HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

Laid down: 05 Aug 1940

Launched: 21 Nov 1940

Commissioned: 25 Jun 1941

Paid off: 23 Jul 1945

Fate: Broken up in 1966

 

Commissioned at Montreal on 25 Jun 1941, LETHBRIDGE arrived at Halifax on 04 Jul 1941. She served briefly with Sydney Force before joined NEF and leaving Sydney on 11 Oct 1941 with convoy SV.49 for Iceland. She was employed between St. John's and Iceland until Feb 1942, and thereafter on the "Newfie-Derry" run. On 20 Jun 1942, she left Londonderry for the last time, and on her return to Halifax joined Gulf Escort Force to escort Quebec-Sydney convoys. After refitting at Liverpool, N.S., from 10 Sep to 22 Oct 1942 and working up at Pictou, she arrived at New York on 18 Nov 1942 to be placed under U.S. control as escort to New York-Guantanamo convoys. In Mar 1943, she returned to Halifax to join WLEF for the remainder of the war, from Jun 1943, as a member of EG W-3 and from Apr 1944, as a member of W-5. She acquired her extended fo'c's'le during a refit at Sydney from Jan to Mar 1944, which was followed by three weeks' working-up at Bermuda in Apr 1944. She was paid off on 23 Jul 1945, at Sorel and sold to Marine Industries Ltd., who resold her in 1952 for conversion to a whale-catcher. The conversion was completed in 1955, she entered service under the Dutch flag as Nicolaas Vinke. She was broken up at Santander, Spain, in 1966.

 


 

Photos and Documents          Ship's Company Photos

 

Battle for Convoy BX-141

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt William Mahan, RCNR - 25 Jun 1941 - 13 Aug 1941

Lt R. Hocken, RCNR - 14 Aug 1941 - 02 Sep 1941

Lt R.J. Roberts, RCNR - 03 Sep 1941 - 07 Sep 1941

A/LCdr Harry Freeland, RCNR - 08 Sep 1941 - 20 Oct 1942

LCdr R.S. Kelly, RCNR - 21 Oct 1942 - 21 Apr 1943

LCdr William Woods, RCNR - 22 Apr 1943 - 15 Jun 1943

A/LCdr St. Clair Balfour, RCNVR - 16 Jun 1943 - 26 Dec 1943

Lt Frederick Henry Pinfold, RCNVR - 15 Mar 1944 - 18 Aug 1944

Lt Joseph A. Roberts, RCNVR - 19 Aug 1944 - 30 Sep 1944

Lt Frederick Henry Pinfold, RCNVR - 01 Oct 1944 - 14 Apr 1945

Lt John Holland, RCNVR - 08 Apr 1945 - 23 Jul 1945

  


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Binmore, David Armstrong, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jun 1941 / Lt, RCNVR - 18 Apr 1942

 

Calland, John Christopher Hatton, Lt, RCNVR - 25 Jun 1941

 

Colby, James Edward, SLt, RCNVR - 01 Mar 1942

 

Curr, James, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Mar 1945

 

Dunn, Howard Leslie, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1943

 

Freeland, Harry (the Horse), Lt, RCNR - 25 Jun 1941

Green, James Henry, Mate, RCNR - 26 Jun 1941

 

Hiscock, (??), AB, Radar III

 

Kernohan, Eric, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Keys, John David, Lt, RCNVR - 01 May 1945

 

Mahan, William, Lt, RCNR - 11 May 1941 (Stand by) CO

 

McDiarmid, Evan Stanley, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1943

 

Murray, Robert McKay, SLt, RCNVR - 14 Feb 1944

Phillips, Neil Franklin, SLt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1944

 

Roberts, Joseph, Lt, RCNVR - 22 Apr 1943

 

Wallar, Durrant Everett, Lt, RCNVR - 24 Feb 1945

 

Wilson, Gordon Cornelius, A/Lt, RCNVR - 19 May 1945

 

Wright, Bruce Stanley, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Mar 1942

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

LTH001

LTH002

(LTH001) Unidentified sailors from HMCS LETHBRIDGE 1944  //  Source: Obituary for Irvin Eisenhauer

(LTH002) Norwegian whale-catcher # 22 - former HMCS LETHBRIDGE  //  Source: Flower Class corvette forums

 


 

JR004

JR005

JR006

JR007

JR008

(JR004) "Later when Halifax was mined"  //  John Roberts on the left with unknown sailor on the right

(JR005) "Pings" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR006) "Pilot" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR007) "Ping Shack" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR008) "Sig" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR009

JR010

JR011

JR012

JR013

(JR009) "Flags" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR010) "Guns in Refit"  - HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR011) HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 Christmas Card

(JR012) "Off watch, Port list"  - HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR013) "My first sea-going XO - Nick" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR014

JR015

JR016

JR017

JR018

(JR014) "A real crusher from the last war" - HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR015) "New York Bound" - HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR016) "What a great gunnery officer" - HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR017) "Sullage Guts - The Navigator" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR018) "The kid on watch" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR019

JR20

JR21

JR22

JR23

(JR019) "Good-bye New York" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR020) "Phil Powell, Navigator" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR021) Jim Bessey, A.S.C.O. on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR022) "Pings" on the bridge of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR023) "Flags" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR024

JR025

JR026

JR027

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 - Port Visit Bermuda

(JR024) "Oh the troubles I've seen."

(JR025) "The entrance - They walked in but generally rolled out."

(JR026)  "Nice and clean but rather hard when spilled from a bicycle."

(JR027) "Seaward from Grassy Bay"

 

JR028

JR029

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 - Port Visit Bermuda

(JR028) "Loomed in the No. 1's report"

(JR029)  "The Admiral's shack - Bermuda"

 

JR030

JR031

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JR033

(JR030-JR033) Two MACs with HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 screening take offs and landings

 

JR034

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JR038

(JR034) "Not so fast Bub"  - Unknown sub - seen from HMCS LETHBRIDGE - likely an allied sub

(JR035) Fo'c's'le of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 as seen from the bridge

(JR036) Fo'c's'le of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 as seen from the port bridge wing

(JR037) Fo'c's'le of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 as seen from the crowsnest

(JR038) "Looking aft from the bridge island" of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR039

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JR042

JR043

(JR039) "One of the Best W.K.s afloat" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR040) "The good companions?" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR041) "The Jimmy gets a stowaway" - The boats crew of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 at work

(JR042) "Powell looks anxious - wonder why?" - Bringing in the seaboat of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR043) "Lookouts...?" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR044

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JR047

JR048

(JR044) "Tidley" - The gun mount of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR045) "Painting the Ping shack" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR046) "Prospective (G)?" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR047) Painting ship - two sailors over the side on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR048) Starboard side looking aft of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR049

JR050

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JR053

(JR049) AB Hiscock, Radar III on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR050) "The Buffer" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR051) "The Jimmy looks it over" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR052) Unknown officer talking with 2 unknown ratings on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR053) Port side looking aft on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR054

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JR057

JR058

(JR054) "A real seaman" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR055) "Sigs at work" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Bermuda

(JR056) "The onlookers" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Bermuda

(JR057) "L.T.O. lights a signal flare" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR058) "A Pusser Buffer"  //  HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR059

JR060

JR061

JR062

JR063

During the morning count, HMCS LETHBRIDGE goes along the convoy lines and verifies each ship is still in position

 

JR064

JR065

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JR067

JR068

During the morning count, HMCS LETHBRIDGE goes along the convoy lines and verifies each ship is still in position

(JR065) LETHBRIDGE move across the stern of the convoy

(JR067) LETHBRIDGE in position Charlie X-Ray

 

JR069

JR070

JR071

JR072

JR073

During the morning count, HMCS LETHBRIDGE goes along the convoy lines and verifies each ship is still in position

 

JR074

JR075

JR076

During the morning count, HMCS LETHBRIDGE goes along the convoy lines and verifies each ship is still in position

 

JR077

JR078

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JR081

(JR077) 4-inch gun on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR078-JR079) AA guns on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR080) "A Herring Choker" on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR081) "From the Fo'c's'le" of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR082

JR083

JR084

JR085

JR086

(JR082) "Hang on" - A Lieutenant going up the stick on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR083) "Up the stick" - Unknown officer and rating in the crowsnest on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR084) "Why did I go to sea?" - Unknown sailor resting on the boat deck of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR085) "Stand Easy" - Unknown officer and rating on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR086) Neil Phillips on the bridge MCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR087

JR088

JR089

JR090

(JR087-JR088) "Jim on Watch" on the bridge of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

(JR089) Robert McKay (Bob) Murray on the bridge of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 at Bermuda

(JR090) "Is the Commodore near us? Unknown officer on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

JR091

JR092

JR093

JR094

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Refit

 

JR095

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JR098

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Refit

 

JR099

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JR102

HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160 in Refit

 

JR103

JR104

JR105

(JR103) Sailing instructions for HMCS LETHBRIDGE from NOIC Sydney

(JR104) Message dated 18 Aug 1944 appointing A/Lt J.W. Bessey as XO and Lt J. Roberts as CO

(JR105) Message for the Commander Surface Escort Group - Eastern Sea Frontier - 03 Nov 1943 - listing available escorts

 

From the album of Joseph Roberts, Cdr, RCNR

 


 

WS02

WS03

WS04

WS05

(WS02) Unknown sailor with ship's mascot on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS03) Wesley Spinks (holding the "hammer") jacking around with shipmates on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS04) Unknown sailors by the 4-inch gun on HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160  (WS05) Wesley Spinks (1st on right) with shipmates on the forward gun of HMCS LETHBRIDGE K160

 

From the collection of Sto 1c Welsey Spinks, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Don Spinks

 


 

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