HMCS LOUISBURG K143

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS LOUISBURG K143 - 19 Oct 1942

From the collection of Thomas J. Simpson.

 

Laid down: 04 Oct 1940

Launched: 27 May 1941

Commissioned: 02 Oct 1941

Fate: Sunk on 06 Feb 1943

 

Built at Quebec City and commissioned there on 02 Oct 1941, LOUISBURG arrived at Halifax on 15 Oct 1941. She was assigned to Sydney Force until mid-Jan 1942, when she was transferred to Newfoundland Command. On 01 Feb 1942 she left St. John's for Londonderry as escort to convoy SC.67, another of whose escorts, HMCS SPIKENARD, was lost. After a long refit at Halifax, from 27 Mar 1942 to 27 Jun 1942, LOUISBURG made two more round trips to 'Derry before being assigned to duties in connection with Operation "Torch," the invasion of North Africa. She arrived at Londonderry on 23 Sep 1942, then proceeded to the Humber for fitting of extra AA armament. This work was completed on 18 Oct 1942. On 09 Dec 1942, while anchored at Londonderry, she was accidentally rammed by HMS BIDEFORD, necessitation five weeks' repairs at Belfast. LOUISBURG had scarcely commenced her "Torch" duties when, on the afternoon of 06 Feb 1943 near Cape Tenes, Algeria convoy KMF-8 (Gibraltar to Bone) was attacked by Italian Planes Savoia 79. HMCS LOUISBURG was hit by bombs and torpedoes and sank in position 36º15'N, 00º15'E. The torpedo hit her amidships on the port side of the engine room and the ship sank within 3 minutes. Forty-three of her crew were lost including several R.N. sailors and 2 Canadian sailors who died later of injuries received as a result of the sinking.

 


 

Photos and Documents

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr William Franklin Campbell, RCNVR - 02 Oct 1941 - 06 Feb 1943

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

ADAMS, Charles J.

AB, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

ALDRED, Leslie

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

ANDERSON, Archibald

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

ANDERSON, Cecil F.

L/Sig, RCNVR

DOW - 18 May 1943

ANNABLE, Grant C.

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

BANKS, Merle A.

AB, RCNR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

BENJAMIN, Stanley

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

BETTESS, Edward

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

CAMPBELL, William F.

LCdr, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

CARTWRIGHT, Kenneth

OS, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

COURNOYER, Roland

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

DUNCAN, James

OS, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

FORREST, George A.C.

ERA 4c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

GARDEN, Rayburn V.

ERA 4c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

GAUVIN, Joseph M.R.

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

GILBERT, William M.

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

GRAVES, Carleton S.

AB, RCNR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

GRIFFIN, Earle F.

AB A/SD, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

HALL, James

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

HANCOCK, Archibald

L/Radio Mech, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

LEWIS, William E.

AB AA III, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

LIDDLE, Eric

OS, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MACDONALD, Donald

LS AA III, RCNVR

DOW - 08 Feb 1943

MACGREGOR, Duncan

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MACLEOD, Gordon I.

Sig, RCNVR

killed - 06 Feb 1943

MACPHAIL, John A.

Coder, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MACPHAIL, Sidney J.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MCCLELLAN, John F.

AB, RCN

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MCDONALD, Ronald

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MCNEILL, Donald

CERA, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MERRYWEATHER, Hugh

Coder, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

MORIN, Joseph G.E.V.

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

NINIAN, Thomas M.

O/Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

PATERSON, Robert L.

Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

RICE, Stanley N.

Sto 1c, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

ROBINSON, Elwin

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

SHEPPARD, Thomas W.

AB, Royal Navy

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

SMITH, Arthur J.

PO Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

STEVENSON, James

LS, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

TANNER, James A.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

VIKSTROM, Jack R.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

WATSON, Norman R.

Stoker, RCNVR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

WILSON, Ernest

Lt, RCNR

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

Ship's Mascot

MPK - 06 Feb 1943

 

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

(s) - survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG on 06 Feb 1943

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

(s) - survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG on 06 Feb 1943

 

Anderson, C., L/Sig, RCNVR (s)


Ayres, OS (s)


Brewer, F., Sto, RCNVR (s)


Buckley, Andrew, LS, RCNVR (s)

 

Charlton, John, AB, RCNVR (s)


Cornell, James, L/SBA, RCNVR (s)


Crone, K.K., Tel, RCNVR (s)


Dupont, I.J., Tel, RCNVR (s)


Gibson, Lorne, AB, RCNVR (s)


Guersette, Joseph Rene, OS, RCNVR (s)


Hawes, James, Sto, RCNVR (s)

 

Heslam, Richard Murray, Lt (G), RCNVR 

 

Jenkins, Gordon, AB, RCNVR (s)

Juillette, Charles, PO, RCNR (s)


Keenan, R., Stwd, RCNVR (s)


Keill, John, LS, RCNVR (s)


Latremouille, J.M., L/SA, RCNVR (s)


MacDonald, Donald, LS, RCNVR (s)


McCauley, J., Stwd, RCNVR (s)


McDonald, G., AB, RCNR (s)


McIntyre, A., PO, RCN (s)


McPhee, Daniel, PO ERA, RCNVR (s)


Mercer, Maxwell, CPO, RCN (s)


Morrison, H., Sto, RCNR (s)


Musselman, D., AB, RCNVR (s)

 

Oliphant, W., Sto, RCNVR (s)

Quinsey, W.J., AB, RCNR (s)


Ransome, Wilson, L/CK, RCN (s)


Regan, M., AB, RCNVR (s)


Reimers, I., Sto, RCNVR (s)


Rhodes, Hubert, AB, RCNVR (s)


Ritson-Bennett, W., AB, RCNR (s)


Ruthven, Albert, AB, RCNVR (s)


Senior, Arthur, OS, Royal Navy (s)


St. Laurent, James, OS, RCNVR (s)


Stewart, D., AB, RCNVR (s)


Tembley, R., OS (s)


Welsh, C., OS, RCNVR (s)


Willett, James A., L/Sto, RCNVR (s)

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS LOUISBURG

 

  

 

Distribution of Salvage Money for the salvage of the Motor Vessel "G.S. Waldren" on 04 Aug 1942

 

Article on 4 brothers who served in WW II - one, René Gauvin - lost when HMCS LOUISBURG was sunk

Courtesy of Rene Gauvin (nephew of René Gauvin)

Duncan Macgregor, Stoker, V19596, RCNVR

Photo taken in from of the family home on Hall Ave, Windsor, Ont.

Courtesy of William (Bill) Macgregor

Article on the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

The Toronto Globe and Mail - 17 Feb 1943

Source: Democracy at War (Canadian War Museum)

Drawing that appears in local newspapers on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks

Courtesy of Karla Kordyban

"A Gallant Ship"

Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks

Courtesy of Karla Kordyban

Article on 4 survivors from the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks

Courtesy of Karla Kordyban

Article on casualties and survivors of the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 casualties and survivors from Ontario

 

Stoker Duncan MacGregor of Windsor;  Lt Ernest Wilson of Ottawa;  Stoker Stanley Norman Rice of Toronto;  AB James Arthur Tanner of Sault Ste Marie;  Tel Elwin Robinson of Toronto; OS James Hall of Belleville;  AB Leslie Aldred of Toronto

Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 Casualties and Survivors

 

OS H. Hall of Belleville;  Stoker D. MacGregor of Windsor;  AB J.A. Tanner of Sault Ste Marie;  AB E.F. Griffin of Dalhouse Jct, NB;  Tel E. Robinson of  Toronto;  L/Cook W. Ranson of Woodstock;  Soker S.N. Rice of Toronto;  LS J.C. Stevenson of Verdun, QC;  AB L. Aldred of Toronto;  Stoker F. Brewer of Toronto

Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 Casualties and Survivors

 

The Toronto Evening Telegram, 16 Feb 1943

 

Lt Ernest Wilson of Ottawa;  Lt H.F. Tingley of Vancouver;  LCdr W.F. Campbell of Saskatoon & Toronto;  SLt W.R. Wright of Montreal;  Lt. R.A. Jarvis of Toronto

Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

Article from the Globe and Mail, 17 Feb 1943 on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

Article from the Family Herald and Weekly Star on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

Photos of LOUISBURG survivors and casualties - from the Daily Star 16 Feb 1943

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

Photos of HMCS LOUISBURG casualties from Toronto, ON

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

List of survivors of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

HMCS LOUISBURG K143 - Casualty list

Courtesy of Beverly Plume

Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG - survivors tell their story

The Moncton Daily Time - 11 Mar 1943

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

LOUISBURG's Crew Wants to Stay as One

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

     

Articles on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143

Margaret Best (widow of Earle Griffin), Francis Carragher and Florence Lewis (widow of Erskine Lewis)

 

Francis Carragher survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG on 06 Feb 1943. Both Earle Griffin and Erskine Lewis lost their lives that day.

 

Francis Carragher crossed the bar on 04 Jun 2012

 

Courtesy of Beverley Plume

 


 

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