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HMCS DUNVER K03
River Class Frigate
Laid down as HMCS Verdun, in honour of Verdun, Quebec, her name was changed to HMCS DUNVER to avoid confusion with HMS Verdun, already in commissioned. She was the first frigate launched for the RCN, and was commissioned at Quebec City on 11 Sep 1943. and arrived at Halifax on 03 Oct 1943, having escorted a Sydney-Halifax convoy en route. After working up at Pictou she was allocated to EG C-5, and served continuously on North Atlantic convoys until Oct 1944. In July 1944 she had been Senior Officer's ship while escorting HXS.300, the largest convoy of the war with 167 merchant ships. In Oct 1944, she commenced refit at Pictou, completing on 27 Dec 1944, and in Apr, 1945, joined EG 27, based at Halifax, for the rest of the European war. In Jun 1945 she went to the west coast for tropicalization, but this was discontinued in Aug 1945 and she was laid up at Esquimalt. Paid off 23 Jan 1946, DUNVER was sold and her hull expended as part of a breakwater at Royston, B.C., in 1948.
Note: HMCS HESPELER and HMCS DUNVER were credited with the sinking of U-484. However, post war analysis credits the sinking of U-484 to HMS Portchester Castle and HMS Helmsdale.
In 2008, purported unpublished diary entries of a HESPELER sailor posted on a SUBSIM Radio Room online forum seem to support the Canadian claim: “(9/9/44) we left at 0015 and two hours later picked up a contact and went to ‘action stat.’ We dropped one pattern and nothing happened. The second caused explosions. Nothing the third. Fourth caused explosions and the fifth brought something up which the DUNVER said was a sub. We secured at 4:30 a.m…. (9/10/44) Tons of oil, wreckage, and bodies about.”
In a 2013 article in Starshell, the Naval Association of Canada magazine, retired navy commander Fraser McKee credits the Canadian ships with the sinking, noting the RN disputes the sinking “but without any better claim than the RCN’s.”
Photos and Documents Hometown support for HMCS DUNVER
"Sink the Bastard" - Friendly Fire in the Battle of the Atlantic Through The Camera's Lens - Scenes from on board HMCS DUNVER
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(DNV001) HMCS DUNVER K03, showing off her Barber Pole, doing a light line transfer circa 1944 // From the collection of Glendon Oliver (DNV002) HMCS DUNVER K03 pulling away after a light line transfer, circa 1944 // From the collection of J.T. Williams // Courtesy of Jim Williams (DNV003) Newspaper article on the sinking of U-484 by HMCS HESPELER and HMCS DUNVER // From the collection of John Berard, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of John Berard Jr. // Postwar analysis credits two Royal Navy warships for the sinking of U-484. (DNV004) Newspaper article on two brothers, AB R.J. Devost serving in HMCS DUNVER and AB M.E. Devost serving in HMCS SEA CLIFF // From the collection of Robert Joseph Devost // Courtesy of Carmen (Devost) Friedrick
(DNV005-DNV006) Murray Westgate, Signal Officer, HMCS DUNVER // From the collection of Hector Trotter // Courtesy of Colin Trotter (DNV007) HMCS DUNVER K03 // DND-RCN photo (DNV008) HMCS DUNVER K03 // From the collection of William (Bill) Dougall, LTO (LP), RCNVR // Courtesy of Grant Dougall (DNV009) HMCS DUNVER K03 // Source: Canadian Virtual Military Museum on facebook
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
