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HMCS
BEACON HILL K407 / 303
River
Class / Prestonian Class Frigate
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SEMPER LIBER Post
WW II Badge |
HMCS
BEACON HILL - Jan 1966. 2nd Squadron Courtesy
of Robert Berbeck |
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Battle honours and awards: Atlantic
1944-45, English Channel 1944-45
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Laid down: 16
Jul 1943
Launched:
06 Nov 1943
Commissioned: 16 May 1944
Paid off
05 Feb 1946
Re-Commissioned:
16 May 1949
Paid
off:
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Re-Commissioned:
15 Feb 1950
Paid
off:
Re-Commissioned
15 Apr 1951
Paid off: 1954 for Prestonian class conversion
Re-Commissioned 21
Dec 1957
Paid off: 15
Sep 1967
Fate: Broken up
in 1968 |
Built by Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt, BC, she was
commissioned there on 16 May 1944. BEACON HILL arrived at Halifax on 11 Jul 1944, having escorted Puncher from New
Orleans to New York en route, and proceeded to Bermuda to work up.
On her return to Halifax she left in Sep 1944 to join EG 26, an RCN
support group based at Londonderry, but for varying periods was
detached to Plymouth and Portsmouth. She remained in U.K. waters for
the balance of the European war, leaving Greenock for home on 28 May
1945. Intended for Pacific service, she underwent
tropicalization refit at Liverpool, N.S., from Jun to Nov 1945, and
sailed from Shelburne for Esquimalt on 22 Dec 1945. She was paid off
at Esquimalt on 06 Feb 1946, but re-commissioned in the summer
of 1949 for cadet training. Paid off later in 1949, she was
re-commissioned on 15 Feb 1950 and paid off at the end of the summer
training cruises. She was re-commissioned again on 15 Apr 1951. During
1951, the West Coast
training flotilla, consisting of the CRUSADER, ANTIGONISH and BEACON HILL,
sailed on three 21-day UNTD cadet training cruises to Pearl Harbor - 08 May, 27
Jun and 08 Aug. BEACON HILL
was again paid off in 1954 for
conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort, was commissioned as
such on 21 Dec 1957, and served on the west coast until
finally paid off on 15 Sep 1967. She was broken up in 1968 at
Sakai, Japan.
RCN Memories:
Gut
Instincts or Don't forget the funnel covers
Photos and Documents
Ship's company photos
The Ship's Bell
Commanding Officers
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A/Cdr Edward
T. Simmons, RCNVR - 16 May 1944 - 02 Mar 1945
Lt Hall William
Frederick Tingley, RCNVR - 03 Mar 1945 - unk
Cdr Robert Mariott
Aubrey, RN - 05 Mar 1945 - unk
LCdr Howard Lee Quinn, DSC,
RCNVR - 13 Sep 1945 - 05 Feb 1946
Lt Joern Eilert Korning,
RCN - 16 May 1949 - 15 Sep 1949
LCdr Robert Waugh Murdoch,
RCN - 15 Apr 1950 - 23 Sep 1951
LCdr J.W. McDowall,
RCN - 24 Sep 1951 - 20 Sep 1953
Cdr George Albert LaRue,
RCN - 21 Sep 1953 - 04 Jan 1954
LCdr P.F. Wilson,
RCN - 21 Dec 1957 - 14 Nov 1958
LCdr
Frederick Graham Henshaw, RCN - 15 Nov 1958 - 01 Dec 1958
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LCdr W.S. Blandy,
RCN - 02 Dec 1958 - 18 Aug 1959
LCdr A.G. Kilpatrick,
RCN - 19 Aug 1959 - 24 Aug 1961
LCdr Jack Leroy Panabaker, RCN - 25 Aug
1961 - 17 May 1962
LCdr Arthur Clark McMillan,
RCN - 18 May 1962 - 15 Sep 1963
LCdr Keith Murray Young, RCN - 16 Sep 1963 - 27 Oct
1964
LCdr W.A. Hughes,
RCN - 28 Oct 1964 - unk
LCdr Gordon Voldar Hartman,
RCN - 10 Jan 1966 - 01 May 1966
LCdr Pierre Edouard Gerard Simard, RCN - 02 May
1966 - 11 Sep 1966
LCdr Sidney Charles Gould, RCN - 12 Sep 1966 - 15 Sep
1967 |
Captain for the day
Captain
for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas
celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member
of the ship's company.
OS Tillie - 1950
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
They shall not be
forgotten
A
B
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Bacon,
Dennis |
Belcher, Frank
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Bell, Wesley
G.
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Benjamin,
Gordon
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Bernard,
Paul-Andre
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Bernard, Pierre Y.
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Bingham,
Harold W.
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Blandy,
Walter S.
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Britt, Bruce
D.
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Broster, G.
Arnold
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Bugslag,
John C.
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Burges,
David F.
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C
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Campbell,
David
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Choat,
Russell F. |
Chorneyko,
Oleh |
Clarkson,
Norman
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Cochrane,
Adam
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Cole, W.
Arthur
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Colegrave,
Bruce E.
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Comeau, Hugh
R.
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Considine,
Michael A.
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Cooke,
Philip C. H.
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Crickard,
Frederick W.
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Cumming,
James M.
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Cunningham,
Gerald
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Cuthbert,
Lawrence J.
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D
E
F
G
H
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Haigh,
James D.
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Hall,
Robert
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Hamel,
Doug
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Henderson,
J. William
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Hendrickson,
Melvin L.
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Henshaw,
Frederick G.
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Hicks,
Arthur J.
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Hodgkins,
Frederick
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Howarth, William
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Hughes,
William A. |
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Hunter,
Gerald K.
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J
K
L
M
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MacDonald,
James H.
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McBride,
Donald K. |
McDowell,
John W.
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McKinnon,
Donald T.
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McClean,
Ralph L. |
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McLeod, Cathel
J.
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McLeod, Frank T.
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McCluskey, Henry R.
T.
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McMillin,
Andrew C.
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Meadmore,
William J.
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Mueller,
Ernest W.
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Myers,
Frank S.
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O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Y
Former Crew Members
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Ambrose, Paul Hamilton, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 06 Jun 1944
Aust, Edward Girardot, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Feb 1945
Bauer,
Wilfred A. (Wilf), Radar Plotter
Bell, George Alfred (Dinger), Sto 
Berbeck, Robert, Jun 1967 - Sep 1967
Bernatchez, Joseph Louis Philippe, Inst/Lt, RCN - 16 May 1949
Borland, William John, Lt, RCNVR - 21 Jul 1944
Burton, Len, RCNR
Carmichael, Currie McRae, Lt, RCNVR - 15 Apr 1945
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Crawford, George Lyndon, Lt, RCNVR - 01 May 1944
/ 16 May
1944
Dawson, Kenneth Nelson, V56258, RCNVR
Fleming, John Henderson, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945
Greene, Justin Wilfred de Puisaye, Lt, RCN(R) - 10 Jun 1950
Hunt, William George, Lt, RCN - 16 May 1949, XO
Jones, Marus Ormond, Lt, RCNVR - 09 Feb 1945
Kent, Roland McCormick, Lt, RCNVR
Kellington, Thomas Martin, Cd (E), RCN - 15 May 1950
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Ladouceur, Alaxandre (Alex), U-40912, Cdt, RCN(R), UNTD - 08 May
1951 Pearl Harbor training cruise
Longworthy, William Harold, Lt (E), RCNVR - 22 Feb 1944 /
16 May 1944
Morrison, David Robert, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Jun 1944
Robertson, Gary, AB.EM, RCN - 1963-1964
Shuckburgh, Trevor Cole, LCdr, RCN, Sea Training Officer
Smith, Roy, Lt (E), RCN - 16 May 1949
Theriault, Robert (Bob),
Signalman
Tilford, N. Allan, UNTD - summer 1951
Whittle, Murray Russell - WW2
Wilson, Roger Allardyce, Sto 1c
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Photos and Documents
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HMCS BEACON HILL K407 with wartime camouflage
DND / RCN Photo
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HMCS BEACON HILL in wartime
camouflage circa 1944.
Source: CFB Esquimalt Naval and
Military Museum
Photo Catalogue No. VR991.383.1
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Newspaper article on the commissioning of HMCS BEACON HILL
in Esquimalt
Kenneth Dawson - 2nd from left
From the collection of Kenneth Dawson
Courtesy of Randy Dawson
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V.E. Day on HMCS BEACON HILL K407 - Cdr Ted
Simmons addresses his crew
From the collection of Dick James
Courtesy of Steve Hlasny |
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Splice the Mainbrace on HMCS BEACON HILL circa
1945
Gordon Sommer front, centre. Other three sailors
unknown
from the collection of Gordon Sommer
Courtesy of Janet Hillaby |
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Music in the mess deck on HMCS BEACON HILL K405
circa 1944-1945
Gordon Sommer in front playing guitar. Other
sailors unknown
From the collection of Gordon Sommer
Courtesy of Janet Hillaby |
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HMCS BEACON HILL K407 circa 1944 |
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photo 1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
photo 8 |
(1)
Messmates on BEACON HILL L-R: Tommy Stephens, ERA4c of North
Vancouver, BC; A. MacFarlane, ERA5c of Toronto, ON; Kenneth N. Dawson,
ERA4c of Oshawa, ON; John E. Cooper, ERA4c of Vancouver, BC; Thomas
Benny Graham, ERA4c of Montreal, QC; Jack Danes, ERA3c, of Victoria,
BC; Andy Lamont, ERA4c of Edmonton, AB (2) Back of photo
#1 (3) Lt Longworthy on his way up to the bridge. Taken 3 weeks
before Xmas 1944 (4) "A picture of the boys while at
Bermuda. It was taken while waiting for the boat race to start. We are
sitting on the port anchor chain up on the focsle. Just the way
everyone goes around in the tropics. Doc Cooper, Benny Graham,
unknown, Andy Lamont, Jack Danes" (5) "Some
prisoners being taken off HMCS Thetford Mines. The sub was sunk by our
group (E.G. 26) when the sub ran into the New Glasgow. (last sub got
by Canadians in the war)" Webmaster's note: The prisoners were
from U-1003 which was rammed by New Glasgow. (6) Ken Dawson
holding a couple of fish on HMCS BEACON HILL. Back of photo -
"Myself holding up some real fish we picked up after dropping a
pattern of charges." (7) HMCS New Glasgow K320 alongside
HMCS BEACON HILL at sea (8) HMCS Jonquiere alongside HMCS BEACON HILL
at sea. Back of photo - "HMCS Jonquiere came alongside
to transfer some mail to us. In the same group as us."
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photo 9 |
photo 10 |
photo 11 |
photo 12 |
photo 13 |
photo 14 |
photo 15 |
photo 16 |
(9)
Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS BEACON HILL (10) Jack
Danes, Alex MacFarlane and Andy Lamont standing in front of the 12
pounder (11) "Floating fortress anchored down outside of
Portsmouth" (Historical note: The floating fortress in
photo #11 is the NAB Tower Lighthouse, located in the English Channel
southeast of Bembridge, just off the eastern end of the Isle of Wight.
Click on the link to read the history of the NAB
Tower Lighthouse) (12) A German escape Life belt taken from a sub
got by Montreal and Ribble at X-mas. (Historical Note: On
17 Dec 1944, Montreal rescued survivors of U 1209, which ran aground
and was wrecked on Wolf Rock southwest of Land's End.) (13)
"ERAs gun crew. A. Lamont sighting gun; J. Danes holding
tray for shell; A. McFarlane going to fire gun; a stoker holding a
star shell" (14) V.E. Day on HMCS BEACON HILL - Back Row PO
James; MacFarlane / Middle Row OA Sunby; EA Hancock, Dallin, Sto PO
Olive, Tommy and Doc; TGM Butler; Sto PO Jelleau; Jack Danes / Front
Row - Shipwright Tompson; PO Carrey; Sarg Iszy; ERA Louches; PO Rafuse;
ERA MacDonald (15) VE Day on HMCS BEACON HILL - James &
MacFarlane / Sunby, Hancock, Dallin, Olive, Stephens, Cooper, Edwards
/ Carey, Thompson, Louches, Rafues, MacDonald / Iszy - Sergeant Dental
Corp (16) HMCS BEACON HILL heading to sea.
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photo 17 |
photo 18 |
photo 19 |
(17)
"taken one Sunday in Bermuda right after divisions with everyone
dressed in whites. Back Row - MacFarlane, Cooper, Danes,
Stephens. Front Row - Lamont, Graham, Dawson (18) "Lt Hardy
Gunnery Officer singing a song on the quarter deck at V.E. day celebration"
(19) "Lt Longworthy Engineering Officer singing a song at V.E.
day celebration"
From the collection of Kenneth Dawson
Courtesy of Randy Dawson |
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HMCS BEACON HILL 303 - 09 May 1959
Source: City of Vancouver Archives. Photographer:
Walter E. Frost
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Lowering the ensign for the last time on HMCS BEACON HILL.
P2SG Rosie Dale on the right
and LSSG Robert Berbeck on the left
Courtesy of Robert Berbeck |
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Roger Allardyce Wilson, Stoker
Only
son of Harold and Margaret Wilson, Roger was born at Portage la
Prairie, Manitoba, November 6, 1925. He attended Hollywood and
Langruth schools. He enlisted on July 8, 1943, at H.M.C.S. CHIPPAWA,
Winnipeg. After three months training, he went to Esquimalt on the
west coast where he took courses at H.M.C.S. GIVENCHY and H.M.C.S.
NADEN I. In the spring of 1944, he joined the H.M.C.S. BEACON HILL and
via the Panama Canal went overseas. He was stationed at Londonderry,
Ireland, where the BEACON HILL belonged to the striking force. At the
close of hostilities Roger returned to Canada in the BEACON HILL and
volunteered for Pacific duty. He was at Liverpool, N.S., until
November, 1945, when he received his discharge at H.M.C.S. CHIPPAWA,
Winnipeg. He returned home and after a two-year course in agriculture
at the University of Manitoba, he started farming in the Langruth
district.
Source: "A Tribute to the Soldiers and
Pioneers of the Langruth District", published 1950 |
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CPO2 BN4 Harold Wesley Bingham receiving his CD
CPO2
(BN4) Harold Wesley Bingham (born 11-10-1920 - died 01-02-2001) was
the last Cox'n on the BEACON HILL before she was paid off. Her last
cruise was a West Coast "show the flag" down the Pacific
Coast as far as Mexico before working her way home back to Victoria.
Dad was fortunate to receive one of the original ship's copper rum
tots with BEACON HILL's crest attached and it was engraved by the boys
onboard "HMCS BEACON HILL 1944-1957" with Dad's name on the
back.
Courtesy of Stafford Bingham |
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HMCS BEACON HILL 303
Courtesy of Gary Robertson
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HMCS BEACON HILL 303
Courtesy of Gary Robertson |
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HMCS BEACON HILL 303
DND / RCN Photo |
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GB-BCN-001 |
GB-BCN-002 |
GB-BCN-003 |
(GB-BCN-001)
Newspaper article on the collision between HMCS BEACON HILL
303 and HMCS NEW GLASGOW 315 off Hawaii - year unknown
(GB-BCN-002)
HMCS BEACON HILL 303 // From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art)
Broster
(GB-BCN-003)
G.A. Broster (left) on HMCS BEACON HILL - date
unknown // From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art)
Broster
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GB-BCN-004 |
GB-BCN-005 |
GB-BCN-006 |
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Christmas 1950
onboard HMCS BEACON HILL
(GB-BCN-004)
A bit of fun on Christmas morning. “A funeral for Don Hamilton. Boy was he
suffering from a hangover.” On Left: Stan Hill/Stan Stark. On
Right: John Hodaseck, George (Shorty) Don Lampert. Under the flag and
wreath is Don Hamilton
(GB-BCN-005)
The other end of the table
(GB-BCN-006)
The drinking session before the dinner Christmas 1950
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GB-BCN-007 |
GB-BCN-008 |
GB-BCN-009 |
GB-BCN-010 |
Christmas 1950
onboard HMCS BEACON HILL
(GB-BCN-007)
Dishing out dinner. The server is Norm Dawe
(GB-BCN-008)
Some of the boys preparing the meal. The 3 PO’s in the back served
everyone
(GB-BCN-009)
The Captain for the Day and the Captain – OS Tillie (CO for the day) and LCdr Murdock
(GB-BCN-010)
The 3 cooks that cooked the dinner. Left: P.O. Ralph Caldwell, Right:
holding cakes is Gordie Long. Two of the six tturkeys are on Ralph’s
right.
From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art)
Broster
Courtesy of Cathy Robinson
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