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HMCS HAIDA G63 / 215
Tribal Class Destroyer
Commissioned on 30 Aug 1943, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, HAIDA was assigned to the British Home Fleet and during the first three months of her career made two trips to North Russia as a convoy escort. In Jan 1944, she joined the 10th Flotilla at Plymouth, and for the next eight months was engaged in sweeps and patrols in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay. She was present on D-Day. During this period she took part in the sinking of several enemy vessels, including torpedo boat T29, on April 26 off Ushant; T27, on 29 Apr 1944 off Ushant; destroyer Z 32 was sunk in a gun duel with HMCS HAIDA G63 and HMCS HURON G24, on 09 Jun 1944 off Ile de Bas; U 971, on June 24 off Land's End; and minesweeper M486, on 06 Aug 1944 off Ile d'Yeu. In Sep 1944 she sailed for Canada to refit at Halifax, returning to Plymouth in Jan 1945. In Mar 1945 she returned to Scapa Flow and escorted another convoy to Murmansk, as well as carrying out strikes against German shipping off the Norwegian coast. On 16 Apr 1945, HMCS HAIDA G63, HMCS HURON G24 and HMCS IROQUOIS G89 departed Clyde with convoy JW.66 for Kola Inlet; arriving at Kola Inlet on 25 Apr 1945. They departed Kola Inlet for Clyde with convoy RA.66 on 29 Apr 1945. On 29 Apr 1945 HMCS HAIDA G63 and HMCS IROQUOIS were G89 attacked by U-427 (Oblt Karl-Gabriel Graf von Gudenus). The attack resulted in near misses by U-427. They arrived at Clyde on 08 May 1945.
Click her for a list of convoys escorted by HAIDA during the Second World War
On 04 Jun 1945, HAIDA departed Greenock, arriving at Halifax on 10 Jun 1945 to begin tropicalization refit, but with the surrender of Japan this was cancelled and she was paid off on 20 Mar 1946. She was re-commissioned at Halifax in 1947 and for the next three years took part in training and NATO exercises.
U-Boats Sunk: U-971 (Oblt Walter Zeplien) sunk on 24 Jun 1944 by HMCS HAIDA G63, HMS Eskimo G75 and Czech Sqn 311 in position 49-01 N, 05-35 W
On Wednesday, 16 Jun 1948 a burial at sea took place from HMCS HAIDA for Lt (A), Nigel Douglas Fisher, Royal Navy, who died when his Sea Hornet crashed into the sea off Halifax. The following is from the Halifax Chronicle, Tuesday, 15 Jun 1948: Naval Pilot To Be Buried At sea - Lieut. (A) Nigel Douglas Fisher, 27-year-old Royal Navy pilot, who was killed when his Sea Hornet aircraft dived into outer Halifax Harbor last Friday afternoon, will be buried at sea Wednesday morning, it was announced yesterday from Atlantic Command headquarters of the RCN. The form of burial is in accordance with the wishes of Lieut. Fisher's father, Admiral Sir Douglas Blake Fisher, KCB. KBE, recently retired British Fourth Sea Lord. Burial will be from HMCS HAIDA and will take place at 11:30 a.m. approximately 30 miles off Halifax Harbor. Lieut. Fisher will be buried with full naval honors. In attendance besides the official funeral and firing parties, will be representatives from the ships and establishments in the Atlantic Command. The British Admiralty will be represented by Captain R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, senior naval liaison officer (UK) at Ottawa. Investigation of the accident is continuing, it was announced yesterday. Divers recovered the plane's two engines and further wreckage Saturday and diving operations are still proceeding.
On 19 Nov 1949, approx 300 miles north of Bermuda, HMCS HAIDA rescued 18 airmen from a B-29 Bomber that went down on 16 Nov 1949 while en route from the USAF Base at St. George Bermuda to England. In Jul 1950, HAIDA entered refit and began an extensive modernization. She was re-commissioned on 11 Mar 1952, to prepare for service in Korean waters. Between 1952 and 1954 she did two tours of duty in that theatre, then resumed her training role. In the summer of 1963, HAIDA took part in the summer training on the Great Lakes for the officers and men of the Naval Reserve. She was paid off for the last time on 11 Oct 1963, at Sydney. Purchased by a private group of citizens, she arrived at Toronto in tow on 25 Aug 1964, to become a floating memorial, and in 1970 was accorded a berth at Ontario Place and later, on 30 Aug 2003 - after having spent a year at Port Wellar, Ont., having her hull redone - she was moved to her current berth at Pier 9 in Hamilton.
HMCS HAIDA'S tours in Korea
1st Tour: Departed Halifax: 27 Sep 1952 // Arrived Op Area: 06 Nov 52 // Departed Op Area: 12 Jun 53 // Arrived Halifax: 22 Jul 1953 *
2nd Tour: Departed Halifax: 14 Dec 1953 // Arrived Op Area: 05 Feb 54 // Departed Op Area: 12 Sep 54 // Arrived Halifax: 01 Nov 1954 *
* Returned to Canada via the Suez Canal thus circumnavigating the globe.
Photos and Documents Ship's Company Photos The Ship's Bell
Ralph Frayne remembers his triumphant 1944 return to Canada The Biscay Blockage: Operation KINETIC
Record of 10th Destroyer Flotilla Results - Apr to Sep 1944
RCN Memories: A Final Visit In memory of a veteran - John Francis Lipton, DSM My Time on HAIDA The Storm
Commanding Officers
Captain for the day
Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.
Russell Manielly (during WW2 - date not known)
William (Bill) Turnbull, OSHM - 1960
They shall not be forgotten A
Ba-Bl
Bo-Bz
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Ma
Mc-Mz
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Y
Ship's Mascots
Former Crew Members
(CC) = Commissioning Crew 30 Aug 1943 (PC) = Paying off crew (11 Oct 1963)
Photos and Documents
(HDA001) Article on the launching of HMCS HAIDA - 25 Aug 1942 // Courtesy of George Newbury
(FM897) Harry Dewolf takes command of HMCS HAIDA // From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of Denis Messier (FM898) HMCS HAIDA joined IROQUOIS and HURON // From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of Denis Messier (FM899) HMCS HAIDA senior ship of Canada's Tribals // From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of Denis Messier (JR46) Article on LCdr H.S. Rayner, CO of HMCS HURON when she and HMCS HAIDA took part in the sinking of 2 German destroyers - dated 10 Jun 1944 // From the collection of John A. Rickard, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of John H. Rickard (JR47) Article on HMCS HAIDA taking part in the sinking of 2 German destroyers - dated 10 Jun 1944 // From the collection of John A. Rickard, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of John H. Rickard
(HDA002) HMCS HAIDA G63 // RCN Photo Negative # S-3917-R (HDA003) HMCS HAIDA G63 // RCN Photo Negative # S-3918-R (HDA004) HMCS HAIDA G63 // From the collection of John (Jack) Davie Lyon // Courtesy of John Lyon (HDA005) HMCS HAIDA G63 // Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax
(HDA006) HMCS HAIDA G63 // Courtesy of Parks Canada (HDA007) Members Of Famed Sea-Faring Tribe Proud Of New Destroyer HMCS HAIDA // Crow's Nest newspaper - Dec 1943 (HDA008) HMCS HAIDA G63 // From the collection of Jim Silvester // Courtesy of Jim Silvester (HDA009) Funeral service of LS R.H. Betts, and AB G.J. Rowe, both killed in action 06 Aug 1944 // Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (HDA010) HMCS HAIDA, transported a reindeer to the Admiral Commanding Orkneys and Shetlands during the Battle of the Atlantic convoys. It was taken a goodwill gift from a Russian Admiral. // Former HAIDA crew member George Mannix wrote about the reindeer in his memoirs: “…We got the reindeer, along with a large bag of lichen and moss for feed en route. A likely looking prairie lad was selected to become herd master and we put to sea. On the second day, [it was] discovered that our herd master was feeding the animal by the armful as if it was a cow. In a very few days we were out of feed and no chance of getting any more. Various sailors gave up their rations so the beast would not starve to death. “ // Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
(HDA011) Canadian Destroyer HAIDA Shares In Another Victory Over Nazi Ships // Newspaper article from the Ottawa Citizen - 15 Jul 1944 (HDA012) Sailors on HMCS HAIDA G63 - circa 1944 // William (Bill) Tait, front row, 1st on left // Courtesy of Doug Saunders (HDA013) Sailors on HMCS HAIDA G63 - circa 1944 // William (Bill) Tait, standing, 2nd from left // Courtesy of Doug Saunders (HDA014) HMCS HAIDA sinks German destroyer // Newspaper article from Quebec paper dated 02 Oct 1944 // From the family of Able Seaman Paul Chamberland // Courtesy of Pierre Barrette (HDA015) Two officers from HMCS HAIDA home on leave // Lt Raymond Phillips, RCN and Lit Hal B. Bolus, RCN
(HDA016) Article on HMCS HAIDA sailors from the Ottawa area home on leave // Names in the article: Tel William Watt (of Picton); L/Sto George Horsfield (of Ottawa); Sto PO Colin MacArthur (of Ottawa); AB Roland Belander (of Ottawa); AB Ken Bough (of Cornwall); L/Sto Earl Page (of Ottawa); LS Robert White DSM (of Ottawa); AB Mickey Kerwin (of Ottawa); Sto Rod MacDonald (of Ottawa); Tel William McKinnon (of Ottawa); Tel Bryce Dixon (of Ottawa); AB Johnny Bregg (of Ottawa); AB Bill Spence (of Ottawa); AB Norman Stewart (of Ottawa) (HDA017) Trim from the bridge of HMCS HAIDA notched by Harry DeWolf to shows HAIDA'S "kills" // Courtesy of Tom Estabrooks
(HDA100) HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S doctor being transferred to HMCS HAIDA 215 - 19 Nov 1949 // A USAF B-29 crashed in the Atlantic and approx one week later the survivors were picked up by HMCS HAIDA. HMCS MAGNIFICENT'S doctor was transferred to HMCS HAIDA to tend to the survivors // Courtesy of Francis Dowdall (HDA101) Northport Boy on HAIDA // Newspaper article on local sailors on HMCS HAIDA - This article includes information on the HAIDA'S rescue of the crew of the USAF B-29 Bomber// The Picton Gazette, 23 Nov 1949 // Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection // Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016 (HDA102) HAIDA Rescues Airmen Downed in Atlantic // The CROWSNEST Magazine Vol 2 No 2 Dec 1949 (HDA103) Sea rescue drama // Newspaper article on the rescue of US Airmen by HMCS HAIDA // The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 23 Nov 1949 (HDA104) A few of HAIDA'S Honourary Texans - Sailors in a messdeck on HMCS HAIDA - photo taken shortly after the rescue of the crew of the downed USN B29 // James Madden 3rd from right // From the collection of James Madden // Courtesy of Brian McCormick
(HDA105) HMCS HAIDA 215 fueling from an unknown ship (HDA106) HMCS HAIDA crew members circa 1949-50 // Back row (L-R): Dick Shelton, unknown, OS James (Red) Ivan Livingstone, Jim Mills // Front row: unknown, unknown (HDA107) HMCS HAIDA - 1950. RCN photo // From the collection of James Madden // Courtesy of Brian McCormick (HDA108) HMCS HAIDA 215 fueling from HMCS MAGNIFICENT // Photo taken circa 1952 - not long after HAIDA completed a refit before being deployed to Korea. Note the 3"50 on the gun deck // Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (HDA109) HMCS HAIDA Christmas Menu - 1952
(HDA110) HMCS HAIDA 215 // From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster // Courtesy of Cathy Robinson (HDA111) HMCS HAIDA 215 (HDA112) HMCS HAIDA 215 - RCN photo (HDA113) #6 mess, after upper, HMCS HAIDA, 1962. LSFC2 Bob Toivanen on left, ABSN1 Keith Jones on right. // Courtesy of Robert (Bob) Toivanen (HDA114) Newspaper article on HMCS HAIDA'S visit to Picton, Ont. // The Picton Gazette, 10 Jul 1963 // Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection // Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2015
(HDA115) Cruise Planned For Sea Cadets - The Picton Gazette 05 Jun 1963 (HDA116) Thirty-one Sea Cadets from RCSCC HMCS Hallowell onboard HMCS Scatari awaiting transfer to HAIDA - Picton Gazette 12 Jun 1963 (HDA117) Sea Cadets Get Thrill Cruise on The 'HAIDA' - The Picton Gazette 12 Jun 1963 Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016
HMCS HAIDA did her first tour of duty to Korea in 1952-53 as part of United Nations operations in the Korean War. She departed Halifax on September 27, 1952, and sailed via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor the ship took on supplies and ammunition and conducted final workups. The ship then proceeded to Sasebo, Japan, the base for United Nations ships during the war. After completing her tour of duty in Korea, the ship sailed on to Hong Kong where the crew visited the Saiwan Military Cemetery, including the graves of Canadians killed in the 1941 Battle of Hong Kong. From there, the ship returned to Halifax on July 22, 1953, via the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, Mediterranean, and the Atlantic Ocean.
(SD60) Merchant vessel in the Panama Canal - 1952 (SD61) HAIDA sailors ashore in Panama City - 1952 (SD62) Selwyn Dumaresq ashore in Panama City - 1952
(SD63-SD66) Postcards of Panama - 1952
(SD67-SD71) Postcards of Los Angeles - 1952. Bought during a short stop on Long Beach, California
(SD72-SD74) HMCS HAIDA at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - 1952 (SD75) Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii - 1952 (SD76) Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii - 1952
(SD77) HMCS HAIDA in harbour, Sasebo, Japan - 1952 (SD78) USN destroyers nested with their support ship - possibly USS AJAX - Sasebo, Japan - 1952 (SD79) Royal Netherlands Navy frigate Maurtis in Sasebo, Japan - 1952 (SD80) Selwyn Dumaresq onboard HMCS HAIDA, Sasebo, Japan - 1952 (SD81) HMCS HAIDA Christmas Card - 1952
(SD82) Three Train Buster messages to HMCS HAIDA - 1st msg welcoming HMCS HAIDA to the train buster's club; 2nd msg Wardroom to Wardroom congratulations on joining the Train Buster Club; 3rd msg congratulating HAIDA on a second train destroyed - May 1953 (SD83) Selwyn Dumaresq (right) with unidentified sailor on the bridge wing of HMCS HAIDA - 1953 (SD84) Selwyn Dumaresq on board HMCS HAIDA - 1953 (SD85) Members of HAIDA'S crew showing off their beards after a beard growing contest. Ship's mascots, Pom Pom (left) - 1953 (SD86) Members of HAIDA'S crew showing off their beards after a beard growing contest. Ship's mascots, Pom Pom (right) - 1953
(SD87) Unknown US destroyer steaming alongside HMCS HAIDA - 1953 (SD88) Three farewell message to HAIDA on her departure from the Korean Theatre - Jun 1953 (SD89-SD91) Postcards from Hong Kong - 1953
(SD92) HMCS HAIDA - ship's company photo - Hong Kong - 1953 (SD93) Certificate presented to Selwyn Dumaresq and other crew members for circumnavigating the world. Ports of call included: Bermuda; Panama City, Panama; Manzanillo, Mexico; Long Beach, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Midway Island; Yokosuka, Kure, and Sasebo in Japan; Hong Kong; Singapore; Columbo, Ceylon; Aden, Yemen; Suez, Egypt; Malta; Gibraltar; and the Azores Islands, Portugal. In the Azores, the crew claimed to set a new RCN record, as all 270 men pitched in to paint the entire ship in 2 hours and 10 minutes! They wanted to look good when they arrived back in Halifax! From the collection of Selwyn Dumaresq, LS.CR1, RCN Courtesy of Charles Dumaresq
HMCS HAIDA throwing a pirate themed party for children from an orphanage. Date and location unknown
Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe
HAIDA after having been paid-off
(HDA200-HDA201) HAIDA, shortly after her arrival in Toronto on 25 Aug 1964 // Courtesy of William (Bill) Cardy (HDA202) HAIDA Inc. // Newspaper article on HMCS HAIDA becoming a museum ship // The Ottawa Journal 30 Apr 1966 // Courtesy of Ken McLeod (HDA203) HMCS HAIDA, WW II, display at a at a gun show in South Shore Montreal, 02 May 2015 // Memorabilia from Gordon Gage and Linton Reynolds, both who served on HMCS HAIDA in WW II. The helmet, clock and rifle are not directly attributed to HMCS HAIDA but are from that era. This was the first ever RCN display at the gun show and was well received. // Courtesy of Robert Lefebvre
(HDA204) HMCS HAIDA as a museum ship in Toronto (HDA205-HDA208) HMCS HAIDA as a museum ship in Hamilton Courtesy of David Ross, CPO2, C.A.F. / RCN, ret'd
Convoys escorted during the Second World War (back to ship's history)
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
