HMCS WESTMOUNT J318 / 187 - For Posterity's Sake

For Posterity's Sake

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS WESTMOUNT J318 / 187

Wartime badge

HMCS Westmount J318

Laid down: 28 Oct 1941

Launched: 14 Mar 1942

Commissioned: 15 Sep 1942

Decommissioned: 13 Oct 1945

Re-acquired by RCN: 1951

Transferred to the Turkish Navy: 29 Mar 1958

Paid off: 1972

Fate: Unknown

Built at Lauzon, Que, she was commissioned at Toronto on 15 Sep 1942. Westmount arrived at Halifax on 10 Oct 1942 and proceeded to Pictou to work up. Following this, she underwent engine repairs at Halifax from 20 Nov 1942 to 02 Feb 1943. She was then assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force and, later, to Halifax Force. In May 1943, she was transferred to Sydney Force, but returned to Halifax Force in Jan 1944. In Feb 1945, she commenced a major refit at Lunenburg and, after this completed late in Apr 1945, proceeded to Bermuda to work up. Upon her return to Halifax on 30 May 1945 she was assigned to miscellaneous duties until paid off at Sydney on 13 Oct 1945, and laid up at Shelburne. In 1946 she was placed in strategic reserve at Sorel until re-acquired by the RCN in 1951. On 29 Mar 1958, she was transferred to the Turkish Navy, and served Bornova until 1972.

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos Battle for Convoy BX-141

Commanding Officers

A/LCdr Frank Goddard Hutchings, RCNVR - 15 Sep 1942 - 07 Dec 1943

Lt Frederick Henry Pinfold, RCNVR - 08 Dec 1943 - 16 Mar 1944

Lt Robert Laird Borden Hunter, RCNVR - 17 Mar 1944 - 25 Mar 1945

Lt Robert Paul Jackson, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1945 - 07 Jul 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar They shall not be forgotten
C-D
Carpenter, John Aeneas 1924-2018
E-F
Eldridge, Richard 1924-2005 Served in Westmount in 1943
G-H
Gamble, John Ross 1917-2013	Gill, Howard Findley 1926-2011	Higgins, Edward Murray 1925-2016	Hooper, John Albert 1922-2013	Huntbatch, N. George 1918-1974
I-J
Jennings, Rex Joseph ____-2017
M-N
Millman, Frederick Arthur 1914-1975 Served in Westmount 26 Aug 1942 - 30 Mar 1943 as an AB, RCN(R)
S-T
Stables, John Stirling 1924-2013

Former Crew Members

Baker, Perren Laurence, Lt, RCNVR - 02 Jun 1945

Brownlee, James Calvin, Slt, RCNVR - 03 Jun 1944

Campbell, Colin Gordon, Slt (E), RCNVR - 15 Mar 1943

Doane, Warren Frank Stanley, A/Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

Genre, John Pope, Lt (E), RCNVR - 17 May 1943

Kayes, William Joseph, Lt (E), RCNVR - 13 Mar 1945

Kerr, John Cochrance, Lt, RCNVR - 31 Mar 1945

McDermott, Burton Duncan, Slt, RCNVR - 11 Feb 1944

Michie, John Richards, Slt (E), RCNVR - 29 May 1944

Moeser, William Alan, Slt (E), RCNVR - 18 Mar 1944

Ratcliffe, John Arthur, War (E), RCN - 08 Feb 1944

Robitaille, Rolland Michel, A/Lt, RCNVR - 14 Mar 1945

Weed, Joseph Dodsworth, Lt (E), RCNVR - 08 Jul 1944

Photos and Documents

HMCS Westmount Christmas card from George Huntbatch to his parents

From the collection of George Huntbatch

Courtesy of Ross Huntbatch

Invitation to ship's company dance for HMCS Westmount J318

From the collection of George Huntbatch

Courtesy of Ross Huntbatch

Possible badge for HMCS Westmount 187

From the collection of John Carpenter

Courtesy of Brian Carpenter

Webmaster's note: The design of the badge places it as post-1948 when the RCN began creating official badges for ships. The raven and flower appear to have come from the crest of the town of Westmount, Qeubec. HMCS Westmount was paid off in 1945, but re-acquired by the RCN in 1951 and later sold to the Turkish navy in 1958. The Directorate of Heritage and History for the RCN has no record of an official badge for HMCS Westmount being approved. It is possible that this badge was a tentative design for the ship's badge that got shelved when it was decided the ship was being sold to Turkey.

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