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HMCS
ASSINIBOINE I18
C
- Class Destroyer (RN)
River
Class Destroyer (RCN)
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 circa
1934-1944
DND/RCN photo |
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Battle honours and awards: Atlantic
1939-45, Biscay 1944, English Channel
1944-45
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Laid down: 18
Oct 1930
Launched: 29
Oct 1931
Commissioned:
1932
Transferred to the RCN: 19
Oct 1939
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Commissioned: 19
Oct 1939
Paid off:
08 Aug 1945
Fate:
Wrecked - 10 Nov 1945 |
Completed in 1932 as HMS
KEMPENFELT. She was
transferred to the RCN at Devonport on 19 Oct 1939 and commissioned
as HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18. She arrived
in Halifax on 19 Nov 1939. Assigned to the America and West Indies
Station, she left for Jamaica on 05 Dec 1939 to carry out Caribbean
patrols. While so employed ASSINIBOINE assisted in the capture of
the German freighter Hannover in the Mona Passage and towed her into
Kingston, Jamaica. She returned to Halifax on 31 Mar 1940, and
was employed there as a local escort until 15 Jan 1941, when
she sailed for the U.K. to join EG 10, Greenock. With the formation
of Newfoundland Command in Jun 1941, "Bones" was
allocated to it for mid-ocean escort service. While thus employed
with convoy SC.94, on 06 Aug 1942, she rammed and sank U 210, necessitating
repairs at Halifax from 29 Aug to 20 Dec 1942. Not long after her
return to service, while on passage to Londonderry on 02 Mar 1943,
she attacked a U-boat with depth charges set too shallow, causing
serious damage to her stern. Repairs were effected at Liverpool from
07 Mar to 13 Jul 1943, when she joined EG C-1 of MOEF. In Apr
1944, she returned to Canada for refit at Shelburne, N.S., and on 01
Aug 1944 arrived at Londonderry to become a member of EG 12 and, a
few weeks later, EG 11. In Dec 1944 she was loaned to EG 14,
Liverpool, and remained with it until VE-Day. She returned to Canada
in Jun 1945, and, after brief employment as a troop transport, was
paid off 08 Aug 1945. On 10 Nov 1945, en route for
scrapping at Baltimore, ASSINIBOINE broke her tow and was wrecked
near East Point, P.E.I. Her remains were broken up on the wreck site
in 1952.
U-Boats Sunk:
U-210 sunk on 06 Aug 1942 by HMCS
ASSINIBOINE I18 in position 54-25 N, 39-37 W
Photos
and Documents The
Ship's Bell
CPO
Max Bernays - A history maker of the RCN
The
Battle with U-210 - as told by Allan Riley
Commanding Officers
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Cdr Edmond Rollo Mainguy,
RCN - 19 Oct 1939 - 02 Apr 1940
Commodore George Clarence Jones,
RCN - 03 Apr 1940 - 15 Sep 1940
Capt Cuthbert Robert Holland
Taylor,
RCN - 16 Sep 1940 - 29 Oct 1940
Commodore Leonard Warren Murray,
RCN - 30 Oct 1940 - 11 Feb 1941
A/LCdr John Hamilton Stubbs, RCN -
12 Feb 1941 - 01 Oct 1942
Lt Ralph Lucien Hennessy, DSC,
RCN - 02 Oct 1942 - 01 Dec 1942
Cdr Ernest Patrick Tisdall,
RCN - 02 Dec 1942 - 10 Feb 1943 |
Cdr Kenneth Frederick Adams,
RCN - 11 Feb 1943 - 08 Jun 1943
A/LCdr Robert Philip Welland,
DSC, RCN - 09 Jun 1943 - 07 Jul 1943
Cdr Kenneth Frederick Adams,
RCN - 08 Jul 1943 - 30 Sep 1943
A/LCdr Robert Phillip Welland,
DSC, RCN - 01 Oct 1943 - 13 Oct 1944
A/LCdr Ralph Lucien Hennessy,
DSC, RCN - 14 Oct 1944 - 21 Feb 1945
Cdr Edgar Lorne Armstrong,
RCN - 22 Feb 1945 - 08 Aug 1945 |
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
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B
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Banfield,
Nelson R.
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Barron,
Ian J.
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Benjamin,
Carman L.
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Bennett,
Harry M.
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Bernays, Max
L.
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Bertrand,
Laurent J.L.
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Birch,
Trevor J.W.
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Bird,
Frederick
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Bonney,
Charles F.
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Branch,
Charles
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Brock, John
P.
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Brunet,
J.A. David
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Budge,
Patrick D.
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Burgess,
Charles T.
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Burrow,
William O.
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Bushen,
Lee P.
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Campbell,
Lawrence N.
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Campbell,
William F.
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Chaney,
Lawrence
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Clark,
Ernest W.
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Clarke, John
J. A.
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Cole,
John W.
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Colegrave,
Bruce E.
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Cook,
Desmond B. W.
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Coughlin,
Clifton R.
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Cowan,
Murray A.
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Crossley,
Sidney R.
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Cue, Charles
P.
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Hadden, George
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Hannan,
William F.
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Hartlen, Wolfred
G.
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Harvey,
William J.
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Hawley,
John
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Hefferman,
William J.
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Heiberg, Kenneth
G.
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Hennessy,
Ralph L.
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Hughes,
Robert A.
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Hulley,
Kenneth
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MacMillan,
A.I.,
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Mainguy, Edmond
R.
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Manfield,
William A.
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Marlin,
Cassam M.
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Martin,
Douglas S.
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McKee,
William
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McNeney,
James R.
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Moore,
Edward N.
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Murray, Leonard W.
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Redburn, Charles
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Reid, Daniel
M.M.
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Rhydderch,
Rhys
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Richardson, Peter, C.E.
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Riley,
Joseph A.
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Robertson,
Theodore M.
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Robinson,
Edmund C.
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Rolland,
Joseph W.
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Rolston,
Keith
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Russ,
Frank A.
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Russell, Roy M.
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Former Crew Members
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Almas, Gordon, AB - 1942 - (o/b for battle with U-210)
Bailey, Thomas James, A/Sig/Bosn, RCN, Jan 1944
Bonnell,
Henry Nathan, A/LCdr (E), RCNR - 21 Jul 1943
Boyer, Frederick John, SLt, RCNVR - 07 Jul 1941
Burgon, William James, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 18 May 1944
Campbell, Bruce Alexander, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 13 May 1941 / 19 Jul
1941
Chown, Edwin George, RCNVR - 14 Apr 1944
Clarke, John Henry 
Clemens, Steven Albert, A/Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 02 Apr 1944
Cooper, John Sidney, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Feb 1944
Frost - Dec 1940
Garven, Alexander Smith, SLt, RCNVR - 30 Mar 1942
Gearing, Dan, Torpedoman, D.S.M. - 1942 (o/b for battle with
U-210)
Greening, Kenneth Norman Haynes, SLt, RCNVR - 31 May 1941
Hardy, Patrick Arthur, Lt, RCNVR - 23 Jun 1945
Hart, James, AB - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
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Jackson, John B., Midshipman, RCNVR - to ASSINIBOINE for training
circa Sep 1943 (Navy List Oct 1943). Appointed SLt eff 01 May 1944
(Navy List Jul 1944)
Jeckell, Allan Wray, LCdr, RCNVR - 25 May 1943
Knowlton, John Grant, Cdr (E), RCN - 02 Apr 1940
LeClair, Henri, L/Sto - Nov 1940
Lindsay, Bert, AB - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
Livingstone, Arnold, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 23 Jun 1942
Mainguy, James Wishart, SLt, RCNVR - 13 Jun 1942
Manfield, William Alexander, A/Gnr (T), RCN - 06 May 1940
McLean, M.B., Cook - 1940
Medland, Morson Alexander (Miff), Lt (G), RCN - 02 Apr 1940
Meredith, Kenneth Elliott, SLt, RCNVR - 20 Jun 1941
Patterson, (??), Cook - 1940
Putnam, James Malcolm, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 13 Feb 1943
Rayner, Herbert Sharples, Lt (T), RCN - 02 Apr 1940
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Rosier, Claude Harry, Lt (E), RCNVR - 15 Jun 1944
Ruddle-Browne, Herbert William, Mate, RCNR - 05 Apr 1942
Savoy, John Alfred, O.B.E. - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
Seager, Leonard F., PO - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
Sleight, James Alfred, Lt, RCNR - 26 Jan 1944
Stirling, Michael Grote, Lt, RCN - 02 Apr 1940
Stubbs, William James, Lt, RCN - 02 Apr 1940
Sutherland,
Hugh John Gunn, Wt/Mech, RCN - 01 May 1940
Tobin,
Eugen, Sig - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
Tuck,
George, AB - 1942 (o/b for battle with U-210)
Wilkins,
George Arthur, Lt (E), RCNR - 27 Jul 1942
Wright,
Eric Nicholas Henry, Lt, RCNVR - 11 Jun 1944
Young,
Frank Malcolm, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 30 Jun 1944
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Photos
and Documents
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HMS Kempenfelt (prior to transfer to RCN
and renamed HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18)
Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron
Bell
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HMS Kempenfelt (prior to transfer to RCN and renamed
HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18)
From the collection of John James Ashworth Clarke
Courtesy of Eric Clarke
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
From the collection of Joseph Henri Lionel Forget
Courtesy of Johnny Forget
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
DND / RCN Photo
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
Courtesy of Ken Cox
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 alongside in Halifax
From the collection of Ivan Chamberlain
Courtesy of Dave Chamberlain
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE leaving Halifax on 30 Sep 1940 to join convoy HX
77 as a local escort. HMCS Saguenay following astern Source Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of Alberta /
IKMD-03420 |
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View of RN destroyer as seen from HMCS ASSINIBOINE
taking over escort of Convoy HX180 - 19 Mar 1942
Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada.
Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-180611 |
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Cooks M.B.
McLean and Patterson mixing rum into a Christmas pudding aboard the
destroyer HMCS ASSINIBOINE, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dec 1940
Source:
Credit: Canada.
Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-1044
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE laying smoke in the
English Channel
Courtesy of Lou Ranahan
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After
a storm, damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE is assessed by crew members of
HMCS Swansea K328
Photo from the collection of Albert
Tomlinson, Telegraphist, RCN
Courtesy
of Stephen Tomlinson, Lt, RCN
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After
a storm, damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE is assessed by crew members of
HMCS Swansea K328
Photo from the collection of Albert
Tomlinson, Telegraphist, RCN
Courtesy
of Stephen Tomlinson, Lt, RCN
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After
a storm, damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE is assessed by crew members of
HMCS Swansea K328
Photo from the collection of Albert
Tomlinson, Telegraphist, RCN
Courtesy
of Stephen Tomlinson, Lt, RCN
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The
officers of HMCS ASSINIBOINE pictured with their wartime mascot. The man
holding the dog is the late, Lieutenant-Commander John Stubbs, who was just
28 when he received command of of HMCS ASSINIBOINE in January 1941. For the
next two years he commanded the ship on the treacherous North Atlantic run.
Courtesy of the
CFB
Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
From the collection of François
Messier, AB, RCNVR
Courtesy of Denis Messier
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Donald Portree (right) and unknown sailor HMCS ASSINIBOINE
I18
From the collection of Donald Portree
Courtesy of Donna Portree
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Article on two HMCS ASSINIBOINE sailors from Montreal
in Hospital after the battle with U-210
Sailors named: Able Seaman Henry M. Sharo and
Ordinary Seaman Herbert F. Taylor, RCNVR
Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury
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Sailors on the fo'c's'le of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 circa
Nov 1941 - Oct 1942
Ken Sharp 2nd from left
From the collection of Ken Sharp
Courtesy of Phil Sharp
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 outboard of another vessel
at the US Army Dock (today Pier 17) St. John's, Newfoundland, circa
May 1942
Photographer: Roy T. Cardy
Courtesy of Dennis Cardy |
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CLARKE,
John Henry, Able Seaman (3666) - Mention in Despatches - RCN / HMCS ASSINIBOINE
- Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 12 Dec 1942 and
London Gazette of 03 Dec 1942.
CLARKE.
John Henry, 3666, AB, RCN, MID~[12.12.42] - "This rating was in
"A" gun's crew and after casualties had reduced the number
of the crew to three, he continued to keep the gun firing whilst
under fairly heavy fire from an enemy U-Boat." |
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 Christmas Card - Dec 1943
From the collection of William
O. Burrow, LS, RCNVR
Courtesy of William (Bill) Cottam
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE, St. John's, NFLD, date unknown
From the collection of Donald Noseworthy
Courtesy of Steve Gemmill |
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Newspaper article on HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 circa 1943
From the collection of Donald Noseworthy
Courtesy of Steve Gemmill |
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 - date unknown
From the collection of Donald Noseworthy
Courtesy of Steve Gemmill |
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Sailors on HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 - date unknown
From the collection of Donald Noseworthy
Courtesy of Steve Gemmill |
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HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
From the collection of Eric Baird
Courtesy of Roger Clarke |
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Messages received by
HMCS ASSINIBOINE announcing the German surrender and the end of the
war
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Message
to the Commander German Forces Channel Islands
061119B |
Grouper received by HMCS ASSINIBOINE
(decoded copy not available)
071629B |
Message
announcing Germany's unconditional surrender
080012B |
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Message
from Field Marshal Montgomery to the First Sea Lord (1 &
2) and the First Sea Lord's reply (3)
080418B |
Message
from the Board of Admiralty congratulating all officers and
men in their victory
090416B |
Message
on proclamation ceremony on 12 May on the Channel Island
111805B |
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Message on formal surrender of Channel
Island
121230B |
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From the collection of John MacMillan
Courtesy of Jamie MacMillan
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Wreck of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 off PEI
Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron
Bell |
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Wreck of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 off PEI.
Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron
Bell |
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Remains of former HMCS ASSINIBOINE
I18 near South Lake, PEI circa 1969
Courtesy of Lou Ranahan
Webmaster's note: The wreck was
salvaged/broken-up in 1952. These photos show what the breakers
didn't bother to salvage |
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Remains of former HMCS
ASSINIBOINE I18 near South Lake, PEI circa 1969 "This photo was taken
while looking in the cut away where you see the plank at the water
line in the first photo. It is looking to the aft of the ship and
there is still a fair amount of structure below the water line right
to the stern."
Courtesy of Lou Ranahan |
(CA71-CA73)
HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 photographed from HMCS FREDERICTON K245
From the
collection of Charles Atkins, RCNVR
Courtesy of
Lorne Atkins
Battle between HMCS ASSINIBOINE
I18 and U-210
on 06 Aug 1942
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photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
(1)
U-210 on the surface attempting to escape HMCS ASSINIBOINE. Photo
Credit: LAC PA 37443 - From the collection of Donald Noseworthy.
Courtesy of Steve Gemmill
(2)
U-210 on the surface attempting to escape HMCS ASSINIBOINE. From the
collection of Donald Noseworthy. Courtesy of Steve Gemmill
(3)
Conning tower of U-210 visible between the guardrails of ASSINIBOINE.
Photo Credit: LAC PA 37444. From the collection of John Wampler.
Courtesy of Barb Ishler
(4)
U-210 just before she was rammed by HMCS ASSINIBOINE. From the
collection of John Wampler. Courtesy of Barb Ishler
(5)
Fire fighting teams attack the fire on the boat deck of HMCS ASSINIBOINE
caused by gunfire from U-210. ERA 4c Donald Portee in foreground with
his back to the camera. From the collection of John Wampler. Courtesy of
Barb Ishler
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photo 7 |
photo 8 |
photo 9 |
photo 10 |
(6) Survivors
from U-210 being picked up. From the collection of John Wampler.
Courtesy of Barb Ishler
(7) Damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE from the battle with U-210.
From the collection of John Wampler. Courtesy of Barb Ishler
(8)
Damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE from the battle with U-210. RCN
photo negative # NF773. From the collection of Hamilton
Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling
(9) Burial at Sea.
Ordinary
Seaman Kenneth Watson, youngest rating on board, killed in action in
the battle against U-210, 06 Aug 1942, is buried at sea. He was hit
twice while carrying ammunition to "A" gun. DND/RCN photo
(10)
German prisoners being led of HMCS ASSINIBOINE to a ship alongside
while the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE looks on. RCN Photo Negative # NF800.
From the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling
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photo 14 |
photo 15 |
(11)
German prisoners being taken ashore
(blind folded). Note: they were not blindfolded when the left
HMCS ASSINIBOINE, but may have been blindfolded on the inboard ship.
From the collection of Donald Noseworthy. Courtesy of Steve Gemmill
(12)
Crew of "A" Gun of HMCS ASSINIBOINE who took part in the
sinking of U-210 on 06 Aug 1942. Photo taken St. John's
Newfoundland, 10 Aug 1942 Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada.
DND / LAC PA-115355
(13)
Lt
R. Hennessy, Admiral L.W. Murray, A/LCdr John Stubbs (Commanding
Officer HMCS ASSINIBOINE) on the jetty with the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE
along the rails after her battle with U-210. Note the A/LCdr
Stubbs still has his Mae West on. RCN
Photo: Negative # HS0015. From
the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy
of Chris Skilling
(14)
Crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE and their mascot
returning from sea after sinking the German submarine U-210 in
August of 1942. LAC MIKAN 3576701
(15)
Admiral L.W. Murray addressing the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 on the quarterdeck. RCN Photo Negative # NF810. From
the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy
of Chris Skilling
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photo 17 |
(16) Admiral
L.W. Murray addressing the crew of HMCS
ASSINIBOINE I18 on the quarterdeck. From
the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy
of Chris Skilling
(17) The bow of HMCS ASSINIBOINE after ramming
U-210
Newspaper articles on the sinking of U-210 and
HMCS ASSINIBOINE crew members from Ontario
From the collection of Donald Portree
Courtesy of Donna Portree
Front page headlines of the Halifax Mail, Saturday,
September 19, 1942
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photo 7 |
(1) U-Boat Rammed, Crew Captured - Halifax Mail, Sat.,
19 Sep 1942
(2) Artist rendition of HMCS ASSINIBOINE ramming U-210
- Halifax Mail, Sat., 19 Sep 1942
(3) Canadian Destroyer Wins In Blazing, Close Range
Battle - Halifax Mail, Sat., 19 Sep 1942
(4) Saw Action On Assiniboine - Lt Douglas S. Martin,
RCNR and Lt Ralph Hennessy - Halifax Mail, Sat., 19 Sep 1942
(5) Laud Heroic Action Of
Crew Of Assiniboine - Halifax Mail, Sat., 19 Sep 1942 (6)
Bears Wounds From Sea Battle - PO Edward Moore - Halifax Mail, Sat.,
19 Sep 1942 (7)
Battle Is Fought At Close Quarters - Halifax Mail - 19 Sep 1942
Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury
Battle
damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18
From
the collection of Thomas E.
Elstone, CPO1, RCN
Courtesy
of Rick Elstone
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JVW241
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JVW242
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JVW243
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JVW244
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JVW245
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(JVW241)
Artist rendition of HMCS ASSINIBOINE ramming U-210 - Halifax Herald, Sat.,
19 Sep 1942
(JVW242) HMCS ASSINIBOINE wins battle against U-210
(JVW243) HMCS ASSINIBOINE sinks Nazi sub in close range gun battle
(JVW244)
These Nazis Will Raid No More - HMCS ASSINIBOINE rescues survivors of
U-210
(JVW245) OS Kenneth Watson killed by U-boat shell
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JVW246
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JVW247
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JVW248
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JVW249
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(JVW246)
CPO Max Bernay's, Cox'n of HMCS ASSINIBOINE manned the helm of HMCS
ASSINIBOINE during battle with U-210 while fires burned around the
wheelhouse
(JVW247) We threw everything at them but potato masher
(JVW248) Sto PO Edward Moore, HMCS ASSINIBOINE, wounded in action against U-210
(JVW249) Photo of U-210 just off HMCS ASSINIBOINE'S beam - The Star Weekly,
Toronto, 03 Oct 1942
From
the collection of J. Vincent
Wesley, CPO, RCNVR
Courtesy
of Marilynn Taylor
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FM847 |
FM848 |
FM849 |
FM850 |
FM851 |
Newspaper
articles on HMCS ASSINIBOINE'S battle with U-210 on 06 Aug 9142
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FM852 |
FM853 |
FM854 |
FM855 |
FM856 |
Newspaper
articles on HMCS ASSINIBOINE'S battle with U-210 on 06 Aug 142
Newspaper
articles on HMCS ASSINIBOINE'S battle with U-210 on 06 Aug 1942
From the collection of François
Messier, AB, RCNVR
Courtesy of Denis Messier
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