HMCS CHAUDIERE H99

 

H - Class Destroyer (RN)

 

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

 


 

HMS HERO H99

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1944,   Normandy  1944,   Biscay  1944

 

 

Laid down: 28 Feb 1935

Launched: 10 Mar 1936

Commissioned: 23 Oct 1936

Transferred to RCN:  15 Nov 1943

Commissioned: 15 Nov 1943

Paid off: 17 Aug 1945

Fate: Broken up in 1950

 

Commissioned on 23 Oct 1936 as HMS HERO, she saw extensive service in the Second World War, including the second Battle of Narvik, Apr 1940; the evacuation of Greece and Crete, Apr and May 1941; and the Syrian invasion, Jun 1941. As a unit of the Mediterranean Fleet, she also took part in the Second Battle of Sirte in Mar 1942, and, in May 1942 and October 1942, shared in the sinking of two U-boats. In Apr 1943, she returned to the U.K. for a major refit at Portsmouth, and there was transferred to the RCN on 15 Nov 1943, becoming HMCS CHAUDIERE. In Jan 1944, she became a member of EG C-2, MOEF, and on 06 Mar 1944, shared in the destruction of U 744. In May she was assigned to EG 11, Western Approaches Command, for invasion support duty, and was present on D-Day. On 20 and 28 Aug 1944, she assisted in the sinking of U 984, west of Brest, and of U 621 off La Rochelle. During the next three months she was employed in patrol and support duties in the North Atlantic, Bay of Biscay, and English Channel. She returned to Halifax at the end of Nov 1944 for repairs, and a major refit begun at Sydney two months later was still incomplete on VE-Day. CHAUDIERE was paid off 17 Aug 1945 to reserve at Sydney, and broken up by Dominion Steel at Sydney in 1950.

 

U-Boats Sunk:  (1)  U-744 (Oblt Heinz Blischke) a type VIIC U-boat, sunk on 06 Mar 1944 by HMCS ST CATHARINES K325, HMCS CHILLIWACK K131, HMCS GATINEAU H61, HMCS Fennel K194, HMCS CHAUDIERE H99, HMS ICARUS and HMS KENIWORTH CASTLE in position 52-01 N, 22-37 W. Of her crew of 51, there were 40 survivors

 

(2) U-621 sunk on 18 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 45-52N, 02-36 W

 

(3) U-984 sunk on 20 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 42-20 N, 51-39 W

 


 

Photos and Documents          Ship's Company Photos

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

A/LCdr Charles Patrick Nixon, DSC, RCN - 15 Nov 1943 - 21 Mar 1945

 

A/LCdr Wilfred. Davenport, RCNR - 22 Mar 1945 - 20 Jun 1945

 

LCdr G.M. Kaizer, RCNR - 02 Aug 1945 - 12 Aug 1945

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Baburek, Christian Stephen, Lt (E), RCNVR - 24 Apr 1945

 

Berry, Allan Crapper, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Coates, John Anthony, SLt, RCN - 21 Jul 1944

 

Davenport, Wilfred, A/LCdr, RCNR - 22 Mar 1945

Gillman, Reginald Vernon, RCNVR - 29 May 1945

 

Haggett, William, Lt, RCNVR - 22 May 1945

 

Hyndman, Harry Harland, Lt, RCN - 15 Apr 1944

 

MacDonald, Donald Lyon, Lt (E), RCNVR - 12 Jun 1945

Raymond, Jules Wilfred Clement, Lt, RCNR - 02 May 1945

 

Russell, Delbert F., SLt, RCNVR - 16 Apr 1945

 

Whalley, Arthur George Cuthbert, LCdr, RCNVR - 26 Apr 1945

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

CHD001 / JVW262

CHD002 / FM901

CHD003

CHD004

CHD005

(CHD001) Article on the newly commissioned HMCS CHAUDIERE H99  //  Halifax Daily Star, Thur, 20 Jan 1944  //  From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor

(CHD002) Article on the newly commissioned HMCS CHAUDIERE H99  //  From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Denis Messier

(CHD003) HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 - date unknown  //  From the collection of Eldred Morton Smith  //  Courtesy of Paul Smith

(CHD004) HMCS CHAUDIERE H99  //  DND / RCN Photo

(CHD005) Gun crews at readiness aboard the destroyer HMCS CHAUDIERE, Britain, 07 Jan 1944  //  Source: Lt Richard G. Arless / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-143938

 

CHD006

CHD007

CHD008

CHD009

CHD010 / DJ54

(CHD006) Canadian Naval Craft Sink German U-boat  //  The Halifax Chronicle 01 Jun 1944  //  Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury  //  Ships mentioned in the article:  HMCS GATINEAU, HMCS CHAUDIERE, HMCS CHILLIWACK, HMCS FENNEL, HMCS ST CATHARINES, HMS ICARUS

(CHD007) Canadian Warships Rescue U-Boat Crew  //  Article on the rescue of survivors from U-744  //  The Halifax Chronicle 01 Jun 1944  //  Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury  //  Ships mentioned in the article:  HMCS CHAUDIERE, HMCS CHILLIWACK, HMCS FENNEL, HMCS ST CATHARINES  //  Sailors mentioned in the article:  Lt Douglas S. Boyle, RCN of Revelstoke, BC (HMCS CHAUDIERE);  Lt Charles Rathget, RCNVR of Toronto (HMCS CHAUDIERE);  PO Stevenson;  Lt W.W. Spicer, RCNVR of Regina, Sask

(CHD008) HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 at Sydney, NS circa Jun-Jul 1945  //  From the collection of Marcel Chasse  //  Courtesy of Robert Chasse

(CHD009) Unidentified sailors on HMCS CHAUDIERE H99  //  From the collection of Julian (Jim) Miller  //  Courtesy of Ron Balazs

(CHD010) HMCS CHAUDIERE H99  //  From the collection of Donald R. Johnston, Stoker, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of William Johnston

 


 

NP03

NP04

(NP03) Norman Parks on HMCS CHAUDIERE  (NP04) Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS CHAUDIERE

From the collection of Norman Parks, AB, RCNVR

Courtesy of William Kilpatrick

 


 

Officers and Ratings - HMCS CHAUDIERE H99

 

JF01

JF02

JF03

JF04

JF05

 

JF06

JF07

JF08

JF09

JF10

(JF08) A/LCdr Charles P. Nixon, CO (right) with unidentified Petty Officer on the bridge of HMCS CHAUDIERE

 

(JF09) John Rolfe Ferguson - 1st on right. Remainder unidentified

 

From the collection of John R. Ferguson, LCdr (S), RCN(R)

 

Courtesy of Ronald Ferguson

 


 

  

Reunion of sailors from HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 - 17 Aug 1990

From the collection of Julian (Jim) Miller

Courtesy of Ron Balazs

 


 

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