1945
Webb,
Maurice Edward, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 12 Jun 1944
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Photos and
Documents
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The launching of HMCS TORONTO K538
- 18 Sep 1943
From the collection of Thomas J.
Simpson
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HMCS TORONTO K538
DND / RCN Photo - Crown copyright |
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A HMCS TORONTO K538 Christmas Card - 1944
From the collection of John
Hainsworth
Courtesy of Nancy Goede |
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Jacket Patch from HMCS TORONTO K538
From the collection of John
Hainsworth
Courtesy of Nancy Goede |
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Petty Officer Robert Porter, HMCS TORONTO K538
From the collection of Robert Porter
Courtesy of Dana Porter |
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Officers on HMCS TORONTO K538, Bermuda, Jun-Jul 1944
Harry Marshall - centre
From the collection of Harry Marshall
Courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
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Sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS TORONTO K538,
Bermuda, Jun-Jul 1944
Harry Marshall only officer in group, standing on
left
From the collection of Harry Marshall
Courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
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Don Lovell on HMCS TORONTO K538, Halifax, Jetty
"0", 1945
From the collection of Don Lovell
Courtesy of David Barlow |
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Wedding of Emma (Judy) and Harry Marshall onboard
HMCS TORONTO 17 Mar 1945
Courtesy of Maggy - daughter of Charlie Thomas
(L-R)
Pauline (Polly) Thomas, bride Emma (Judy) M. Marshall, groom Harry S.
Marshall and Charles (Charlie) Thomas. Pauline and Charie were
bridesmaid and best man. The WRENs Polly and Judy, were stationed at
Stadacona. Charlie was a Lt on HMCS TORONTO. |
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Wedding
party of Lt Harry Marshall and Wren Emma Maud (Judy) Morrow on HMCS TORONTO 17 Mar 1945 Wren
Pauline Kennedy and Lt Charles Thomas were the maid of honour and best man. 2nd
row L-R: unknown, Charles Thomas, Pauline Kennedy, Judy and Harry
Marshall, unknown Back
Row: 3rd from right - William J.J. Wade, Ch Skpr, RCNR
From the collection of Harry Marshall
Courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
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Cornwallis recruits on board HMCS TORONTO 319 -
1954
From the collection of Francis Gerald (Gerry)
Walsh
Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe |
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HMCS TORONTO 319
DND / RCN Photo |
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