HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244

Flower Class Corvette

Built by the Kingston Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, Ont., she was commissioned at Quebec City on 13 Dec 1941 and arrived at Halifax on 18 Dec 1941. She was a member of WLEF until mid-Jul 1942, when she was transferred to Gulf Escort Force owing to increased U-boat activity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. She was employed as escort to Quebec-Sydney convoys until 11 Sep 1942, when she was torpedoed and sunk by U 517 in the St. Lawrence River near Cap Chat, Que. Six of her crew were lost that day, 4 later died of wounds resulting from the sinking. She had earlier delivered convoy SQ.35 to Rimouski and was en route back to Gaspé, her base, at the time.

Photos and Documents

Commanding Officers

Lt John William Bonner, RCNR - 13 Dec 1941 - 11 Sep 1942

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

** Webmaster's note: Historical records available to this researcher show that HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244 was sunk on 11 Sep 1942.  However the service files for the 6 that are recorded as MPK have 10 Sep 1942 as their date of death.  This discrepancy can't be explained with the information available.  For the purpose of this site, their deaths are recorded as 11 Sep 1942 which was the day the ships was known to have been torpedoed and sunk.

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

(s) - Survived the sinking of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN on 11 Sep 1942

Former Crew Members

Gregory, George Frederick Thompson, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

Hoar, Lyle Robert, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

Saunders, Edward Heaty, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Apr 1942

Photos and Documents

(CHA001) HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244

(CHA002) Article on the loss of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244 - The Halifax Mail, Sat, 29 Nov 1942  //  Mentioned in the article:  LCdr J.W. Bonner, CO, MPK;  AB Donald Bowser - died of wounds;  Stoker Frank Dillon - survived;  John Dillon - survived;  Mascot Screech - survived;  AB Charles Garland - MPK;  Lt William Johnston - survived;  Tel Fred Rush - survived;  ERA P.K. Lovatt - MPK

(CHA003) Adolf Paul Specht with Screech - the mascot of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244 - The photo was taken after they were rescued when HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN was torpedoed. Screech found Adolf in the water and held onto him until they were rescued  //  From the collection of CPO Adolf Paul Specht  //  Courtesy of Michael Specht

(CHA004) Article on the loss of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244  //  The Halifax Herald - date unknown  //  From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor

(CHA005) Article on the loss of HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN K244  //  The Halifax Mail, Saturday, 19 Sep 1942