HMCS ALBERNI K103

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS ALBERNI K103

DND / RCN Photo

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Laid down: 29 Apr 1940

Launched: 22 Aug 1940

Commissioned: 04 Feb 1941

Fate: Sunk on 21 Aug 1944

 

Built at Esquimalt, she was commissioned there on 04 Feb 1941. On 17 Mar 1941, HMCS ALBERNI, HMCS AGASSIZ and HMCS WETASKIWIN departed Esquimalt for Halifax. Enroute they stopped at San Pedro, California for fuel, where a party for the crew, hosted by actress Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks, was held for them. They arrived at Halifax on 13 Apr 1941. On 23 May 1941, ALBERNI, AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN left Halifax for St. John's to join the recently formed NEF. ALBERNI left the following month with a convoy for Iceland, serving as mid-ocean escort until May 1942, when she was taken out of service to have a new boiler installed. In Sep 1941, she had taken part in the defence of convoy SC.42, which lost 18 ships to as many U-boats. Assigned to duties in connection with the invasion of North Africa, she sailed for the U.K. in Oct 1942 with convoy HX.212, and until Feb 1943, escorted convoys between the U.K. and the Mediterranean. She returned to Halifax in Mar 1943 and served briefly with WLEF before transferring to Quebec Force in May 1943. For the next five months she escorted Quebec-Labrador convoys, leaving Gaspé on 06 Nov1943 to undergo repairs at Liverpool, N.S. With repairs completed early in Feb 1944, she proceeded to Bermuda to work up, and on her return to Halifax to joined EG W-4. 

 

In April 1944 ALBERNI was one of seventeen RCN corvettes sent to the UK in support of the landings at Normandy. In June and July, she escorted a collection of landing craft, ships, barges, and floating piers between Britain and the Normandy beaches. After brief maintenance at Southampton ALBERNI was ordered to relieve HMCS DRUMHELLER on patrol for U-boats to the eastward of the swept channel leading to the Normandy beaches. At 11:45 on August 21, she was steaming south in fair weather, sweeping by asdic, anti-submarine detection device. "Hands to Dinner" had just been piped. Four minutes later, with no asdic warning whatsoever, she was hit by a torpedo from U-480 on her port side just aft of the engine room. In less than a minute she sank southeast of the Isle of Wight. Fifty-nine of her ship's company lost their lives. 

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Unlucky Albernie - by Ken Garrent

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr Gerald Ormsby Baugh, OBE, RCNR - 04 Feb 1941 - 04 Apr 1942

 

Lt Aubrey Winston Ford, RCNR - 05 Apr 1942 - 11 Oct 1942

 

A/LCdr Ian Hunter Bell, RCNVR - 12 Oct 1942 - 21 Aug 1944

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

ALLAN, John M.

AB A/LR III, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

ANGELL, Bruce

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

BARSS, Walter C.

ERA 3c, RCNR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

BOSWORTH, Richard C.

Coder, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

BOUCHARD, Joseph J.

ERA, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

BROCK, George M.

OS ST, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

BUCHANAN, George

AB A/SD, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

CAMPBELL, Donald W.

Stoker, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

CARDER, Wilfred W.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

CLINTON, Elmer J.

L/Sto, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

COSGROVE, Canniff

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

COX, Henry J. M.

Stoker PO, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

CULPEPPER, John A.

Stoker PO, RCNR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

CURRIE, William P.

Stoker PO, RCNR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

DITTLOFF, William

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

DREW, Robert F.

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

ERICKSON, Ingvi S.

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

EVANS, Albert K.

LSA, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

FULTON, Hugh C.

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GALLAGHER, Gerald J.

LS, RCNR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GARVEY, Donald N.

Stoker, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GRAHAM, Alvin J.

Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GRAIS, Donald B.

ERA 3c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GRANT, Malcolm S.

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

GRIFFITHS, Edward S.

Stoker, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

HAMILTON, John P.

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

HAMMOND, John A.

Sto 2c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

HATCHER, Arthur M.

LS RDF 2c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

HENDERSON, Hugh M.

Surg/Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

HORLEY, Wallace C.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

IRVING, James C.

L/Coder, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

JENKS, Keith W.

O/Tel., RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

JONES, Donald O.

AB A/SD, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

KARNS, Robert J.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

KIRKPATRICK, Stanley

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

KOSTER, John B.

ERA 4th Class, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

KOWBEL, Morris

AB AA II, RCN

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

LAING, Wallace W.

OS Radar III, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

LANG, Robert A.

ERA 4c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

LEE, Donald F.

PO QR II, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

LIGHTHALL, Augustus

CPO, RCNR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

MCDERMOTT, Joseph

Sto PO, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

MCGRATH, James D.

LS Radar 3c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

MCINNES, William S.

AB SD, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

MERK, George A.

Stwd, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

MOFFAT, Cyril B.

AB LR III, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

PAGE, Ivan E.

Ord. Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

PAQUET, Joseph A. R.

L/Stwd, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

PILON, Joseph G.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

PLOTT, John

L/Sto, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

ROGERS, Nickoli

Cook, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

SMITH, Thomas A.

L/Cook, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

STEPHEN, Donald

L/Tel., RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

STUART, George A.

AB A/AA III, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

TURNER, Alan T.

AB AA III, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

WALKER, James

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

WHYTE, John W.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

WILKINSON, Horace

L/Sto, RCN

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

WRIGHT, Thomas

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 21 Aug 1944

 

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

(s) - Survived the sinking of HMCS ALBERNI on 21 Aug 1944

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Airth, Robert (s) 

Akhurst, Harold Weldon

Allan, Hugh

Andrews, Richard (Dick)

Bagnell, George (s)

Bartlett, Fred

Baugh, Gerald O.

Bayrack, Roy

Bellemy, Maurice

Bellinger, Leigh

Benson, Benny (Buzz)

Blackhall, Victor Charles, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

Bowe, Stanley

Boyle, Tom

Brebner, John Paterson

Bridge, John

Burrows, Freeman Elikins, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Feb 1941

Calder, Donald S.

Castaldi, Louis

Caught, Ronald

Chamberlain, William Beatty, Mate, RCNR - 04 Feb 1941

Clark, James Main, Slt, RCNVR - 05 May 1941

Clarke, Robert

Clements, Frank

Collard, Edward

Colton, Charles Martin

Comley, Victor

Crandon, Douglas Alfred

Creech, Stan

Cumming, Donald

Cuton, J.A.

Deacon, Henry

Drew, Robert Frederick

Driscoll, Joe

Eisert, Edward

Ellard, Walter

Evans, James Edwin Arthur

Fancy, Victor (Buster)

Field, Edward William

Fleming, John

Flippance, Edgar James

George, Phil

Getgood, Lewis James

Gilbert, George

Glockler, Lloyd

Gold, Harry

Gould, Jay

Gray, William Vernon

Grinnell, James Briggs, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1942

Grover, Tony

Guiney, Daniel Bernard

Harrington, Doug

Hart, Russell

Hicks, George

Hood, William

Hunniford, Norman

Humphries, Jeremy

Hutchins, Neil

Hydes, William

Janes, Arthur

Jones, Lorne

Kiff, Fred H.

Kormann, Harold Joseph

Lamb, Leonard

Lanteigne, Camille

Lawrence, A. Robert

Lawson, Theodore Watt

Lee, Orval Keith

Little, Charles

Livingstone, R.C.

Mallette, Honorjus

Marsh, Victor

Martin, Alfred,

McBain, Hugh

McReedy, John

McInnes, Malcolm

McNeil, Gordon, 

Miller, Stanley

Moist, Earl

Moran, Tiny

O'Mara, Xavier Leo

Palin, Thomas William

Parrot, Fred

Pepper, Christopher

Perry, William C.

Pipe, Ernie

Pollock, Evan

Prodnuk, Victor

Prosser, Gilbert

Reid, James

Rowe, Lawrence

Salsberg, Sam

Savoie, Joseph Benoit

Shuddeen, Nelson

Simpson, Daniel L.

Slater, Kenneth

Smith, Richard

Southern, Jack

Spencer, Donald Frederick

Stone, Orville Leroy

Sweatman, Percy

Thomson, John Alexander

Thomson, Robert

Thonnett, George

Travis, Harold

Tremblay, Harold P.

Tuck, Gordon

Wade, John

Warren, John

Warren, Jack Hamilton, Slt, RCNVR - 02 Jun 1942

Werner, Fred

West, Petty Officer

Williams, Frank Robert

Williams, Ralph Edward

Williamson, Charles

Wood, Donald Ernest

Young, George

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

ALB000

Documents from the ship's file of HMCS ALBERNI held by the Library and Archives of Canada.  This file contains various documents pertaining to ALBENI including a final nominal roll dated 17 Aug 1944 and a Casualty and Survivor List.

Courtesy of HMCS ALBERNI Museum and Memorial

 

ABL001

ALB002

ALB003

ALB004

ALB005

(ALB001) HMCS ALBERNI - 1941  //  In the background, on the port side of the merchant ship is the submarine depot ship HMS Forth. Alongside Forth is the training submarine HNLMS O15

(ABL002) Personnel preparing to launch a minesweeping float from HMCS ALBERNI off the coast of BC in Mar 1941  //  Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-179942

(ABL003) HMCS ALBERNI K103 moored alongside 3 other corvettes  //  Source: IWM Ministry of Defence Foxhill Collection of Ship Photographs FL 24812

(ABL004) Personnel on HMCS ALBERNI paying out cable during a minesweeping exercise off the coast of BC in Mar 1941  //  Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-179950

(ABL005) HMCS ALBERNI K103  //  From the collection of John C. Orr  //  Courtesy of John P. Orr

 

ABL006

(ABL006) Lloyd George Thomas (centre), who survived the sinking of HMCS ALBERNI, at a reunion for the crew of HMCS ALBERNI in Burlington, ON - date unknown.  //  On the right, in the red jacket, is Lloyd's nephew, Gary Thomas, and on the left is his great-nephew Grant Thomas (Gary's son)  //  Courtesy of Garry Thomas

 



 

DF27

DF28

DF29

DF30

(DF27) Officers of HMCS ALBERNI at San Pedro, California, with actress Mary Pickford and other Hollywood stars - On 17 Mar 1941, HMCS ALBERNI, HMCS AGASSIZ and HMCS WETASKIWIN departed Esquimalt for Halifax. Enroute they stopped at San Pedro where actress Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks organized a party for the crews of the Canadian ships. Lt D. Ford is in the front row, 3rd from right

(DF28) Autographed photo of Actress Mary Pickford. given to Douglas Ford during HMCS ALBERNI'S visit to San Pedro, California

(DF29) Two crew operating the paravane which on HMCS ALBERNI

(DF30) Petty Officer West holding HMCS ALBERNI'S mascot

From the collection of Douglas Ford

Courtesy of Jay Ford

 



 

Where is Albert Charlie Dugan?

 

Herewith is the information I received with this photo: "He is originally from Belfast...a lot of RN people transferred to the RCN during the war...a relative has decided to find out where he is (if still alive or where he lived in Canada)...she didn't even know what the HMCS stood for...the picture hangs on a living room wall in Belfast and the info on the back gives his name as Albert Charlie Dugan, June 1941, age 20 and with some help we figured the name on the front was HMCS ALBERNI...although I did check the list of personnel on the ship when she sank in the English Channel in 1944 and he was not listed. "

 

If anyone knows Albert Charlie Dugan, please EMAIL the webmaster

 



 

Article from the Owen Sound Sunday Times Sep 1944

 


 

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