HMCS NORSYD K520

 

Flower Class Corvette

 

 

HMCS NORSYD K520

Source: Battle of Atlantic Museum

 

Laid down: 14 Jan 1943

Launched: 31 Jul 1943

Commissioned: 22 Dec 1943

Paid off: 25 Jun 1945

Acquired by Israeli Navy:

Commissioned: 18 Jul 1948

Fate: Broken up in 1956

 

The name is a contraction of North Sydney. NORSYD was commissioned at Quebec City on 22 Dec 1943 and, en route to Halifax, was diverted to Indiantown, N.B., for fitting-out that was not completed until mid-Mar 1944. She arrived in Bermuda later that month to work up, and on her return was assigned to EG W-7, escorting local convoys, until Nov 1944, when she was transferred to EG C-2, St. John's, taking her first convoy, HX.323, eastward early in Dec 1944. On 27 May 1945, she began a refit at Halifax and soon after its completion, on 25 Jun 1945 was paid off and laid up at Sorel. She was sold into mercantile service in 1948 as Balboa. In 1946 it was purchased by the Mossad Le Aliya bet (The Institute for Immigration B.) the ship was called “Hagana” (Defence), and it sailed to Palestine in the end of Jul 1946 from Yugoslavia. It was caught by HMS VENUS several days later, boarded and brought to Haifa, were it’s occupants were interned in Palestine. After the Declaration of Israel’s Independence, it was converted to be Corvette and commissioned on 18 Jul 1948 as INS Haganah. She served until broken up in 1956.

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt J.R. Biggs, RCNR - 22 Dec 1943 - 20 Oct 1944

 

Lt William Percy Wickett, RCNVR - 21 Oct 1944 - 25 Jun 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Bateman, Albert, LS, RCNVR 

 

Brooks, W.E., Tel (T.O), V56199, RCNVR (of Hamilton, Ontario)

 

Campbell, Hector Munro, SLt, RCNVR - 31 Jan 1944

 

Gibson, Robert, A/War (E), RCNVR - Jan 1945

Higgins, Larratt Tinsley, SLt, RCNVR - 20 Jul 1944

 

Johnson, Clifford Magnus

MacMillan, John Buchanan, SLt, RCNVR - 09 Apr 1945

 

McCaw, John Elmer, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS NORSYD K520

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clay Restall

HMCS Noryd K520 in the North Atlantic - Dec 1943

Source: the Roger Litwiller collection

Courtesy of Bill Gard

Clifford Magnus Johnson - Son of Magnus and Ingibjorg Johnson, Clifford was born December 17, 1925. He was still a student at Langruth school at time of his enlistment in January, 1944. He received his basic training at Winnipeg at HMCS Chippawa, and later a gunnery course at HMCS Cornwallis. In February, 1945, he was assigned to the Corvette NORSYD, on convoy duty from Newfoundland to Londonderry, Ireland. After eleven months of service he returned home, and on January 18, 1946, received his discharge. On August 3, 1946, Clifford married Lorna Gothard in Winnipeg, and they have two children, Sandra and Siggi. Later he enrolled in the Scientific Hairdressing School in Winnipeg and completed the course through the C.V.T. and is now established in Langruth.

 

Source: "A Tribute to the Soldiers and Pioneers of the Langruth District", published 1950

INS Haganah K20 circa 1949

Haganah entering Hafia harbour

Source: wertheimer website

 

 

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