HMCS FOREST HILL K486

Flower Class Corvette

Laid down and launched as HMS CEANOTHUS, she was transferred to the RCN and commissioned on 01 Dec 1943 as HMCS FOREST HILL K498 on the Clyde, Scotland; named for a village absorbed by Toronto. Following workups at Tobermory she joined EG C-3 at Londonderry, leaving on 29 Jan 1944, to join her first convoy, ONS.28. She served as an ocean escort until late in Dec 1944, when she arrived at Liverpool, N.S., for an extended refit, on the completion of which, two months later, she sailed for Bermuda to work up. Returning in Apr 1945, she joined Halifax Force for local duties. Paid off on 09 Jul 1945 and laid up at Sorel, she was sold on 17 Jul 1948 and broken up at Hamilton in 1952.

Photos and Document          Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

A/LCdr Ernest Usher Jones, RCNVR - 01 Dec 1943 - 17 Sep 1944

Lt Frederick Rous Brebner, RCNVR - 18 Sep 1944 - 09 Jul 1945

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

These two photo illustrates the difficulty in finding the names of ships mascots ..... 

(FRH001a) HMCS FOREST HILL ship's mascots, "Sad-Sack" the kitten and "Screech" the dog - Source: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 207, f0207_s1251_it0076

(FRH001b) "Newfie" the dog and "Derry" the cat on HMCS FOREST HILL 06 Jul 1945 - Source: CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum #2018.013.264

(FRH002) Trontonians aboard HMCS FOREST HILL K486  //  Source: City of Toronto Archives F0207 S1251 it0073

(FRH003) HMCS FOREST HILL K486  //  From the collection of Jim Silvester  //  Courtesy of Jim Silvester

(FRH004) HMCS FOREST HILL'S mascot "Woof" circa 1944  //  Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

(FRH005) Torontonians aboard HMCS FORESH HILL K468.  C&POs Mess Back row, from left to right: Chief P.O. John McCabe of Windsor; P.O. Robert Clarke of Welland; P.O. Albert O'Connell of Pansboro, Nova Scotia; P.O. Ian Urquhart of Vancouver; and P.O. Len Lambert of Acton, Ontario. Front row, from left to right: C.P.O. (Cox'n) Henry Silvester of Winnipeg and Victoria; P.O. Vincent Herbert of Montreal; P.O. Bill Watson of Montreal; and P.O. Hugh McCartney of London, Ontario."  (Source/Credit: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 207, F0207_s1251_it0074)