HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 


 

Jacket Patch

HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Laid down: 16 Apr 1941

Launched: 20 Oct 1941

Commissioned: 13 Dec 1941

Paid off: 23 Oct 1945

Fate: Sold in 1946. Final disposition unknown

 

Named for a county in Quebec, BELLECHASSE was built at Vancouver and commissioned there 23 Dec 1941. She spent her entire career on the west coast, alternating between Prince Rupert Force and Esquimalt Force. Paid off on 23 Oct 1945, at Esquimalt, she was sold the following year to the Union Steamship Co., Vancouver, but her intended conversion for mercantile service was not carried out.

 


 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

 

The Bellechase Incident - US Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt Harold Heap Rankin, RCNR - 13 Dec 1941 - 02 May 1943

Lt Roland Joel Roberts, RCNR - 03 May 1943 - 16 Dec 1943

Lt Harold Heap Rankin, RCNR - 17 Dec 1943 - 05 Jan 1944

LCdr Walter Redford, RCNR - 06 Jan 1944 - 22 Mar 1945

LCdr John S. Cunningham, RCNVR - 23 Mar 1945 - 17 Apr 1945

Lt John Montye MacRae, RCNVR - 18 Apr 1945 - 24 Aug 1945

 

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Allan, "Margaret"

 

Bailey, Bernard

 

Carmichael, Herbert Angus, SLt, RCNVR - 01 Apr 1943

 

Crawford, George Lyndon, Lt, RCNVR - 01 Mar 1943 / 09 Apr 1944

 

Cruickshank, Jean

 

Dempster, Wilfred John, SLt, RCNVR - 02 Apr 1945

 

Edwards, "Annie"

 

Edwards, Bill

 

Fleetwood, Pat

 

Gibson, Walter James, Skpr, RCNR - Jan 1944

 

Hulby, "Doreen"

Johnston, Kenneth Marsden, A/Lt, RCNVR - 10 May 1944

 

Kelly, Hugh C., RCNVR 

 

Kendall, Jack

 

Langston, Ray

 

Laing, Gordon

 

Lefebvre, Pierre Adophe, Lt, RCNVR - 05 Jun 1944

 

Mackintosh, James Francis, A/Wt (E), RCN - 13 Mar 1944

 

Magnussen, Robert George, Lt, RCNVR - 22 Mar 1943

 

McMillan, "Amy"

 

Muir, Robert, Lt, RCNVR - 09 Apr 1944

 

Porter, Gordon Lewis, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1944

Reber, Roy

 

Risler, Bill

 

Robertson, John Ralph, Lt, RCNVR - 01 Mar 1943

 

Scott, Geoffrey Newton Beresford, Lt, RCNVR - 01 Apr 1942

 

Soweby, Paul Quinton Roger, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Stanbridge, Thomas Montague, Skpr, RCNR - 20 Apr 1945

 

Stevens, John Clement, SLt (E), RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Stevens, John Stewart, Lt, RCNVR - 06 Apr 1943

 

Thompson, "Audrie"

 

Wallace, "Margaret"

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Ship's bell for HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

The bell is on display at NLCC Landymore/RCSCC Nelles in Brandford, ON.

Courtesy of Dale Robinson

Sailors on HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

 

Written on back of photo:

 

To George, From the Gang:  Margaret Wallace, Jean Cruickshank, Doreen Hulby, Amy McMillan, Margaret Allan, Annie Edwards, Bill Risler, Audrie Thompson, Pat Fleetwood, Jack Kendall, Roy Reber, Gordon Laing, Bernard Bailey, Bill Edwards, Ray Langston

 

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

 

Front row: front, 1st on left, LR3c William Koruna

Sailors on HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

George Crere, Tel, sitting on right side of table

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

 

     

 

HMCS BELLECHASSE J170

From the collection of George Huntbatch

Courtesy of Ross Huntbatch

 

HMCS BELLECHASSE Jacket Patch

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

This patch has been donated to the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

 


 

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