HMCS DRUMMONDVILLE J253

Bangor Class Minesweeper

Built at Montreal, she was commissioned there on 30 Oct 1941. She arrived at Halifax on 11 Nov 1941 and served at various times with WLEF, Gulf Escort Force, Halifax Local Defence Force, and Sydney Force before joining Newfoundland Force in Feb 1944. 

On 06 Jul 1942, U-132 torpedoed SS Hainaut, SS Dinaric and SS Anastassior Pateras in the St. Larwrence near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec. These ships were part of Convoy QS15, escorted by HMCS DRUMMONDVILLE, the sole escort.

Following a major refit at Louisbourg, she proceeded to Bermuda in mid-Aug 1944 to work up, returning to St. John's early in Oct 1944. The Newfoundland Force was disbanded in Jun 1945, and from then until Oct 1945 DRUMMONDVILLE was employed at miscellaneous duties on the east coast. She was paid off at Halifax on 29 Oct 1945, and in 1946 placed in strategic reserve at Sorel. Re-acquired by the RCN in 1952, she was placed in reserve at Sydney but never re-commissioned, and in 1958 she was sold for conversion to a merchant ship. As SS Fort Albany she was sunk by collision near Sorel on 08 Dec 1963, and raised and broken up there they following year.

Photos and Documents

(DMV001) Ships in HMC Dockyard, Halifax - Outboard destroyer, HMCS ANNAPOLIS I04, outboard minesweeper, HMCS DRUMMONDVILLE J253  //  From the collection of Albert William Abercrombie  //  Courtesy of Bill Abercrombie

(DMV002) HMCS DRUMMONDVILLE Adopted by Group Here  //  The Windsor Star 20 Jul 1943  //  Courtesy of Anne Gafiuk

(DMV003) Offices of HMCS DRUMMONDVILLE  //  Lt W.J. Wyleth, Vancouver, First Lieutenant;  Lt H. Clifford Hatch, CO;  Lt S. Samuelsen, Chief Engineer, Norway;  Lt R.D. Isbister, Second Officeer, Hamilton;  SLt D.A. Sim, Winnipeg, Navigating Officer;  SLt N.A. Laughan, Calgary, Signal Officer;  SLt S.A. Dick, Montreal, Second Engineer;  SLt Y. Dupre, Montreal, Gunnery Officer  //  The Windsor Star 26 Jul 1943  //  Courtesy of Anne Gafiuk