HMCS WESTMOUNT J318 / 187

Bangor Class Minesweeper

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. 

Ship's movements 05 Jul 1945 - 04 Aug 1945 from the diary of Edward Belsey, RCNVR:

* Ted Belsey was drafted to WESTMOUNT 13 Jun 1945

- Departed Halifax, NS 05 Jul 1945 at 1730  // Arrived Charlottetown, PEI 08 Jul 1945 at 0100

- Departed Charlottetown, PEI 08 Jul at 0100  // Arrived Summerside, PEI 08 Jul 1945 at 1730

- Departed Summerside, PEI 09 Jul 1945 at 1000  // Arrived Halifax, NS 10 Jul 1945 at 0900

* Duty Ship 11 Jul 1945

- Sweeping to St Margaret's Bay, NS 12 Jul 1945 at 0800  // Arrived St. Margaret's Bay, NS 12 Jul 1945 at 0800

- Departed St. Margaret's Bay, NS 13 Jul 1945 at 0830 // Arrived Halifax, NS 13 Jul 1945 at 1730

* Ammunition Depot Exploded Halifax (Bedford Magazine) 19 Jul 1945 at 1830-1945

- Departed Halifax, NS 23 Jul 1945 at 0700  // Arrived Lunenburg, NS 23 Jul 1945 at 2000

- Departed Lunenburg, NS 24 Jul 1945 at 0800  // Arrived Halifax, NS 24 Jul 1945 at 1830

- Departed Halifax, NS 27 Jul 1945 at 0830  // Arrived Halifax, NS 27 Jul 1945 at 1830

- Departed Halifax, NS 28 Jul 1945 at 0830  //  Arrived St. Margaret's Bay, NS 28 Jul 1945 at 1830

- Departed St. Margaret's Bay, NS 30 Jul 1945 at 0900

* Duty & Target Ships commencing 03 Aug 1945

- Arrived St. Margaret's Bay 04 Aug 1945 at 0800

* Ted Belsey was landed for medical reasons.

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 as Bornova until 1972.

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

Battle for Convoy BX-141

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(WMT001) Possible badge for HMCS WESTMOUNT 187

From the collection of John Carpenter, AB, RCNVR

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, Quebec.  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.

(NGH148) HMCS WESTMOUNT Christmas card from George Huntbatch to his parents

(NGH149) Invitation to ship's company dance for HMCS WESTMOUNT J318

From the collection of George Huntbatch, Leading Torpedoman, RCNVR

Courtesy of Ross Huntbatch