HMCS CHAMPLAIN

 

Thornycroft S Class Destroyer

 

 

HMCS CHAMPLAIN circa 1932

Credit: Credit Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of Alberta

 

Launched: 06 Mar 1919

Commissioned: 1919

Paid off: 1928

Transferred to RCN: 01 Mar 1928

Commissioned: 01 Mar 1928

Paid off: 25 Nov 1936

Fate: Sold for scrap in 1937

 

Initially named HMS TORBAY, she was commissioned in the RN in 1919.  She was lent to the RCN while replacements for PATRICIAN and PATRIOT were being built in Britain.  The transfer took place at Portsmouth on 01 Mar 1928.  In May 1928, CHAMPLAIN arrived at Halifax to provide reserve training.  On 05 Jan 1935, HMCS SKEENA and HMCS VANCOUVER departed Esquimalt for exercises in the Kingston, Jamaica area with HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS SAGUENAY. She was paid off on 25 Nov 1936 and sold for scrap in 1937.

 

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt George Ralph Miles, RCN - 13 Feb 1928 - 28 Feb 1928

Cdr Charles Taschereau Beard, RCN - 01 Mar 1928 - 20 May 1928

LCdr John Crispo Inglis Edwards, RCN - 21 May 1928 - 26 Dec 1929

Cdr V.G. Brodeur, RCN - 27 Dec 1929 - 26 Dec 1930

LCdr A.R. Pressey, RCN - 27 Dec 1930 - 27 Aug 1931

LCdr G.B. Barnes, RCN - 28 Aug 1931 - 15 Oct 1931

LCdr A.R. Pressey, RCN - 16 Oct 1931 - 22 May 1932

LCdr Valentine Stuart Godfrey, RCN - 23 May 1932 - 23 May 1934

LCdr Wallace Bourchier Creery, RCN - 23 May 1934 - 10 Dec 1935

LCdr R.E.S. Bidwell, RCN - 11 Dec 1935 - 25 Nov 1936

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Donald, Colin Degge, LCdr, RCn - 21 Jun 1930

 

Freeman, Arthur George, Gnr (T), RCN - 16 May 1935

 

Gee, Edward, Gnr (T), RCN - 02 Jul 1930

Hill, Henry Algernon, Gnr (T), RN - 15 Apr 1929

 

Keohane, James William, Lt (E), RCN - 01 Jun 1933

Knowlton, John Grant, Lt (E), RCN - 12 Jul 1931

 

Lewis, Bernard Arthur, Gnr (T), RCN - 03 May 1932

 

Webber, Reginald Amand, Slt, RCN - 22 Feb 1935

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

 

DND / RCN Photo

HMCS CHAMPLAIN entering Willemstad Harbour, Netherlands Antilles, 1934

 

In the winder of 1934, HMCS Skeena, HMCS Saguenay, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and HMCS Vancouver took part in Winter exercises off South America.

 

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

HMCS CHAMPLAIN (left) and HMCS Saguenay (right) in the graving dock, Saint John, NB - date unknown

 

     

 

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

HMCS CHAMPLAIN, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 1928

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

Crew members of HMCS CHAMPLAIN

Herbert Dowling 2nd from right

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

 

HMCS CHAMPLAIN's mascot circa 1930

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

"Sailor Daddie"

Herbert Dowling on right

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

 

Webmaster's note: A "Sailor Daddie" is a qualified sailor who has been assigned to take a new sailor under his wing and show him what he need to know to become a qualified sailor. If this young sailor had any questions he would go to his "Sailor Daddie". This would also pertain to the do's and don'ts when in foreign ports to help prevent a new sailor from being arrested or worse.

Mess deck on HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

After gun turret on HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

Upper deck of HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN, winter cruise to Bermuda, 1935

Photo taken from HMCS Saguenay

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN Christmas card

From the collection of Herbert Edward Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

Newspaper article from the Halifax Chronicle Herald about the 1938 cruise

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN in drydock at St John Shipbuilding, St. John, N.B., 1935

From the collection of H.E. Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN in drydock at St John Shipbuilding, St. John, N.B., 1935

From the collection of H.E. Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN, St. Lucia, British West Indies

From the collection of H.E. Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN, St. Lucia, British West Indies

From the collection of H.E. Dowling`

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of H.E. Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of H.E. Dowling

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

HMCS CHAMPLAIN

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

Onboard HMCS CHAMPLAIN circa 1928-1930

From the collection of James A. Senior, RCN

Courtesy of Bob Senior

 

 

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