HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 / 197 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 / 197

Bangor Class Minesweeper

HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256

Laid down: 01 Oct 1941

Launched: 25 Jun 1941

Commissioned: 04 Dec 1941

Paid off: 06 Nov 1945

Re-acquired by RCN: 1951

Paid off: 29 Nov 1957

Transferred to the Turkish Navy: 29 Nov 1957

Paid off: 1963

Fate: Unknown

Built at Montreal, she was commissioned there on 04 Dec 1941. She arrived at Halifax on 13 Dec 1941 and was allocated to WLEF and then, in Jun 1942, to Sydney Force. In Jan 1943, she returned to WLEF but was transferred to Halifax Force in Jun 1943, and there remained until May 1944, apart from a brief absence from Nov to Dec 1943, when she was lent to Newfoundland Force. In May 1944, she returned to Sydney Force until Jan 1945, when she was transferred to Newfoundland Force until VE-Day. She was thereafter employed at miscellaneous duties on the Atlantic coast until 06 Nov 1945, when she was paid off at Halifax and laid up at Shelburne. In 1946 MEDICINE HAT was placed at strategic reserve at Sorel until re-acquired in 1951 and taken to Sydney. She remained in Sydney until she was transferred to the Turkish Navy on 29 Nov 1957. Re-named Biga, she remained in service until 1963.

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

Lt J. Bevan, RCNR - 04 Dec 1941 - 01 May 1943

Lt John Edisforth Heward, RCNVR - 02 May 1943 - 20 Dec 1943

Lt A.A.R. Dykes, RCNR - 21 Dec 1943 - 10 Jan 1944

Lt John Edisforth Heward, RCNVR - 11 Jan 1944 - 28 Aug 1944

Lt R.J. Keelan, RCNVR - 29 Aug 1944 - 07 May 1945

Lt Kenneth Guy Clark, RCNVR - 08 May 1945 - 11 Jun 1945

Cdr Alexander McAllister McLarnon, RCNR - 12 Jun 1945 - 18 Jul 1945

Lt William Rodney Aylwin, RCNVR - 19 Jul 1945 - 06 Nov 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Anthony, B., L/Sig - 1944

Bain, Ian Donald James, Coder - 1943-1944

Baines, G., L/Tel - 1944

Baker, James Dewy, Cd (E), RCNR - 23 Jun 1942

Belair, Paul, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1943

Bell, George Alfred (Dinger), Sto

Bergen, B., Sto 1c - 1944

Blackwood, M., ERA - 1944

Borsellino, Joseph (Joe), AB - 1944

Bray, F., SPO - 1944

Brooks, S., AB - 1944

Burns, M., LS - 1944

Campbell, Robert Lane, SLt (E), RCNVR - 26 May 1943

Carnall, F., Sig - Feb 1944 - till the end of the war.

Cashato, T., Sto 1c - 1944

Chandler, M., Cox'n - 1944

Cooke, A., SBA - 1944

Cox, C., OS - 1944

Crawford, B., OS - 1944

Dansereau, Joseph Julian Bernard, SLt, RCNVR / Lt - 1944

Dilley, Walter Charles, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

Downing, H., SPO - 1944

Dresser, J, LS - 1944

Elliot, J., SA - 1944

Farrell, J., LS - 1944

Fitzgerald, P., L/Sto - 1944

Forrest, J., AB - 1944

Ginter, R., Tel - 1944

Graham, Adam Henry, Lt (E), RCNVR - 02 May 1944

Hart, C., LS - 1944

Hartz, A., AB - 1944

Hillgartner, Harry Leonard, SLt (E), RCNVR - 04 Apr 1945

Hinchey, D., AB - 1944

Humphries, Donald Garth, SLt, RCNVR - 17 Jul 1944

Hutchings, Frank Goddard, Mate, RCNR - 03 Mar 1942

Johnson, George, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

Johnson, S., AB - 1944

Kennedy, J., A/EA 4c - 1944

Laing, W., Sto 1c - 1944

Laurin, W., Sto 1c - 1944

LeBlanc, J., SPO - 1944

Little, R., OS - 1944

Little, W., SPO - 1944

MacLachlan, Henry Drake, SLt, RCNVR - 27 Mar 1943 / Lt - 1944

Madigan, F., Coder - 1944

Mallett, Jacques, Lt, RCNVR - 01 Feb 1943

Mann, R., LS - 1944

Mayer, E., L/Cook - 1944

McConnell, W., L/Sto - 1944

McIntyre, G., AB - 1944

McLane, R., Coder - 1944

McMillan, Norman McLeod, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Feb 1944

Mills, D., L/Stwd - 1944

Mills, W., Tel - 1944

Mitchell, John Douglas, Lt (E), RCNVR - 01 Jul 1943

Montgomery, Edward Wilfred, Lt (E), RCNVR - Jan 1945

Moore, Charles Edward, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1942

Moynihan, V., Sig - 1944

Nelligan, W., SPO - 1944

Nicolson, M., Sto 2c - 1944

Nower, B., Sto 1c - 1944

Piercey, H., LS - 1944

Pleasance, Ernest Stanley Nelson, Ch/Skpr, RCNR - 25 Mar 1942

Quinn, E., SPO - 1944

Reeves, A., AB - 1944

Solkoski, S., ERA - 1944

Spears, O., ERA - 1944

Steel, G., Cook - 1944

Steele, R., Sto 1c - 1944

Sutherland, H., AB - 1944

Sutherland, R., AB - 1944

Taylor, F., Sto 1c

Thomas, G., AB - 1944

Wagg, F., CPO - 1944

Warren, J., OS - 1944

Wells, W., L/Sto - 1944

Whitefield, S., LS - 1944

William, Franklyn Victor, Skpr, RCNR - 03 May 1945

Wilmot, J., Sig - 1944

Uebell, J., Stwd - 1944

Ukrainetz, W. O/Tel - 1944

Upton, C.W., CERA - 1944

Zaharuk, P., Sto 2c - 1944

Photos and Documents

MHT001

MHT002

MHT003

MHT004 / JEH012

MHT005

(MHT001) HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 // From the photo collection of Gerald (Jerry) Cox, RCNVR // Courtesy of Sean Cox

(MHT002) Aerial view of HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 // Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax

(MHT003) HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 // From the collection of Roy T. Cardy // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy // Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

(MHT004) HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 // From the collection of John Edisforth Heward, Lieutenant, RCNVR // Courtesy of Roger Heward

(MHT005) HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256 // From the collection of John C. Orr // Courtesy of John P. Orr

MHT006

(MHT006) Signalman Fred Carnall of HMCS MEDICINE HAT, on the deck of U-190 in St. John's, NFLD, May 1945 // Courtesy of Chris Carnall

WKG001

WKG002

Unknown allied submarine photographed from HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256. // Webmaster's note: The info on the back of the photos says its a surrendered German U-boat, however, the the sub's sail, the pendant number starts with an "N" indicating an Allied submarine, that and neither U-889 or U-190 had a forward deck gun

WKG003

WKG004

WKG005

WKG006

(WKG003-WKG006) U-190 alongside HMCS MEDICINE HAT J256, St. John's, NFLD, May 1945

WKG007

WKG0008

When some crew members from Medicine Hat went aboard U-190 some found photos and other documents which they kept as souvenirs. These were found by William Glover

(WKG007) photo of an unknown German sailor

(WKG008) Document with the name Jakob