|
HMCS WARRIOR
Colossus Class Aircraft Carrier
Built for the RN at Belfast, Ireland, she was commissioned at HMS WARRIOR on 02 Apr 1945. She was transferred to the RCN on 14 Mar 1946 and commissioned the same day as HMCS WARRIOR. Soon after it was found her heating system was insufficient to deal with the cold waters of the North Atlantic. WARRIOR was transferred to the West Coast until she was returned to the RN in exchange for a more suitable carrier - the MAGNIFICENT. In Feb 1948, she arrived at Belfast, where she transferred stores to MAGNIFICENT and, on 23 Mar 1948, was paid off by the RCN. She served in the RN until 1958, when she was sold to Argentina and on 08 Jul 1959 was commissioned as INDEPENDENCIA. She served until being paid off in 1970 and sold for scrap in 1971.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
Commanding Officers
Capt. Frank Llewellyn Houghton, CBE, RCN - 24 Jan 1946 - 17 Jan 1947
Cmdre Henry George DeWolf, CBE, DSO, DSC, RCN - 18 Jan 1947 - 23 Mar 1948
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Z
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
Commissioning Book 24 Jan 1946
(WAR000) Battle Honours HMS WARRIOR // From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd) // Courtesy of Gerry Curry
(WAR001) Murray Clapp Writes of R.N.A.S. in Ireland (article includes info on WARRIOR being built for the RCN) // The Picton Gazette 25 Jan 1946 // Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection // Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016 (WAR002) The arrival of HMCS WARRIOR in Halifax - 31 Mar 1946 // Courtesy of Hugh Muir (WAR003) HMCS WARRIOR in drydock - prior to being commissioned in the RCN // The Picton Gazette 01 Feb 1946 // Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection // Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016 (WAR004) The commissioning of HMCS WARRIOR // Courtesy of John Knudsen (WAR005) The commissioning of HMCS WARRIOR // Courtesy of John Knudsen
(WAR006) Newspaper article on AB William Barlow serving in HMCS WARRIOR // Halifax Chronicle 05 Apr 1946 // Courtesy of George Newbury (WAR007) Napkin ring from the Wardroom of HMCS WARRIOR // From the collection of Douglas John Ford, LCdr, RCN(R) // Courtesy of Jay Ford (WAR008) HMCS WARRIOR // From the collection of Wilfred Rafuse (WAR009) HMCS WARRIOR entering Esquimalt harbour // From the collection of Sto 1c Art Bell, RCNVR // Photo courtesy of Art's son Andrew, daughter-in-law Rita Giulietti and daughter Janet Bell Crawford (WAR010) SEAMEN GIVE BLOOD // Two hundred Canadian Navy seamen of the aircraft carrier H.M.C.S. Warrior were among the first volunteers to donate their blood to the Red Cross Society's peacetime free Blood Transfusion Service now operating in British Columbia. Dr. Walter Rice, Provincial Medical Director for the Service in B.C., is shown preparing a sea-going volunteer for his donation. Of the $5,000,000 sought by the Society in their 1947 National Red Cross Appeal, now underway, $1,037,500 is budgeted to establish and maintain the free National Blood Transfusion Service throughout Canada. (Lunenburg Progress Enterprise, Wed, 26 Mar 1947 // Courtesy of George Newbury)
(WAR011 - WAR012) HMCS WARRIOR pulls away from "A jetty, Esquimalt, BC // From the collection of LCdr Douglas John Ford // Courtesy of Jay Ford (WAR013) Bob Cornish (right) with two shipmates in the West Indies circa 1950 // From the collection of Bob Cornish // Courtesy of Gerald (Jerry) Sullivan (WAR014) Fairey Firefly crash on HMCS WARRIOR // Source: Canadian War Museum George Metcalf Archival Collection CWM 19910238-690 (WAR015) HMCS UGANDA joins HMCS WARRIOR and HMCS CRESCENT of Acapulco Bay // Halifax Mail, Wed. 27 Nov 1946 // Courtesy of George Newbury
(WAR016) Hangar deck of HMCS WARRIOR // From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN // Courtesy of Gerry Curry (WAR017) Landing on HMCS WARRIOR // From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN // Courtesy of Gerry Curry (WAR018) Flight deck of HMCS WARRIOR // From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN // Courtesy of Gerry Curry (WAR019) Captain F.L. Houghton (C.O. of HMCS WARRIOR), with dignitaries in Mexico City, November 1946, for Inauguration of its President // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (WAR020) 5 officers and 95 men flown to Mexico City to take part in the inauguration parade for the Mexican President - 1946. HMCS WARRIOR was anchored off Acapulco at the time // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan
(WAR021) Article on crew from HMCS WARRIOR attending the Inauguration of Mexico's President // Courtesy of George Newbury (WAR022) HMCS WARRIOR run aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway due to a steering gear problem in 1947. She was floated off with then next tide with the assistance of a tug // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (WAR023) HMCS WARRIOR fueling HMCS NOOTKA R96 during deployment to the Pacific Ocean in 1947 // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (WAR024) Sunday divisions on HMCS WARRIOR circa 1947 // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (WAR025) Sunday divisions on HMCS WARRIOR // Courtesy of Vern Olson
(WAR026) HMCS WARRIOR passing under the Lion's Gate Bridge 10 Mar 1947 // Photographer: Jack Lindsay // Source: City of Vancouver Archives (WAR027) HMCS WARRIOR with HMS Savage G20 in the background // From the collection of Larry Hartman // Courtesy of Ray Hartman (WAR028) Donald Fraser Hunter on HMCS WARRIOR // From the collection of Donald Hunter // Courtesy of Jean Haverkate (WAR029) HMCS WARRIOR // Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw (WAR030) HMCS WARRIOR // Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw
(WAR031) HMCS WARRIOR - DND- RCN photo
(MA013) Michael Ashworth (left) at a bar in San Diego, Calif. // From the collection of Michael Ashworth // Courtesy of Jill Cann (MA014) Michael Ashworth (right) at a bar in San Diego, Calif. (MA015) HMCS WARRIOR liberty men rushing to catch the boat - 1946 (MA016) Michael Ashworth on HMCS WARRIOR
(MA017 - MA019) Photos taken by Michael Ashworth during HMCS WARRIOR's trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific (MA020) HMCS WARRIOR passing under the Lion's Gate Bridge 09 Feb 1947 (MA021) Michael Ashworth ashore - believed to be in BC - while serving in HMCS WARRIOR
(MA022) HMCS WARRIOR (MA023) Prang on HMCS WARRIOR From the collection of Michael Ashworth, Radar Technician, RN / RCN Courtesy of Jill Cann
(GEC085) Union Jack that was flown from HMCS WARRIOR circa 1946-1947 // This flag was one of George Crewe's rabbits when he left the WARRIOR, which he kept till he passed away in 2014. It has been donated to RCSCC WARRIOR in Edmonton and will be put on display at their unit as a way of linking the current WARRIOR, RCSCC WARRIOR to her predecessor. (GEC086) Ship's Guide for HMCS WARRIOR (GEC087) HMCS WARRIOR - RCN Photo - Neg # HS.1822-15 (GEC088) HMCS WARRIOR - RCN Photo - Neg # HS.1822-7
(GEC089 - GEC093) Christmas on HMCS WARRIOR, Dec 1946 // Webmaster's note: Children leave out milk and cookies. Sailors leave Santa a bottle of Three Feathers Whiskey
None of the photos from George's collection below are identified but appear to be of HMCS WARRIOR's trip to Esquimalt via the Panama Canal. George Crewe appears in a few of the photos. They are displayed here in the same sequence they were in his photo album. Some locations / landmarks were identified using Google Image Search
(GEC105) Myrtle Bank Swimming Pool, Jamaica
(GEC109) The Canadian Bank of Commerce, Jamaica (GEC112) Electric trolley bus, Matilda's Corner, Jamaica
(GEC115- GEC016) Panama Canal (GEC117) Monument of Explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama
(GEC120) St. Mary's Hall, USO, Balboa, Panama (GEC121) Royal Palms, The Prado, Balboa, Panama (GEC122) Balboa Union Church, Panama City, Panama
(GEC124 - GEC125) Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
(GEC126) RKO Radio Pictures, Culver City, Calif. (GEC127) Earl Carroll Theatre, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, Calif. (GEC128) NBC Radio City studios located on the northeast corner of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, California. (GEC129) The Palladium, Hollywood, Calif. (GEC130) The CBS building, Hollywood, Calif. From the collection of George Crewe, Leading Telegraphist, RCN Photos courtesy of Catherine Crewe
(JAT057) Hands to Muster for grog, Mr. Stirling, Cd Wt, Issuing Officer, HMCS WARRIOR - 1946 (JAT058) Ranging Aircraft on HMCS WARRIOR - 1946 (JAT059) RCN Air Service, Fairey Firefly FR Mk 1, gets a wave off. HMCS WARRIOR - 1946 From the collection of Jim Tyre, CPO2, RCN, Ret'd Courtesy of Dave Tyre
HMCS WARRIOR circa Mar-Oct 1946
(JS152-JS153) HMCS WARRIOR open to public - location unknown
(JS154-JS157) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR
(JS159-JS162) Flight deck operations on HMCS WARRIOR
(JS163-JS165) When things don't go so smoothly ..... a damaged aircraft is craned off the ship to a waiting barge From the collection of James A. Senior, Wt (E), RCN Courtesy of Bob Senior
Click on the above photos to view a larger image
From the collection of Leonard Cardy
Courtesy of Arline Cardy
(DA02) Lampshade from bulkhead light fixture from a mess deck in HMCS WARRIOR (DA03) Unpainted HMCS WARRIOR ship's badge
(DA04) HMCS WARRIOR with unknown destroyer following astern as plane guard (DA05) Christmas menu - HMCS WARRIOR - 1946 (DA05) WARRIOR officers leaving church service -1946 (DA06) Unknown Capt. in the wardroom on HMCS WARRIOR (DA07) Unknown American officer inspects the Guard on HMCS WARRIOR
(DA09) Sailors on HMCS WARRIOR hanging out on the goofing sponson - an area they stood in to watch the goings on on the upper decks (DA10-DA11) Aircraft prang on HMCS WARRIOR (DA12) Unknown sailors on HMCS WARRIOR (DA13) HMCS WARRIOR - Looking forward from the front of the bridge by the AA gun
(DA14) Three aircraft flying past HMCS WARRIOR) (DA15) Aircraft on the hangar lift (DA16) Two aircraft ranged on the flight deck (DA17-DA18) A successful landing on HMCS WARRIOR
(DA19-DA21) Aircraft prang on HMCS WARRIOR (DA22) HMCS WARRIOR - RCN photo neg # HS-1822-11
(DA23) Crowds welcome WARRIOR to Esquimalt (DA24) WARRIOR Squadrons Boast Fine History (DA25) 803 Squadron waits return of WARRIOR (DA26) Three articles on the Warrior - RCN ships to open Spring Exercises; Carrier Crew has 26 Cooks; Ship Perfect in Every Respect (DA27) Article on LCdr H.J. Hunter, Batsman on HMCS WARRIOR
From the collection of Daniel Armstrong, Sto 1c, RCNVR
Courtesy of Shaun Wallace
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
