For Posterity's Sake
A Royal
Canadian Navy Historical Project
HMCS
ARVIDA K113
Flower
Class Corvette
Gunshield art |
HMCS ARVIDA K113
From the collection of William (Bill) Johns,
Signalman
Courtesy of Tim Johns
Click on the above photo to view a larger
image |
Laid down: 28
Feb 1940
Launched: 21
Sep 1940
Commissioned: 22 May 1941
|
Paid off: 14
Jun 1945
Sold:
1946. Renamed SS La Ceiba in 1950
Fate:
Final disposition unknown. |
Built at Quebec City, she was
commissioned there on 22 May 1941 and arrived at Halifax on 06 Jun
1941. She joined
Sydney Force in Jul 1941 acting as escort to local sections of
transatlantic convoys until Sep 1941, when she joined Newfoundland
Command. She left Sydney on 05 Sep 1941 to join her maiden ocean
convoy, SC.43, and was thereafter in almost continuous service as
an ocean escort until the end of 1943. In Jun 1942, she became a
member of EG C-4 and, in May 1943, of C-5. While escorting convoy
ON.188 in mid-Jun, 1943, she was damaged by her own depth charges
and arrived at Iceland on 16 Jun 1943 for repairs that took a week to
complete. Three of ARVIDA's convoys received particularly rough
handling by U-boats: ONS.92 (May 1942), ON.127 (Sep 1942),
and SC.107 (Nov 1942). While with ON.127 she rescued survivors
of the torpedoed HMCS OTTAWA H60 on 13 Sep 1942. She had major refits
at Saint John (Jan - Apr 1942); Lunenburg/Saint John (Dec 1942 - Mar
1943); and Baltimore, Md. (Jan - Apr 1944). While at Baltimore she was given her extended
fo'c's'le, afterward joining EG W-7 of WLEF. In mid-May, 1944, she
was sent to Bermuda to work up, returned to Halifax on 09 Jun 1944, and
in Aug 1944 joined EG W-2. In Dec 1944 she transferred to W-8,
remaining with that group until the end of the war. ARVIDA was paid
off on 14 Jun 1945, at Sorel and later sold for commercial use,
entering service in 1950 as the Spanish-flag La Ceiba.
Photos
and Documents Ship's
company photos
Excerpts
from the wartime diary of Joe Lees while serving in HMCS ARVIDA
Commanding Officers
Lt Alastair Ian
MacKay, RCNR - 22 May 1941 - 20 Sep 1942
A/LCdr Dudley Gawen
King, RCNVR - 21 Sep 1942 - 15 Mar 1944
Lt Donald
William Green Storey, RCNVR - 16 Mar 1944 - 19 Nov 1944
Skpr/Lt
E.S.N. Pleasance, RCNR - 20 Nov 1944 - 04 Dec 1944 |
Lt Donald
William Green Storey, RCNVR - 05 Dec 1944 - 30 Dec 1944
Lt J.C.P. Desrochers, RCNVR - 31 Dec
1944 - 17 Jan 1945
Lt Donald
William Green Storey, RCNVR - 18 Jan 1945 - 14 Jun 1945 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten

Abbott,
Howard C.
|
Acton,
Joseph W.J.
|

Bessey,
James W.
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Birch, Stanley
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Briggs,
Mervin J.
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Camalush, E.
Walter
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Campbell,
Emile
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Campbell,
John P.
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Christopher,
Joseph
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Clauson,
Robert G.
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Delaney,
Mansel H.
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Fisher,
Douglas C.
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Funk John T.
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Johns, William
F.
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Kersey,
Patrick J.
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Kreason,
Robert A.
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Krealing,
Keith m.
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Lees,
Joseph A.W.
|

MacKay,
George B.
|

McLeod,
Donald
|

Morrison,
Cecile
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Naish, James
G.A.
|

Reid,
Donald W.
|

Scalzo,
Raymond
|

Simpson, James F.
|
Towle, John
W.
|

Trenholm,
Douglas S.
|

Ship's Mascot
Name unknown
|
|
|
Former Crew Members
Belyea,
Peter Macmillan, Lt, RCNVR - 16 Feb 1944
Bennett,
Ivan Thomas, RCNVR
Burnell-Jones,
Eric Crathern Brind, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1944
Christopher,
Chris
Clarke,
John Alfred, Slt, RCNVR - 19 Jul 1941
Donaldson,
Gordon
Flyn,
Gus (of Montreal) (poss Flin)
Fraser,
Jim (Fearless) (of Stratford, ON)
Frayne,
Ralph - 1943
|
Jackson,
Robert Paul, Slt, RCNVR - 22 May 1941
Johnston,
Derek Robert Lukin, RCNVR - Jan 1945
Jones
King,
Dudley Gawen, Lt, RCNVR - 22 May 1941 Kitchen,
Danny (of Toronto, ON) Langraff,
Bob (of Port Arthur / Thunder Bay, ON) Leblanc,
Art (of Saint John, NB)
Mann,
Roger James, Slt, RCNR - Jan 1943
MacDonald,
Maurice John Lothian, Mate, RCNR - 22 May 1941 |
McLeland
Parkin
(of Caladonia, ON)
Patterson,
St Clair
Pearce,
Richard Calley, Slt, RCNVR - Jan 1942
Riley,
Tom (of Hamilton, ON)
Stinson,
Clarence Ralph, Slt, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1945
Webb,
"Spider" (of Toronto)
Weir,
Bob (of Montreal, QC)
Wyatt,
John Angus, Lt, RCNVR |
Photos and
Documents

|
Splice the Mainbrace
HMCS ARVIDA celebrating the surrender of Italy.
Photo taken 08 Sep 1943 in St. John's
Click
here to view the photo with sailors numbered
(1)
Gus Flyn (2) Jim Naish (4) Patrick J. Kersey (8)
Parkin (12) John Wyatt, Lt (with note pad keeping
track of tots issued) (16) Jim Simpson (18) Ivan Bennett,
PO (21) Steve Helgason
Source: Lt. John D. Mahoney / Canada. Dept. of
National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-142439 |

|
Survivors from torpedoed merchant ship aboard
HMCS ARVIDA 14 Sep 1942, St. John's Harbour
Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada. Dept. of
National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-136285 |

|
HMCS ARVIDA K113, Halifax, summer 1944
From the collection of James Thorpe Friend
Courtesy of Barbara Hamlin |

|
HMCS ARVIDA K113
Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron
Bell |

|
HMCS ARVIDA K113
Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron
Bell
|

|
Newspaper article on Douglas Fisher performing
duties of the ship's doctor on HMCS ARVIDA when she picked up
survivors at sea.
Courtesy of Ian Chaykowski |

|
McCokney
(left) and Doug Fisher (right) of HMCS ARVIDA, on HMS Seawolf,
Halifax, NS, just prior to her being sold for scrap. Seawolf was
transferred on the RCN on 29 Jan 1943 to assist in anti-submarine
training. She was paid off on 23 Jun 1945 and sold for scrap in Nov
1945.
From
the collection of Doug Fisher
Courtesy
of Ian Chaykowski |

|
Mervin Briggs, SD, on the fo'c's'le of HMCS ARVIDA
K113
From the collection of Mervin Briggs
Courtesy of Robert Briggs |

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Mervin Briggs, SD, on the quarterdeck by the
depth charge racks of HMCS ARVIDA K113
From the collection of Mervin Briggs
Courtesy of Robert Briggs |

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Mervin Briggs, SD, by the Carley floats on HMCS ARVIDA
K113 - 18 Sep 1943
From the collection of Mervin Briggs
Courtesy of Robert Briggs |

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A HMCS ARVIDA "sweetheart" pennant
Courtesy of Hugh Muir |

|
HMCS ARVIDA K113 seen from the bridge of an
unknown ship
Photo credit: Naval Museum of Halifax |
Photos on and from HMCS ARVIDA K113
JL01 |
JL02 |
JL03 |
JL04 |
JL05 |
JL06 |

JL07 |
(JL01)
Sailors on HMCS ARVIDA K113 with mascot. Joseph Lees 2nd from
left (JL02) Joseph Lees on HMCS ARVIDA K113 (JL03) Joseph Lees on HMCS
ARVIDA K113 (JL04) HMCS ARVIDA K113 in rough seas. JL05) Survivors on the upper
deck of HMCS ARVIDA K113 (JL06) Survivors from sunken ship rescued
by HMCS ARVIDA's work boat crew (JL07) Survivors aboard HMCS ARVIDA
From the collection of Jospeh Ambrose Lees
Courtesy of Richard Lees
|
HMCS
ARVIDA K113 - 13 Feb 1943 - 08 Feb 1944

RTL-HA048 |

RTL-HA059 |

RTL-HA060 |

RTL-HA061 |

RTL-HA062 |

RTL-HA063 |

RTL-HA064 |
(HA048)
Howard Abbott posing on gun mount on HMCS ARVIDA, St. John's, NFLD,
1943 (HA059) HMCS KOOTENAY alongside HMCS ARVIDA. Note the
funnel artwork on HMCS KOOTENAY (HA060) Unknown RN destroyer,
Londonderry, 1942. (HA061-HA062) MAC in convoy - 1943. (HA063)
Merchant ships in column. South Atlantic convoy - 1943 (HA064)
HMCS KOOTENAY (right) with HMCS WETASKIWIN following astern in the
Irish Sea - 1943

RTL-HA065 |

RTL-HA066 |

RTL-HA067 |

RTL-HA068 |

RTL-HA069 |

RTL-HA070 |

RTL-HA071 |
(HA065)
HMCS LA MALBAIE in the Irish Sea - Jul 1943 (HA066) HMCS
WETASKIWIN (HA067) North Atlantic Convoy (HA06840) Oil
Tanker in Convoy - 1943 (HA069) HMCS OTTAWA, HMCS KITCHENER and
HMCS ARVIDA in the Irish Sea - Jul 1943 (HA070) HMCS OTTAWA and
HMCS ARVIDA, Larne, Northern Ireland - Aug 1943 (HA071) Convoy
in the North Atlantic - Jun 1943

RTL-HA072 |

RTL-HA073 |

RTL-HA074 |

RTL-HA075 |

RTL-HA078 |

RTL-HA081 |

RTL-HA085 |
(HA072)
HMCS ST CROIX - 1943. Photos taken from HMCS ARVIDA not long before ST
CROIX was lost in Sep 1943. (HA073) Capt D's yacht, HMS PHILANTE,
Larne, Northern Ireland - Aug 1943 (HA074) HMCS LA MALBAIE -
1943 (HA075) HMS DIANTHUS, convoy escort seen from HMCS ARVIDA -
1943 (HA078) HMCS WASKESIU alongside HMCS ARVIDA c1943/44
(HA081) "Catalina aircraft scaring off submarines. North
Atlantic 16 Sep 1943" Webmaster's note: Catalina Patrol aircraft
dropping a depth charge - believed to be while escorting convoy HX256,
NYC to Liverpool 09 Sep -21 Sep 1943 (HA085) Guss Flinn and
Stoker Parkins, both from Montreal, on HMCS ARVIDA - 1943

RTL-HA088 |

RTL-HA091 |

RTL-HA096 |

RTL-HA098 |

RTL-HA100 |

RTL-HA102 |

RTL-HA104 |
(HA088)
HMCS ARVIDA takes on fuel from a tanker in the convoy in North Atlantic -
Aug 1943 (HA091) HMCS ARVIDA conducting a stern fueling from ship in
convoy in the North Atlantic - Aug 1943 (HA096) LS Roger J. Oulette
painting the rope covers on one of ARVIDA's ladders - 1943 (HA098)
Howard Abbott on duty as Quartermaster on HMCS ARVIDA - 1943 (HA100)
George Boynett from Toronto in HMCS ST CLAIR, St. John's, NFLD - 1943
(HA102) AB Thomas Riley from Hamilton, ON on HMCS ARVIDA - 1943
(HA104) HMCS ARVIDA's sea boat crew 1943. Front to back: Peter De Beck, Bud
Briggs, Ivan Bennett, Jim Fraser, and Bob Langraff.
From
the collection of AB Howard Charles
Abbott, RCNVR
Courtesy
of Roger Litwiller
*
The photos from the Howard Abbott collection were scanned and
cataloged by Roger Litwiller. The numbers below the photos are the
reference numbers from Roger's collection. |
HMCS ARVIDA -
Feb 1943 - Jan 1944

IB02
|

IB03
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IB04
|

IB05
|

IB06
|

IB07 |
(IB02)
Ivan Bennet on duty on ARVIDA's after gun tub (bandstand) (IB03) Ivan's
shipmates and his brother (Army) at Trafalgar Square, London, Sept 1943 - Top
left to right: Jones, Morrison, unknown, Ken Bennett (Army), Webb,
unknown. Bottom L-R: Briggs, Parkin, Ivan Bennett (IB04) HMCS ARVIDA
and HMCS OTTAWA H31 - with notes (IB05) HMCS ARVIDA conducting a
light-line transfer with ship in foreground - Winter 1942. Webmaster's
comment - photo description says the Barber pole was C5 EG - however in
Winter 1942 it was C3 EG. It became the symbol of C5 in 1943.
(IB06) "Fearless Fraser" on HMCS ARVIDA (IB07)
"Toot" Naish on HMCS ARVIDA Photos
IB06 and IB07 - "Wicker hampers are what we received bread in (black)
when in Ireland"

IB08
|

IB09
|

IB10 |

IB11
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IB12
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IB13
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IB14 |
(IB08)
Unidentified sailor on HMCS ARVIDA (IB09) L/Tel "Mac"
MacDermid on HMCS ARVIDA (IB10) Ivan Bennett on HMCS ARVIDA, Southside
Jetty, St. John's, NFLD (IB11) Danny Kitchen on HMCS ARVIDA
(IB12) Parkin and Danny Kitchen on HMCS ARVIDA (IB13) Bob Langraff,
Webb, Bennett and unknown on HMCS ARVIDA. Bob survived the torpedoing of
HMCS Saguenay in 1940 and the later ramming by a freighter (IB14)
"The Happy Gang" - Gus Flynn, Chris Christopher, Art Leblanc on
HMCS ARVIDA

IB15
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IB16
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IB17
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IB18
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IB19
|

IB20
|

IB21 |
(IB15)
Bob Weir on HMCS ARVIDA - 1943 (IB16) Gus Flynn on HMCS ARVIDA
(IB17) Unidentified sailor on HMCS ARVIDA, Southside Jetty, St. John's, NFLD
-The kid in behind the sailor came down to docks regularly to sell ice
cream to the crew (IB18) Bob Langraff on HMCS ARVIDA wearing his new
life belt with flashing head lamp (IB19) "After the
Storm". Three ARVIDA sailors on the jetty in St. John's,
NFLD. Note the missing searchlight, port sea boat, floats, etc.
(IB20) Note on Ray Scalzo becoming a ship's cook (IB21) HMCS ARVIDA
(foreground) conducting a transfer at sea with unknown ship

IB22
|

IB23 |

IB24
|

IB25
|

IB26 |

IB27
|

IB28 |
(IB22)
ASDIC Operators (Submarine Detectors) on HMCS ARVIDA (IB23)
"Fearless" Fraser painting the gremlin (logo) on the funnel
(IB24) Pinder and Gus Flynn on HMCS ARVIDA (IB24-IB26) HMCS ARVIDA
rendezvous with HMCS ST CROIX Aug 1943. ARVIDA's seaboat fetches the doctor
from HMCS ST CROIX for treatment of a storm casualty. The doctor was Prime
Minister MacKenzie King's nephew who later died in the sinking of HMS ITCHEN
on 23 Sep 1943 - having been rescued by ITCHEN after HMCS ST CROIX was sunk
by U-305 on 20 Sep 1943 (IB27) RN destroyer HMS BURNHAM departing
Londonderry

IB29
|

IB30
|

IB31
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IB32
|

IB33
|

IB34
|

IB35 |
(IB29)
American "C.B." Base, Londonderry, Northern Ireland - outboard to
inboard - HMCS KOOTENAY, HMCS SASKATCHEWAN, HMS NENE, unknown corvette
(IB30) "The White Watch" skylarking with our new issue life
jackets." L-R (standing) Jones, Morrison, Naish, Bennett,
(kneeling) Riley and Abbott (IB31-IB33) HMCS ARVIDA oiling from ship
in convoy (IB33) CO of HMCS ARVIDA looking over rail to check on oil
lines while fueling (IB34) HMCS ARVIDA replenishing her supply of
depth chards from ship in convoy (IB35) Fraser and Moe on HMCS ARVIDA

IB36
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IB37
|

IB38
|

IB39
|

IB40
|

IB41 |

IB42 |
(IB36)
"Toot" Naish by the port bridge wing 20mm Oerlikon on HMCS ARVIDA
(IB37) Bob Weir, McLeland and Ivan Bennett working on the port bridge wing
20 MM Oerlikon gun on HMCS ARVIDA. This was my (Ivan Bennett) action station
gun with Toot Naish (IB38) Sunning and resting on the
"Fiddly" deck aft of the funnel on HMCS ARVIDA (IB39) Off
watch and sunning on the starboard boat deck on HMCS ARVIDA (IB40) Mo
and Riley on the Quarterdeck of HMCS ARVIDA. Depth charge rails with
smoke floats on top. Hatches lead to Stores and Tiller flats (IB41)
Tom Riley (right) and Ivan Bennett splicing wire on HMCS ARVIDA (IB42)
Unidentified sailor in the window of the compass house on HMCS ARVIDA
(IB43)
Morrison and a Stoker PO enjoying a smoke on the depth charge storage racks
on HMCS ARVIDA (IB44) Jim Simpson (left) and Bobby Weir on HMCS ARVIDA
- 1943 (IB45) Note on Jim Simpson becoming ill at sea From
the collection of Ivan Bennett, RCNVR Courtesy
of Ivan Bennett |
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