HMCS DONNACONA

 

MONTREAL HALF-COMPANY "E" and "F" RCNVR

 

MONTREAL COMPANY RCNVR

 

Cartier Division RCNVR (francophone) / Montreal Division RCNVR (Anglophone)

 

NSCM CARTIER (Francophone) / HMCS MONTREAL (Anglophone)

 


 

Montreal, Quebec

 


 

HMCS DONNACONA

Montreal, Quebec

 

In Montreal, two Half-Companies (totaling 50 officers and sailors each) were formed for the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and were established on June 28, 1923. They were named the Montreal (English) Half-Company and the Montreal (French) Half-Company, RCNVR. These titles would be abbreviated to Montreal "E" and "F" Half-Companies. Again in January 1927, they were changed to "A" and "B" respectively. One year later they would be amalgamated to form the Montreal Company, RCNVR. After several years another name change was due so in 1935, the term "Division" would replace "Company".

 

The separation along language lines would be reintroduced in June 1939, when the Francophone CARTIER Division was established. On November 1, 1941, it would be commissioned as HMCS CARTIER, and at the same time the Anglophone Montreal Division would be commissioned as HMCS MONTREAL. The Anglophone unit would go through one more name change in 1943 and become HMCS DONNACONA so that the name "Montréal" could be used for the newly built River-class frigate. At the end of the Second World War, we would see a reorganization of the Reserves in Canada. On September 15, 1945 HMCS CARTIER would be paid off and merged with HMCS DONNACONA.

 

In 1944, HMCS DONNACONA's football team (combined with players from HMCS HYACINTHE, also in Montreal) won the Grey Cup, beating the Hamilton Wildcats 7-6 at the Civic Stadium to bring the cup to Montreal for only the second time. In the summer of 2007, HMCS DONNACONA was moved to a new purpose-built federal government facility at 3525 St-Jacques Street shared with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency.

 


 

Photos and Documents          Seamanship Notes - HMCS Montreal

 

Ship's Company Photos

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt Frank Meade, RCNVR - 14 Mar 1923

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

Maher, Edward

OS, RCNVR

died - 07 Feb 1942

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

DON000

(DON000) Parade night at RCNVR Division Montreal - Jul 1940

From the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM

Courtesy of Gary Medford

 


 

Montreal Division RCNVR 1940-1941 Hockey Team

 

(1) Rogerson, W.  (2) Gurnham, J.  (3) Turner, E.  (4) Dupras, J.  (5) Howard, G.  (6) Boyer, F.J., SLt, Coach  (7) Turner, F. Team Captain  (8) Rcaine, K.  (9) Caldwell, M.  (10) Watson, J.  (11) Bird, H., Lt, E.O.  (12) Newman, Doug., (13) Mulvanie, R.  (14) Fullerton, R.,  (15) Dussalt, P.  (16) McRobie, D.R., Pay-Lt, Team Manager

 

From the collection of Harry Douglas (Doug) Newman, PO.HSD, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Brian Newman

 


 

New Entry Training - 25 Jul - 10 Oct 1944

HMCS DONNACONA

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

From the collection Kealey Cummings, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Charlene Cummings

 

(1) Cummings, Kealey

 


 

HMCS DONNACONA

New Entry Cooks Course Photo

photo between Dec 44 and Mar 1945

 

From the collection of C1CK John McGowan, RCN

 

Courtesy of Taryn McGowan

 

(3) O/Cook John McGowan

 


 

Post Second World War photos

 

GM-DON001

GM-DON002

GM-DON003

GM-DON004

Remembrance Parade in Montreal - c1960

 

GM-DON005

(GM-DON051) UNTDs from HMCS DONNACONA heading to Hamilton, ON to crew Porte St Jean and Porte St Louis - May 1965

Art Kuiper on left reading newspaper, Gary Medford on right

 

GM-DON006

GM-DON007

GM-DON008

Combined RCNR/Sea Cadet band rounding the NW corner of the drill hall of DONNACONA in a May 1963 Parade.

Gary Medford (bottom photo) on snare drum left of the base drum

 

(GM-DON009) 12 information cards for ships and aircraft of the Royal Canadian Navy

These information cards were available for the public at the quarterdeck of HMCS DONNACONA during the early 1960s

From the collection of Gary Medford

Courtesy of Gary Medford

 


 

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