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For Posterity's Sake 
A Royal
Canadian Navy Historical Project
HMCS
CHILLIWACK K131
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HMCS CHILLIWACK - circa 1942 Source:
Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of Alberta |
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Laid down:
03 Jul 1940
Launched: 14
Sep 1940
Commissioned: 08
Apr 1941
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Paid off: 14
Jul 1945
Fate: Broken up
in 1946 |
Built by Burrard Dry Dock Co.,
Ltd, she was commissioned at Vancouver on 08
Apr 1941. She
arrived at Halifax on 19 Jun 1941, was assigned to Newfoundland Command
in July, and for the rest of the year escorted convoys between St.
John's and Iceland. Early in Feb 1942 Chilliwack escorted SC.67, her
first transatlantic convoy, and was thereafter employed almost continuously
as an ocean escort until Nov 1944. From Jun 1942, onward she
was a member of EG C-1, and during this period escorted three
convoys around which epic battles were fought: SC.94 (Aug 1942),
ONS.154 (Dec 1942), and ON.166 (Feb 1943). In addition,
she assisted in sinking two U-boats: U 356 when escort to ONS.154,
27 Dec 1942; and U 744 when escort to HX.280, on 06 Mar 1944 HMC Ships
Chaudiere H99, St. Catharines K325, Chilliwack 131,Fennel K194 and Gatineau
H61, along with two British frigates, started
one of the longest U-boat hunts in which Canadian ships will
participate. A total of 291 depth charges, 87,300 pounds of high
explosive, will be required to bring the U-boat to the surface.
Fifteen hundred signals will be passed between the ships as they
stalk, attack, wait and attack the submarine U-744 again and again
through a day and a night of rough weather. U-744 was then boarded
by allied sailors, who retrieved code books and other documents.
Most of this was lost while being transferred between the U-Boat and
the allied ships. After attempts to tow the submarine into port
failed, U-744 was scuttled by the allied warships. In the course of a major refit from
Apr to Oct 1943,
at Dartmouth, N.S., she acquired her long fo'c's'le. Assigned on 04
Dec 1943 to EG WE-8, WEF, she left for a month's workups in
Bermuda. Reassigned in Apr 1945, to Halifax Force, she was
temporarily lent to EG C-1 the following month for one final round
trip to Londonderry. Paid off 14 Jul 1945 and laid up at Sorel, she was
broken up at Hamilton, Ont., in 1946.
Photos and
Documents Ship's
company photos Battle
for Convoy ONS-154
Battle for Convoy ONS 154
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Commanding Officers |
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A/LCdr
Lelsie Lewendon Foxall, RCNR - 08 Apr 1941 - 25 May 1943
LCdr
Clifford (Clifton ??) Rexford Coughlin, RCNVR - 26 May 2943 - 11 Apr
1944
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A/LCdr
Douglas Rannie Watson, MBE, RCNR - 12 Apr 1944 - 14 Jul 1945
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
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THOMPSON,
Herbert Albert
AB, V/30371, RCNVR
MPK - 26 Oct 1941 
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten |
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A-B
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Aubry,
Denis
H.
1920-2008
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C-D |
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Clayton,
Alfred Ernest Joseph
see HMCS
Shawinigan
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Coote,
Daniel John
1920-2004 |
Coughlin,
Clifton Rexford Tony
See HMCS Iroquois |
Didier,
Joseph Achille Adolphe Marcel
1916-2001 |
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E-F
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Ferguson,
William Irwin
1913-1993
Drafted to Chilliwack 08 Apr 1941
as Lt, RCNVR
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G-H |
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Harrison, Glen
William
1920-2018 |
Henderson,
John Douglas
1919-2008 |
Howell,
Charles
Alfred
1924-2004 |
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K-L |
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Law,
Robert George
1922-2008 |
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M-N |
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Macklem,
Robert
____-2014 |
MacGregor,
Lewis Iver
1920-2003 |
Mahoney,
Charles Hugh
1922-2004 |
Mather,
John Leon
1923-2008 |
McMurdo,
Wilson Reginald
1922-1988 |
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Q-R |
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Ryan,
Gerald James
1925-1997 |
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S-T |
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Smith,
George Sellars
____-2007 |
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W-X-Y-Z
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Walsh,
Patrick Douglas
Served in Chilliwack 19 Apr 1941
- 07 May 1941 as a Sto 2c, RCN
killed - 20 Sep 1943 while
serving in HMCS
St Croix I81 |
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Ship's Mascots |
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Kathy
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Champ
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U-Boats Sunk |
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U-356 sunk on 27 Dec 1942 by HMCS St. Laurent
H83, HMCS Chilliwack K131, HMCS Battleford K165 and HMCS Napanee K118 in position 45-30 N, 25-40 W
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U-744
(Oblt Heinz Blischke) a type VIIC U-boat, sunk on 06 Mar 1944 by HMCS St.
Catharine 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
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Former Crew Members
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Atherton,
Thomas Herbert, Slt, RCNVR - 28 Jun 1943 / Lt - 1944 (boarding party
U-744)
Bartlett,
Frank, A/Wt (E), RCNR - 13 Apr 1944
Barnes,
Harold Bramsbotte, Lt, RCNVR - 16 May 1944
Blachford,
Robert Oswald, Lt, RCNVR - 27 Jul 1943
Calver,
John Moran, Slt, RCNR - 28 Feb 1942
Chambers,
John Hubert, Slt, RCNVR - 17 May 1944
Dunn,
Timothy Hibbard, Lt, RCNVR - 05 Jun 1942 / Lt - 1944 (boarding party
U-744)
Foxall,
Leslie Lewendon, A/LCdr, RCNR - 31 Mar 1941 (Stand by) CO
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Hall,
Wallis James, Slt, RCNVR - 05 Mar 1945
Hearn,
Lt (boarding party U-744)
Jenkins,
Stoker - 1944 (boarding Party U-744)
Johnstone,
Thomas Albert, RCNVR - 08 Apr 1941
Lawrie,
AB - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Longbottom,
CERA - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Makeranko,
AB - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Martin,
Telegrapher - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Nicholson,
William Ernest, Mate, RCNR - 08 Apr 1941 |
Norris,
Lawrence Henry, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942
Passerini,
AB - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Starr,
Jack R., Signalman - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Temple,
Clifford Maulson, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1943
Watson,
William Wallace, Lt, RCNVR - 09 Mar 1945
Williamson,
William John, Wt (E), RCNVR - 01 Jun 1943
Wilson,
PO - 1944 (boarding party U-744)
Worsley,
George Norman, Lt, RCNVR - 12 Mar 1945 |
Photos and Documents
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
DND / RCN Photo Negative # E326
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Crew of HMCS Chilliwack boarding U-744
on March 6, 1944.
Source: Canada. Dept. of National
Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-112996
Click
here to read the newspaper article from the Crow's Nest newspaper - Jul 1944
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Signalman Jack R. Starr of HMCS
Chilliwack, which took part in sinking U-744 on 06 Mar 1944.
Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 27 Mar 1944.
Source: Lt J.D. Mahoney / Canada. Dept.
of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-204652 |
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Boarding
party from the corvette HMCS Chilliwack which boarded the German
submarine U-744 on 06 Mar 1944. England, 27 Mar 1944.
(Front row, L-R):
CERA Longbottom, Stoker Jenkins, AB
Makeranko and Lawrie, PO Wilson, Signalman Starr. (Rear row,
L-R): Telegrapher Martin, Lieuts Atherton, Dunn and Hearn, AB Passerini
Source: Lt John D. Mahoney / Canada. Dept. of National
Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-141569 |
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The mast of HMCS Chilliwack K131 at HMCS Star,
Hamilton
Courtesy of Neil Bell, LCdr, RCN, Ret'd
Curator HMCS Star Historical Collection |
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Plaque at the
base of the mast from HMCS Chilliwack at HMCS Star, Hamilton
Courtesy of Neil Bell, LCdr, RCN, Ret'd
Curator HMCS Star Historical Collection |
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Name plate HMCS Chilliwack K131 at HMCS Star,
Hamilton
Courtesy of Neil Bell, LCdr, RCN, Ret'd
Curator HMCS Star Historical Collection |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Gerald James Ryan
Courtesy of Kevin Ryan |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Gerald James Ryan
Courtesy of Kevin Ryan |
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photo1 |
photo 2 |
photo 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
photo 8 |
(1) Convoy escorts surround U-744 - 06 Mar
1944 (2) Captured crew members from U-744 (3)
Sailors on HMCS Chilliwack with the catch of the day (4)
Wilson McMurdo (left) and shipmate (right) ashore.
Location and person in the middle unknown (5) Sailors on
HMCS Chilliwack - Wilson McMurdo on right (6) HMCS
Chilliwack on the slips in Sydney, NS (7) Chipping ice
off HMCS Chilliwack (8) Sailors on HMCS Chilliwack
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photo 9 |
photo 10 |
photo 11 |
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(9) Unknown ship - possibly a Town class
destroyer. Photo taken from HMCS Chilliwack (10 &
11) U-774. Photo taken from HMCS Chilliwack
From the collection of Wilson Reginald
McMurdo
Courtesy of Scott Wilson McMurdo
These photos are not for
reproductions or reposting without permission of Scott McMurdo
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HMCS Chilliwack K131 circa 1943-1944
Photo taken from HMCS Kamloops K176
From the collection of Kenneth Medford,
DSM
Courtesy of Gary Medford |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131 circa 1941
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
circa 1941
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Pierre, George and Doug on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Billy on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Bill and Doug on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"The Barrens of Iceland"
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Pierre in Iceland - in background, farmer
moving hay bales on horses
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Icelandic farmer moving hay bales on
horses
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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The boys of Chilliwack in Iceland
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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'Swain and Brownie (right) ashore in
Iceland
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Brownie with Icelandic pony
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Local riding an Icelandic pony
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Boys ashore in Iceland waiting for boat
to take them back to HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Boys in Iceland" on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131 at anchor, Iceland
circa 1941
(Chilliwack is the corvette on the left)
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Army blokes in Iceland - Limeys
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Corvettes in Line Abreast formation
Photo taken from HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Christmas Day in Iceland
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131 "heading back
to Newfie John"
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Convoy to the U.K.
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Convoy
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Erin (Ireland)
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Loch Foyle, Ireland
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Castle in Irish Free State
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Londonderry Sunset
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Goodbye to Derry
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Goodbye Erin
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Convoy astern of HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Scotty and Pooky on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Scoote and a flounder on HMCS Chilliwack
K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Flounders"
HMCS Chilliwack's crew holding the catch
of the day
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"and more fish"
HMCS Chilliwack's crew holding the catch
of the day
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Cut her up chief"
The catch of the day being cleaned and
cut up
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Quartermaster (QM) Pooky on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Robert Macklem on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"The Rugged Line"
Three unknown sailors on HMCS Chilliwack
K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"The Rugged King"
Unknown sailor on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Quarterdeck of HMCS Chilliwack K131 from
the Yardarm
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Montreal Kid"
Unknown sailor on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"No more shore leave"
Two unknown sailors and HMCS Chilliwack's
mascot, Champ, watching the shoreline disappear as they head
out to sea
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Port side aft, looking forward on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Portside, mid ships looking forward on
HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Kathy the Cat
Ship's Mascot of HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Ken and Champ between the depth charge
rails on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Ken holding ship's mascot Champ, and two
unknown sailors sitting on the depth charge rails on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Chilliwack Iced Up"
Minesweeping gear and depth charges on
HMCS Chilliwack K131 covered in ice
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Danny on the windlass on HMCS Chilliwack
K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Danny by the 4-inch gun on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Doug and S2"
Doug by a depth charge thrower on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Doug standing on the guard rail and
holding the jack staff on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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4-inch gun on HMCS Chilliwack K131 -
photo taken from the wheelhouse
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Atlantic Charter Conference
Placentia Bay, NFLD 9-12 Aug 1941
Above: HMS Ripley and HMS Prince of
Wales
Left: The battleship HMS Prince of
Wales Centre: Ships at anchor, Placentia Bay,
NFLD
Right: "End of a Rendezvous"
- The battleship HMS Prince of Wale in the distance in the
centre of the photo
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem
Historical
note: The first wartime meeting of Winston Churchill and
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the so-called "Atlantic
Conference" or "Atlantic Charter Conference",
was held from 9-12 August 1941. The conference took place off
Ship Harbor, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland (Canada).
Roosevelt already arrived as early as 7 August in Placentia
Bay aboard the heavy cruiser USS "Augusta", escorted
by the heavy cruiser USS "Tuscaloosa", and the
destroyers "Madison", "Moffett",
"Sampson", "Winslow" and "McDougal".
Churchill arrived on 9 August from England aboard the
battleship HMS "Prince of Wales", escorted by the
British destroyer HMS "Ripley" and the Canadian
destroyers HMCS "Restigouche" and
"Assiniboine". The first meeting of the US president
and the British prime minister took place on 9 August on board
of the "Augusta". Their second meeting was held on
10 August aboard the "Prince of Wales", and the
following day the conference continued on the
"Augusta" again, which also was the location of the
final meeting on 12 August. After the conference ended that
day, both Churchill and Roosevelt left Placentia Bay on the
same ships and with the same escort vessels they arrived with
four days earlier. The principal result of the meeting was the
issuance of the Atlantic Charter which for security reasons,
was dated two days after the closing of the conference. The
Atlantic Charter, with its eight principles for a better
postwar world, was in fact the genesis of the United Nations.
The name "United Nations" was first used in the
published joint, or "United Nations," declaration of
January 1, 1942, in which all of the Allied nations pledged
themselves to support the principles of the Atlantic Charter.
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White Ensign on HMCS Chilliwack K141
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131 - Flag host for
oiling up
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Flag hoist signal on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Frank doing a handstand just aft of the
funnel on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Gordon and Monae - HMCS Chilliwack
secured alongside
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"Green one"
HMCS Chilliwack K131 bites into a wave
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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The Chief and John working on the
minesweeping gear on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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ST Shack (or what's left of it) on HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Sailors of HMCS Chilliwack on the
bandstand
(1) Boyd, AA3 (2)
"Bluenose" (3) Robert Macklem
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem
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HMS Berwick and corvettes of W-4
Photo taken from HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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"The Boys"
HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
Photo taken from the fantail - looking forward
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Handy and Chapman on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Jacky and George in the bandstand loading
ammunition belts - HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Lorwin and Sweezer
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Wilf on HMCS Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Willie on watch on the bandstand - HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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William Mason in his mic - HMCS
Chilliwack K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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Tony on the fo'c's'le of HMCS Chilliwack
K131
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem |
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HMCS Chilliwack K131
Note the faint gunshield art and also that the censor
tried to obscure the radar
DND/RCN photo L3701R
Click
here to view a zoomed in image on the gunshield
From the collection of Robert Macklem
Courtesy of Kelly Macklem
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