In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

BOWERBANK, Bernard John (Bernie) - was born on June 16, 1930 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His father was a veteran of WW2, and his grandfather was a veteran of the Boer War and WWI, so he came from a long line of Canadian Forces service. When his father went off to war, Bernie (as the eldest child) left school to help his mother around the house. After the war, they moved to New Westminster, BC (in 1945). A few years later, he joined the Navy, figuring it was the best way to fulfill his desire to see the world. On his way to Korea, he visited Hawaii and Japan. He served in many ships in his Navy career, the Cayuga being the most infamous. During the Korean action, he witnessed a lot of destruction and suffering and ended the conflict hating war the way only a military person can, having lived it. He took his duty seriously and served in communications. As an amateur photographer, he recorded his sights and experiences. After the Navy, he got a job with the Canadian Government and worked out of the their weather office in Vancouver, BC. He retired after 36 years and moved to Penticton, BC, where he lived for the rest for his life. He had 95 healthy years, but developed inoperable bladder cancer and passed away peacefully on March 19, 2026.

Ships served in:

HMCS CORNWALLIS

HMCS STADACONA - Cast member of the "RCN Revue of 1949" while drafted to STADACONA

HMCS CAYUGA - Drafted to Cayuga circa Feb/Mar 1950. Served in CAYUGA during the withdrawal at Chinnampo, Korea. 04 Dec 1950 as an AB CV

HMCS SHEARWATER

* Rated Leading Seaman Communicator Visual TG1 (Crowsnest magazine Sep 1951)

(BJB001) Seaman Bernie Bowerbank

(BJB002) While Drafted to Stadacona, AB Bernie Bowerbank was a member of the cast of the "RCN Revue 1949"  //  Crowsnest magazine Nov 1949

(BJB003) AB Bernie Bowerbank (centre, front) in the communications at the RCN Air Station, HMCS SHEARWATER // Crowsnest magazine Nov 1951

(BJB004) Cover of Bernie Bowerbank's photo album.  The photos in the album are a series taken by the ship's photographer documenting their Korean War deployment.  Bernie's collection contains 76 of the 200 photos in series.  The numbers in brackets represent the numbers written on the back of each photo.

(BJB005) Certificate acknowledging AB Bowerbank's participation in the Korean War on board HMCS CAYUGA

(BJB018) Unknown location in Japan

(BJB019) Shangri-la and district, Japan 

(BJB020) View from Sasebo park, Sasebo, Japan

(BJB021) Kasbah dancing, Sasebo, Japan

(BJB022) Sasebo and harbor, Japan

(BJB023) Women in traditional Japanese clothing, Sasebo, Japan

(BJB024) Canadian and US sailors ashore in Sasebo, Japan

(BJB025) Oyster beds

(BJB026) Shrine at Arita China Factory Japan.  Note: It is also known as Tozan Shrine or the Sueyama Shrine, located in Arita, Saga Prefecture.

(BJB027) Fo'c's'le of HMCS CAYUGA 218 - barrels of her forward gun mounts visible

(BJB028) Unknown small vessel approaching HMCS CAYUGA 218

(BJB028) HMS COCKADE D34

(BJB030) HMAS BATAAN D191

(BJB031) HMS WARRIOR, Sasebo, Japan

(BJB032) HMS KENYA

(BJB033) Dock at Tokyo, Japan

(BJB034 - BJB035) HMCS CAYUGA 218 in drydock at Sasebo, Japan

(BJB036) Japanese Maid Ureshino

(BJB037 - BJB038)  Nov. 11th Honour Guard at Hong Kong

(BJB039) Chinese Junks and Sampans at Hong Kong

(BJB040) Looking over Hong Kong towards the harbour

(BJB041) Royal Navy China Fleet Club at Hong Kong

(BJB042) Junk Basin, Hong Kong

(BJB043 - BJB045) Results of bombardment at Chinnampho on 05-06 Dec 1950.  Evacuation started early in morning then ships, HMAS BATAAN, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, USS FORREST ROYAL, HMCS SIOUX, HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMCS CAYUGA opened fire on supplies, ammo and fuel.  Click here for more information on the the withdrawal from Chinnampho, Korea

(BJB046 - BJB047) Results of bombardment at Chinnampho on 05-06 Dec 1950.  Evacuation started early in morning then ships, HMAS BATAAN, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, USS FORREST ROYAL, HMCS SIOUX, HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMCS CAYUGA opened fire on supplies, ammo and fuel.  Click here for more information on the the withdrawal from Chinnampho, Korea

(BJB048) Wolmi-Do after bombardment during the Battle of / landing at Inchon, South Korea

(BJB049) British Consul damaged by shell fire

(BJB050) Unknown sailor standing the in the debris in the interior of the British Consul

(BJB051) Wreckage at Inchon, South Korea

(BJB052) Inchon from Wolmi-Do, South Korea

(BJB053) Refugee children at Inchon, South Korea

(BJB054) Damaged buildings at Inchon, South Korea

(BJB055) Anti-Aircraft gun on HMCS CAYUGA 219

(BJB056) HMCS NOOTKA 213 off Guam

(BJB057) HMCS ATHABASKAN 219

(BJB058) Commencement Bay Class aircraft carrier, Sasebo, Japan

(BJB059) Sasebo, Japan

(BJB060) HMCS CAYUGA 218 - location unknown

(BJB061) Unknown location

(BJB062 - BJB063) The A-bomb Dome, Hiroshima, Japan. This building was the closest building to the A-bomb blast that was not totally destroyed. It was left was it was and is a now peace memorial to this day.  Historical note:  The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and now commonly called the Genbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome, is part of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

(BJB064) Supply Depot, Inchon, South Korea

(BJB065) Helicopter landing on USS SAINT PAUL 73

(BJB066) Unknown light cruiser

(BJB067) USS SAINT PAUL 73

(BJB068 - BJB070) Aircraft landing on HMS TRIUMPH.  Photos taken while CAYUGA was plane guard

(BJB071) HMCS CAYUGA, left foreground, HMCS NOOTKA 213, ship on port side of NOOTKA unknown

(BJB072) Unknown British light cruiser

(BJB073) Three unknown sailors believed to be at Sasebo - this photo was marked 185, then crossed out and an x put on the photo

(BJB074) HMCS CAYUGA 218 dropping depth charges for training enroute to Pearl Harbor.

(BJB075) Arrival at Pearl Harbour.  Last port of call before heading home to Esquimalt

(BJB076 - BJB080) HMCS CAYUGA 218 is welcomed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

(BJB081) Postcard - Imperial Palace Tokyo, Japan

(BJB082) Postcard - Twin Bridge, Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan

(BJB083) Mount Fuji, Japan as seen from Lake Kawaguchi

(BJB084 Tokyo Central Station, Tokyo, Japan

(BJB085) Back of postcards.  All the postcard were blank (no writing) and had the same print on them.

(BJB086) Sailors off HMCS CAYUGA ashore at an unknown location.