HMCS SIOUX R64 / 225

V - Class Destroyer

Laid down as HMS VIXEN, she was commissioned HMCS SIOUX at Cowes, Isle of Wight, on 21 Feb 1944, and assigned to the 26th Flotilla of the British Home Fleet. She took part in escorting carrier attacks against the TIRPITZ and against German shipping off Norway, and on 28 May 1944 left Scapa for Portsmouth for D-Day duties, bombarding shore targets on the Normandy coast. Returning to Scapa Flow in Jul 1944, she resumed her previous occupation and also escorted four convoys each way to and from Murmansk.

She left the U.K. on 06 Apr 1945, for her first trip to Canada and, upon arrival underwent a major refit at Halifax. In Nov 1945 SIOUX was transferred to Esquimalt, where she was paid off into reserve on 27 Feb 1946. After some modernization she was re-commissioned in 1950, and did three tours of duty in Korean waters, from 1951 to 1955. Following her Korean tours, she returned to her training role. 

HMCS SIOUX's tours in Korea:

1st Tour: Departed Esquimalt:  05 Jul 1950  // Arrived Op Area: 30 Jul 1950  //  Departed Op Area:  15 Jan 1951  // Arrived Esquimalt: 04 Feb 1951

2nd Tour: Departed Esquimalt:  08 Apr 1951  //  Arrived Op Area: 30 Apr 1951  //  Departed Op Area:  14 Feb 1952  //  Arrived Esquimalt: 08 Mar 1952

3rd Tour: Departed Esquimalt:  07 Nov 1954  // Arrived Op Area: 14 Dec 1954  //  Departed Op Area:  06 Sep 1955  //   Arrived Esquimalt: 24 Sep 1955

In Nov/Dec 1959, during a 6-week deployment that included a NATO Exercise, HMCS BONAVENTURE, in company with HMCS ALGONQUIN, HMCS IROQUOIS, HMCS SIOUX and, HMCS ATHABASKAN encounter a major storm that battered the squadron. During this deployment, while alongside in Antwerp, HMCS SIOUX lost a crew member who fell overboard in harbour and drowned. 

Four newspaper articles on the Nov/Dec 1959 deployment during which 5 RCN sailors died.

On 30 Jul 1962, the RCN sent the 3rd Destroyer Escort Squadron (Atlantic) under Capt. Gordon Edwards, on a good will / work up tour. The squadron consisted of HMCS SIOUX 225, HMCS Huron 216 and HMCS Iroquois 217 (as flagship). The ships sailed from Halifax NS to Bermuda and then on to Jamaica, arriving on the 05 Aug 1962. The squadron joined a large fleet of naval vessels already assembled, as all Royal Navies and the United States Navy, had sent "good will" ships of various classes to Jamaica. In essence, it served to form one of the largest allied fleets to be assembled since WW II, and spent six days in Jamaica celebrating their independence from Briton which occurred on the 06 Aug 1962. The squadron then sailed back to Bermuda before heading to Prince Edward Island to par-take in their official Lobster Festival. From PEI the squadron returned to Halifax for fuel and provisions, and again departed for Bermuda. From Bermuda it was onto Trinidad & Tobago to take part in their independence celebrations. From 12 Sep to 17 Sep 1962, the 3rd Destroyer Escort Squadron paid a visit to Newfoundland to take part in the 67th annual meeting of the National Council of the Navy League of Canada.

SIOUX was paid off at Halifax on 13 Oct 1963. She was broken up in 1965 at La Spezia, Italy.

Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

Photos and Documents - Second World War     //     Photos and Documents - Post Second World War

HMCS SIOUX R64 - Crew / N.O.K. list 1944-45          HMCS SIOUX R64 Summary of Operations 1944-1945

Murmansk Convoys Escorted

Tom Larkin, Korean War veteran, remembers the ‘forgotten war’

Memoirs of Philip Bissell for SIOUX'S 2nd Korean War Tour // Source: The Memory Project

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W

Y

Z

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

Second World War

(SIU001) View of the port quarter of HMCS SIOUX R64 - 1944  //  Source-credit: Library and Archives of Canada - a134296-v8

(SIU002) Sioux's Crew Returns Home  //  Newspaper article from a Nova Scotian newspaper on sailors on HMCS Sioux from Nova Scotia on her return to Canada - Apr 1945  //  Sailors listed in the article:  PO Stwd Earl C. Brown. M.I.D. (of Halifax);  PO Stwd Curtis Johnson (of Middleton); Shpwt Leo Seguss (of Halifax); CPO George Vander Haegen (of Halifax); Sto Alfred Nickerson (of Halifax); Sig Thomas Casson (of Halifax); Ck Stewart Dodsworthy (of Hants Co.); LSA Paul Wilson (of Digby); ERA Edward Ross (of Sydney); PO David Andrews (of Windsor); AB Cecil Richardson (of Shelburne Co.); Lieut H.E. Lawrence, D.S.C.; LCdr Boak, CO; and, LCdr Douglas Burce, XO  //  From the collection of A/L/Sto Cedric O. Smelser

(SIU003) Picton Sailor Sees Action  //  Newspaper article on AB Fred Walden of Picton and LCdr Doug Bruce of Toronto serving in HMCS SIOUX during Murmansk convoy  //  Picton Gazette 04 Apr 1945  //  Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection  //  Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2018

(SIU004) William Brown on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SIOUX R64. The ships of a Murmansk Run convoy to Russia in the background  //  Photo was taken in Vienga Bay, Russia in 1944  //  From the collection of William Brown  //  Courtesy of James Brown

(SIU005) Crew of Sioux Returns Home (partial article)  //  The Province 25 Apr 1945  //  Article provides a list of crew members from BC

(DJF034) HMCS SIOUX R64

(DFJ035) Wartime badge of HMCS SIOUX R64

(DJF036) Lt Doug Ford and shipmate  - date and place unknown

(DJF037) Lt Doug Ford, HMCS SIOUX R64 - The equipment in the photo is an older version of the GDO Vis (Gunnery Direction Officer - Visual). Determined bearing using the pelorus, and you can see a graduated arc at the base of the arm steadying the binoculars to determine elevation.

(DJF038) Lt Doug Ford by one of the guns on HMCS SIOUX R64

(DJF039) His Majesty the King inspects the crew of HMCS SIOUX  //  CPO Andrews, front rank, 1st on right

(DJF040) His Majesty the King inspects the crew of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF041) His Majesty the King inspects the crew of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF042) The King Inspects Canadians during his Visit to the Home Fleet  //  Reprint from Canada's Weekly, 26 May 1944  //  (Compliments of Canadian Legion War Services)  //  Note: the destroyer being inspected in the top photos is HMCS SIOUX R64

(DJF043) His Majesty The King inspects the officers of HMCS SIOUX  //  Note: The King is shaking hands with Lt Ford, however, the Admiral of the Fleet is between the photographer and The King and all that can be seen of The King is right hand and foot.

(DJF044) The Admiral of the Fleet inspects the men of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF045) Unknown casualty wrapped in White Ensign on HMCS SIOUX. It is not known if this is a casualty from D-Day who was brought on board, or from some other time frame.  //  Photographer: S. Short, Fleet photographer

(DJF046) HMCS SIOUX fires a torpedo  //  Photographer: S. Short, Fleet photographer

(DJF047) Preparing of D-Day on HMCS SIOUX  //  Photographer: S. Short, Fleet photographer

(DJF048) Gunnery Officer, HMCS SIOUX - Jun 1944

(DJF049 - DJF051) Photos taken during the invasion of Normandy from HMCS SIOUX (not necessarily on D-Day)

(DJF052 - DJF055) Photos taken during the invasion of Normandy from HMCS SIOUX (not necessarily on D-Day)

(DJF054) appears to be a Crown Colony class cruiser

(DJF055) The sinking of HMS SWIFT 24 Jun 1944

(DJF056) Bridge and fo'c's'le of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF057) Two officers on HMCS SIOUX

(DJF058) Unknown officer on HMCS SIOUX

(DJF059) Two ships around unknown sub. Appears to be a boat and men in the water just past the submarine.  //  Photo believed to be taken from HMCS SIOUX. Written on back of photo - R-1057  //  Photographer: S. Short, Fleet photographer

(DJF062) Officers in the wardroom of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF063) Officers in the wardroom of HMCS SIOUX

(DJF064) Officers on the fo'c's'le of HMCS SIOUX  //  (L-R) Francis John Rounthwaite (Joe), Midshipman (Snotty), No1 (XO), Fleet Photographer, Captain, "Sad" Miller (Doc)

From the collection of Douglas J. Ford, Lieutenant-Commander, RCN(R)

Courtesy of Jay Ford

(WP002) Bill Parkin on HMCS SIOUX R64 circa 1944-45

(WP003) HMCS SIOUX R64, Murmansk, Russia

(WP004) Bill Parkin on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP005) Firing of Pompoms on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP006) Unidentified sailors on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP007) HMCS SIOUX R64 - Looking aft down starboard side

(WP008) Ray Tilley, Laundry Day, HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP009) Bill Parkin (standing, left) and shipmates on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP010) Bill Parkin (right) and shipmate on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP011) Bill Parking on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP012) Bill Parking on HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP013) Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP014) HMCS SIOUX R64 at sea.  Note everyone in action dress and the mountainous coastline in the background. Photo likely taken off Norway.

(WP015) His Majesty the King inspects HMCS SIOUX R64

(WP016) Destroyer Men Home  //  Newspaper article from the Montreal Gazette on sailors on HMCS SIOUX from Montreal area - Apr 1945  //  Sailors listed in the article:  Tel Robert Gomes, RCNVR; AB Doug Thompson, RCNVR; PO Donald Wiggins, RCN; AB Guy Bourke, RCNVR; Sto Victor Poirier, RCNVR;  AB Theodore Dyment, RCNVR; Sto Earl Blinn, RCNVR; LS Bill Parkin, RNCVR; AB John Franklin, RCNVR  

From the collection of William (Bill) Parkin, Leading Seaman, RCNVR

Courtesy of John Parkin