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HMCS FENNEL K194
Flower Class Corvette
Built at Sorel, she was launched on 20 Aug 1940. In Dec 1940 she was towed to Liverpool, N.S. for completion and commissioned there on 15 Jan 1941 as HMS FENNEL. She left Halifax on 05 Mar 1941 with convoy HX.113 for the U.K., and while there received finishing touches at Greenock. On 15 May 1941 she was transferred to the RCN and commissioned as HMCS FENNEL K194. Following workups at Tobermory in Jun 1941 FENNEL was assigned to NEF, first serving as an ocean escort between St. John's and Londonderry. In Jun 1942, she commenced a year's service with the newly formed WLEF. She underwent a refit at New York from mid-Jul to late Sep 1942. In Jun 1943, she was detached to EG C-2 for one round trip to 'Derry, and on returning she went to Baltimore, Md., for a refit which included the extension of her fo'c's'le, completing on 06 Sep 1943. After working up at Pictou she resumed her ocean escort duties with C-2, and on 06 Mar 1944, was one of seven escorts of HX.280 that hounded U 744 to its death. In Aug 1944 she had two months' refit at Pictou, followed by three weeks' workups in Bermuda and at year's end transferred to EG C-1 for the duration of the war. FENNEL arrived at Greenock 29 May 1945, from one of the last convoys, and was returned to the RN at Londonderry on 12 Jun 1945. She was sold in 1946 to Kosmos and became the whaling vessel Milliam Kihl. She was re-built as a buoy-boat in October 1948. Refitted as whaler in 1951 in Kiel, Germany. Laid up in 1960/1961. Last drifting season 1964/1965. Laid up again in Sandefjord. Sold to Norwegian ship breakers in Grimstad in 1966.
U-Boats Sunk: 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.
Photos and Documents Ship's Company photos
Commanding Officers
Telegraphist, RCNVR died - 25 Jun 1941
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(FNL001) HMCS FENNEL K194 // Note that she has not yet had her forward gun installed // Courtesy of Erling Baldorf (FNL002) HMCS FENNEL'S gunshield art // Credit: Library and Archives of Canada (FML003) 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 (FNL004) 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 (FNL005) HMCS FENNEL Helps Sink U-Boat // From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR // Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor
(FNL006) HMCS FENNEL K194 (FNL007) HMCS FENNEL K194 // Note that her gun shield art has been removed and she has rocket launchers on the side of her gun (FNL008) HMCS FENNEL K194, part of EG.C1 // Photo taken from HMCS CHILLIWACK K131 // From the collection of Wilson Reginald McMurdo // Courtesy of Scott Wilson McMurdo (FNL009) HMCS FENNEL K194 (FNL010) Doug Howe on board HMCS FENNEL K194 // From the collection of Doug Howe // Courtesy of Shane Howe
(FNL011) Norwegian whaling vessel Milliam Kihl (former HMCS FENNEL) // Source: The flower class corvette forums
(PC01) HMCS FENNEL'S mascot - Horta. According to Patrick Casey, they traded beer for Horta in Londonderry, Ireland (PC02) Patrick Casey (left) and shipmate on HMCS FENNEL K194 (PC03) HMCS FENNEL K194 conducting a stern fueling (PC04) Patrick Casey (back left) with shipmates on unknown ship. Patrick Casey served in HMCS FENNEL and HMCS JOLIETTE. It is not known which of the two ships the photo was taken on. It has been entered on the pages for both ships. From the collection of Patrick Casey, Coder, RCNVR Courtesy of Patricia Pollock
(WB07) Gord Woods and William Brossoit loading the forward gun on HMCS FENNEL K194 (WB08) Art Wideman, Mac Maclean and Bill Brossoit believed to be standing in the drydock while FENNEL was in refit From the collection of Arthur William Brossoit, AB, RCNVR Courtesy of Stephanie McBride
(JR55) Joe Rolland onboard HMCS FENNEL (JR56) Joe Rolland (kneeling) and McShane chipping ice off anchor chains on HMCS FENNEL - 1945 (JR57) HMCS FENNEL K194 in drydock (JR58) HMCS FENNEL K194 (JR59) "Leading Seamen on watch" as Lookouts on HMCS FENNEL - Cartier (on left)
(JR60) Lt Johnston, CO of HMCS FENNEL (JR61-JR62) 60 survivors of HMCS CLAYOQUOT being landed from HMCS FENNEL (JR63) Article on the sinking of HMCS CLAYOQUOT off Halifax and the rescue of her crew by HMCS FENNEL. Joe Rolland was serving in HMCS FENNEL at the time (JR64) "Leaving Londonderry" - Red Watch ready to close up aboard HMCS FENNEL leaving Ireland. Note the artwork on the bridge face.
From the collection of Joseph W. Rolland, RCNVR
Courtesy of Jordan McCallum
(DD39) HMCS FENNEL K194. Photo taken from HMCS OWEN SOUND K340 From the collection of Dan L. Dunbar, AB, RCNVR Courtesy of Dan Dunbar
(AW06) HMCS FENNEL K194 sailors ashore beside a train, location unknown - Sep 1944 - L-R: Woods, MacLean, Aiken, Hooper (AW07) HMCS FENNEL L194 sailors ashore beside a train, location unknown - Sep 1944 - L-R: Woods, Wideman, Aiken, Hooper (AW08) HMCS FENNEL K194 sailors ashore beside a train, location unkown - Sep 1944 - Wood (in back) and MacLean (AW09) HMCS FENNEL K194 in dry dock in Newfoundland - 1944. Gordon Woods in the dry dock standing by her bow (AW10) HMCS FENNEL K194 in dry dock in Newfoundland - 1944. Standing by her screw, L-R: Wideman, MacLeand and Broissoit
(AW11) MacLean ashore - location unknown (AW12) HMCS FENNEL K194 sailors ashore in Ireland 1944. L-R: back - Hooper, Scott, MacLean / front - Casey, unknown (AW13) HMCS FENNEL K194 sailors ashore in Ireland 1944. L-R: back - Scott, unknown, Casey / front - Hooper, unknown
(AW14) Haircut time - Unknown sailors on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW15) Unknown sailors on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW16) Unknown officer on HMCS FENNEL K194. Note the layer of ice coating the ship (AW17) Unknown officer playing a guitar on the bridge of HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW18) Unknown sailors playing a guitar and harmonica on HMCS FENNEL K194
(AW19) Three unknown sailors on the quarterdeck and one up in the gun tub of HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW20) Unknown officers and ratings on the bridge of HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW21) Al Godred (left) getting a haircut from "Pop" Herr on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW22) LCdr Kenneth Lorne Johnson, CO, HMCS FENNEL K194 - 1944 (AW23) Murray S. Edmand on HMCS FENNEL K194
(AW24-AW25) Group photo - sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW26) Sailors with various implements for chipping ice posing for a photo on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW27-AW28) Sailors on the fo'c's'le of HMCS FENNEL K194 during a stern fueling while in convoy
(AW29) Unknown sailors on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW30) "The Old Man on Xmas day 1944 at sea" // Note: The CO is in a ratings uniform as he has exchanged places with the youngest sailor on ship who became CO for the day and the CO became an Ordinary Seaman. LCdr Kenneth Lorne Johnson, RCNVR was the CO of HMCS FENNEL K194 during Christmas 1944 (AW31) "Dinner line-up on the FENNEL - 1945" // Gordon. Woods 2nd from right; Art Wideman 5th from right (AW32) Cartier (left) and "Pop" Herr on HMCS FENNEL K194 - 1944 (AW33) Unknown sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS FENNEL K194 during Work-ups at Bermuda - Oct 1944
(AW34-AW35) Art Wideman (left) and Gordon Woods on HMCS FENNEL K194 - 1944 (AW36) Gordon Woods with unknown lady friend on HMCS FENNEL K194
(AW37) Unknown minesweeper (seen from HMCS FENNEL K194) with an iceberg in the background off St. John's, Nfld - 1944. (AW38) Unknown Tribal Class Destroyer (seen from HMCS FENNEL K194) (AW39) Unknown frigate pulling away from HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW40) Unknown frigate and submarine (seen from HMCS FENNEL K194)
(AW41) Tanker in convoy seen through a scuttle on HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW42) Unknown sailors relaxing on the upper deck just aft the bandstand (AW43) webamster's note: If I am correct, this photo appears to be CO's defaulters. There is a sailor who looks like he is removing his cap, you can see the brass buttons of a CPO to the right of the officer. A sailor in the background would possibly be a witness. The location looks like St. John's, Nfld (AW44-AW45) Unknown event seen from HMCS FENNEL K194 - possibly survivors / casualties from a merchant ship being brought ashore. The crew of the destroyer in the background is lining the rails watching. Location unknown
(AW46) HMCS FENNEL K194 conducting a stern fueling while in convoy (AW47-AW48) An Escort Carrier in convoy seen from HMCS FENNEL K194 (AW49) A burial at sea from the ship's whaler of HMCS FENNEL K194 - likely a burial of the ship's mascot (AW50) The boat deck of HMCS FENNEL K194
(AW51) Unknown sailor by the depth charge throwers on HMCS FENNEL K194. The weather must be a bit rough as the deck is awash. View, port side aft by the quarterdeck looking forward (AW52) Uknown sailor by the port depth charge throwers on HMCS FENNEL K194. He appears to be the same sailor as in photo (AW51) (AW53) HMCS FENNEL K194 conducting a light line transfer with an oiler in convoy (AW54) Unknown sailor relaxing on the upper deck just aft the funnel on HMCS FENNEL L194 From the collection of Arthur (Art) Wideman, RCNVR Courtesy of the Art & Verna Wideman Estate
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget 
