HMCS MONNOW K441

 

River Class Frigate

 

 

 

Laid down: 28 Sep 1943

Launched: 4 Dec 1943

Transferred to the RCN: 08 Mar 1944

Commissioned: 08 Mar 1944

Paid off: 11 Jun 1945

Returned to the RN: 11 Jun 1945

Transferred to Denmark: 1945

Commissioned: 20 Oct 1945

Paid off: 01 Aug 1959

Fate: Broken up 1959/60

 

Laid down as HMCS MONNOW, named after an English river, she was transferred newly built to the RCN at Bristol on 08 Mar 1944. Following workups at Tobermory in Apr 1944 MONNOW joined EG C-2 in May and served with that group until Aug 1944, when she was re-assigned to EG 9, Londonderry. She served throughout her career in U.K. waters except for a round trip to Gibraltar in Oct 1944, and to Kola Inlet with convoys JW.62 and RA.62 in Nov and Dec 1944. On 13 May 1945, she left Greenock to pick up JW.67 for North Russia but was detached the next day to escort surrendered U-boats en route from Trondheim to Loch Eriboll. She left Londonderry on 25 May 1945 for Sheerness, where on 11 Jun 1945 she was paid off and returned to the RN. In Oct 1945 she was sold to the Danish Navy and re-named Holger Danske. Holger Danske is a Danish symbol of the resistance, will, and fighting spirit when Denmark is in danger. She was used as a cadet training ship. As some of the cadets during the (German) occupation were connected to the resistance group "Holger Danske", there were additional reasons to include the freedom fighters' symbol on this ship's badge. She was broken up at Odense, Denmark in 1959. MONNOW was one of two among the larger RCN warships that never saw a Canadian port.

 

 

Photos and documents          Ship's company photos

 

 

The MONNOWLOG - HMCS MONNOW's weekly shipboard newspaper

 

The Royal Canadian Navy and the Narvik U-Boats - May 1945 by Derek Waller, Air Commodore, RAF, ret'd

 

HMCS MONNOW photo album - A photo album from the collection of an unknown sailor. The photos were taken primarily during his time serving in HMCS MONNOW.  At the end of the album there are some reunion photos from the 1970s

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Cdr Edgar George Skinner, DSC, RCNR - 08 Mar 1944 - 11 Jun 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

(ER12) - Engine Room crew list for HMCS MONNOW - 12 May 1945

 

Allen, Lotus Havilland, Lt, RCNVR - 07 Mar 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

April, Gérard, PO - May 1945

 

Aucoin, J., Sto PO, RCNR, A2146  (ER12)

 

Balcom, D. ERA 3c, RCNR, A1613  (ER12)


Beaton, L., Sto PO, RCNVR, V14250  (ER12)


Berlando, T., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V55880  (ER12)


Bond, W., ERA, A/4c, RCNVR, V41789  (ER12)


Bond, W., Sto PO, RCNVR, V35008  (ER12)


Bouille, J., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V59842  (ER12)


Boutilier, M., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V64381  (ER12)

 

Brooke, Donald Joseph, Paym/Lt (Temp), RCNVR - 26 Jan 1945

 

Bovey, John Henry Gordon, A/LCdr, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

Brown, James Edward (Jim)

 

Christie, Harold Alexander, Lt, RCNVR - 08 Mar 1944

 

Cunningham, L., ERA 4c, RCNVR, V63656  (ER12)

 

Dennison, Thomas Eder, Slt, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

Dick, Norman., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V54345  (ER12)

 

Ferguson, H., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V55554  (ER12)


File, J., Sto 1c, V54704  (ER12)

Fortier, Thomas de Blois, A/Lt, RCNVR - 08 Mar 1944

 

Foxall, Leslie Lewendon, A/LCdr, RCNR  - 08 Mar 1944

 

Gagnon, Jacques, Lt, RCNVR - 08 Mar 1944

 

Garrett, C., ERA 3c, RCNR, A1849  (ER12)


Halbot, A., A/L/Sto, RCNR, A2135  (ER12)


Hewitt, J., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V65390  (ER12)

 

Jensen, Claus Vogelius, ASDIC Operator, Royal Danish Navy, 30 Sep 1952 - 17 Jan 1953 and 08 May 1953 - 10 Oct 1953 (HDMS Holger Danske)

 

La Rue, George Albert, Lt, RCNVR - 08 Mar 1944

 

Larson, Harvey 

 

MacDonald, A., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V1678  (ER12)


MacKay, R., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V54053  (ER12)


Malmsten, G., A.L/Sto, RCNVR, V14967  (ER12)


McCormick, T., A/L/Sto, RCNVR, V52512  (ER12)


McLaren, E., ERA A/4c, RCNVR, V57135  (ER12)

 

McLaughlin, William Gordon, Slt (E) (Temp), RCNVR - 25 Jun 1944

 

McNeil, A., Sto PO, RCNVR, V22625  (ER12)

McNeil, E., Sto PO, RCNVR, V25061  (ER12)

 

McNeil, H., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V39146  (ER12)

 

Moore, William D. - 1945

 

Morgan, Stephen William, Lt, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

O'Connor, W., Sto PO, RCNR, A4082  (ER12)


Painter, F., ERA A/4c, RCNVR, V39365  (ER12)

 

Sampson, A., Sto PO, RCNVR, V18384  (ER12)

 

Sanderson, Adrian Bruce, Lt, RCNVR - 07 Feb 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

Skinner, Edgar George, Cdr, RCNR - 03 Feb 1944

 

Shody, W., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V41481  (ER12)


Sigurdson, L., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V60004  (ER12)


Slogget, H., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V79644  (ER12)

 

Somers, John Stephen, Lt (E), RCNVR - 06 Mar 1944 / 08 Mar 1944

 

Stott, F., Sto PO, RCNVR, V17711  (ER12)


Walsh, L., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V66231  (ER12)

 

Wallace, Ronald Joseph, Lt, RCNVR - 08 Mar 1944

 

Wilson, R., A/CERA 3c, RCNVR, V35043  (ER12)


Young, D., Sto 1c, RCNVR, V16744  (ER12)

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS MONNOW

Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

Crew members of HMCS MONNOW K441

Source: Obituary of John Whiteside

Lt Arthur Nelles Ashton, RCNVR on HMCS MONNOW K441

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

HMCS MONNOW K441 crew members on the jetty. HMCS MONNOW in the background. Date and place unknown

From the collection Arthur Nelles Ashton

HMCS MONNOW K441 crew members on the jetty. HMCS MONNOW in the background. Date and place unknown

From the collection Arthur Nelles Ashton

 

Surrendered U-boats being escorted from Trondheim, Norway to Loch Eriboll, Scotland. Photo taken from HMCS MONNOW K441, May 1945

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Catalina Flying Boat

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Biplanes flying over HMCS MONNOW K441

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Unknown place - circa 1945 - taken from HMCS MONNOW K441

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

 

If you can identify this location please send me an EMAIL

Biplane flying past HMCS MONNOW K441

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Aircraft on upper deck of unknown merchantman. Aircraft carrier can be seen in the background

The aircraft on the merchantman are early versions of the P-51 Mustang fighter (identified by Dennis Cardy by the air scoop under the fuselage)

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

 

Historical note: The Mustang first flew in Oct 1940 and deliveries to England started a year later (after Pearl Harbour).

HMCS MONNOW following astern of unknown vessel - possibly a tanker in preparation for fueling

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Fairey Swordfish flying alongside HMCS MONNOW

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

 

Historical note: The Fairey Swordfish were the type of bi-plane used in the attack on the Italian Fleet at Taranto Harbour and also were the planes that made the cripplying torpedo attack on the Bismarck

Explosions astern of HMCS MONNOW - possibly depth charges

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

A convoy as see from HMCS MONNOW K441 - circa 1944/45

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Splashes of the Hedgehog mortars off the port bow of HMCS MONNOW K441

From the collection of Arthur Nelles Ashton

Ervin Hall on the quarterdeck of HMCS MONNOW, St. John's, Newfoundland - circa May/Aug 1944

"Yours truly. Notice tightness of coat around waist. Picture taken about a year ago onboard at Newfoundland, St Johns"

From the collection of Ervin "Ervie" Hall

Courtesy of Susan McPhedran

 

Note:  HMCS MONNOW never visited a Canadian port during her time in service - but she came fairly close with a port visit to St. John's, Newfoundland

Ervin Hall (left) and unknown sailor on HMCS MONNOW

From the collection of Ervin "Ervie" Hall

Courtesy of Susan McPhedran

Ervin Hall on HMCS MONNOW, Loch Eriboll, Scotland, May 1945

"Yours truly on the upper deck watching the goings on as the subs made official surrender to Naval officer

From the collection of Ervin "Ervie" Hall

Courtesy of Susan McPhedran

Surrendered U-Boat U-427 alongside HMCS MONNOW, Loch Eriboll, Scotland, May 1945

"A German sub tied along side of us at Loch Eriboll - North Coast of Scotland. First stop from Norway. "

From the collection of Ervin "Ervie" Hall

Courtesy of Susan McPHedran

 

Credit to Axel Niestlé for identifying the U-boat in the photo.

U-427 surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 09 May 1945 and brought to Loch Eriboll, Scotland.

Engine room complement, HMCS MONNOW, 12 May 1945

From the collection of Sto 1c N. Dick, RCNVR

Engineering department of HMCS MONNOW

From the collection of Sto 1c N. Dick, RCNVR

 

Norman Dick, back row, centre (tallest sailor).  His nickname was "this-above-all"

 

Source: The Memory Project

 

On 11 Jun 1945, HMCS MONNOW was paid off and returned to the Royal Navy. She was sold to Denmark and on 20 Oct 1945 commissioned as HDMS Holger Danske. Here are a few photos and documents from Claus Jensen's time on Holger Danske as a conscript in the Danish Sea Defence force.

 

30 Sep 1952 - 17 Jan 1953 and 08 May 1953 - 10 Oct 1953

 

        

 

The four photos above are of the visit of King Frederik IX of Denmark to HDMS Holger Danske.

In the first photo, King Frederik IX (left) and Henrik Rĝmeling, Commanding Officer (right).

 

  

 

I served onboard the Holger Danske from 1952-1952 as the ASDIC operator. An especially memorable cruise was to the Coronation Review for Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth, where the HDMS Holger Danske represented the Danish Navy. We also escorted the Danish Royal Yacht on a visit to Norway, where I was assigned as helmsman to steer in a straight course following the yacht (with our Captain monitoring me).

Courtesy of Claus Jensen

 

HDMS Holger Danske visit to Annapolis, USA in 1946

Courtesy of Claus Jensen

A reception on HDMS Holger Danske, Annapolis, USA, 30 Jun 1946

Courtesy of Claus Jensen

HDMS Holger Danske

Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

 

HDMS Holger Danske at Oostende 1954

Badge of HDMS Holger Danske

 

Source: G.GYSSELS SHIPCOLLECTION

 

 

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