HMCS CANSO J21 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS CANSO J21

Bangor Class Minesweeper

HMCS CANSO J21

RCN Photo

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Laid down: 30 Dec 1940

Launched: 09 Jun 1941

Transferred to RCN:

Commissioned: 06 Mar 1942

Paid off: 24 Sep 1945

Fate: Broken up in 1948

Built for the RN at North Vancouver, she was laid down and launched as HMS CANSO. Transferred to the RCN on completion, she was commissioned at Vancouver on 06 Mar 1942 as HMCS CANSO. After working up, she was assigned to Esquimalt Force from May 1942 to Jul 1943, when nominated for service in the Atlantic. She left Esquimalt on 08 Jul 1943, arriving at Halifax on 19 Aug 1943, and was allocated to Halifax Force. On 21 Feb 1944, with GUYSBOROUGH, KENORA, and WASAGA, she sailed from Halifax via the Azores for Plymouth, arriving on 08 Mar 1944. She was allocated in turn to the 32nd, 16th and 31st Minesweeping Flotillas, and was on hand on D-Day as part of the 16th. In Aug 1944 she returned briefly to Canada for a refit at Saint John, N.B., and in November resumed her task of clearing German Minefields. She was paid off on 24 Sep 1945, and returned to the RN at Sheerness, to be broken up at Sunderland in 1948.

Photos and Documents Ship's Company Photos

Commanding Officers

Lt Hugh Sinclair MacFarlane, RCNR - 06 Mar 1942 - 03 Feb 1943

Lt John Kincaid, RCNR - 04 Feb 1943 - 23 May 1943

Lt Harold Heap Rankin, RCNR - 24 May 1943 - 05 Jun 1943

Lt John Kincaid, RCNR - 06 Jun 1943 - 04 Oct 1944

A/LCdr J.M. Gracey, RCNVR - 05 Oct 1944 - 24 Sep 1945

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Lest We Forget

KELSEY, Lorne S.

AB, RCNVR

died - 14 Oct 1943

JUSTICE, Robert M.

Sto 2c, RCNVR

died - 19 Apr 1944

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Alexander, Robert Broderick, Lt, RCNVR - 15 Apr 1943

Banwell, Frank David, Lt, RCNVR - 06 Apr 1943

Burns, Donald Gardiner, Lt, RCNVR - 27 Jan 1944

Draney, Charles Fraser, SLt, RCNVR - 06 Mar 1942

Finlayson, Donald Grant Lt (E), RCNVR - Jan 1944

Hatch, Carr, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Feb 1942 - Commissioning crew

Johnson, Albert Charles Arthur, Cd (E), RN - 05 Mar 1942 - Commissioning crew

Lang, Hector Craig, Lt, RCNVR - 23 May 1943

Lloyd, Douglas, Ch/Skpr, RCNR - 13 May 1943

Ness, George Cairns, Wt (E), RCNR - 04 May 1943

Osmond, Frederick C., Stoker - crew on D-Day

Ridley, Frederick Neville, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1943

Photos and Documents

GHD001

(GHD001) Builder's plaque. Originally laid down for the Royal Navy, she was transferred to the RCN prior to completion and commissioned as HMCS CANSO.

From the collection of Gordon Dean, Stoker, RCNVR

Courtesy of John Davidson

AS001

AS002

(AS001-AS002) HMCS CANSO J21

(AS001) "McGregor" is written on the back of the photo

(AS002) "Olchowesky" is written on the back of the photo

Photographer: CERA Albert Sayer, RCNVR, on HMCS GUYSBOROUGH J52

From the collection of CERA Albert Sayer, RCNVR

Courtesy of Karen Pelton

FG004

Frank Gilraine by the gun turret on HMCS CANSO - 1941

From the collection of Francis Jospeh (Frank) Gilraine, CPO, RCN(R)

Courtesy of George Gilraine

VT02

VT03

VT04

VT05

(VT02) HMCS CANSO sailors from Toronto area - L-R: Coder Wiliam Loughheed; LS G.E. Elliott; Stoker Fred Osmond; AB William Lockett; AB Charles R. Johnston; Stoker Thomas Hawkes; AB W.W. Rowe; Cook Vincent J. Thompson; and ERA John A. Murchinson

(VT03) Shipmates at Trafalgar Square, London, England, 07 Aug 1945 - L-R: Fred C. Osmond, Stoker, Toronto, Ontario; Vincent J. Thompson,Cook, 600 Ontario St., Toronto, Ontario; and Causy Causgrove, Portland Oregon

(VT04) Canadian Minesweepers Cleared Invasion Path - Led Everything Else - Transcription of article from the Toronto Evening Telegram 14 Aug 1944

(VT05) Ship's company photo - HMCS CANSO J21 dated 1943 - this photo is also posted on the crew photo page for HMCS CANSO