HMCS ORILLIA K119 - For Posterity's Sake

For Posterity's Sake

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS ORILLIA K119

Source: Niagara Falls Public Library digital archives

Credit: Gary and Pat Ward

HMCS Orillia K119

Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

Laid down: 04 Mar 1940

Launched: 15 Sep 1940

Commissioned: 25 Nov 1940

Paid off: 02 Jul 1945

Fate: Broken up in Jan 1951

Commissioned 25 Nov 1940, at Collingwood, she arrived at Halifax on 11 Dec 1940 for completion and was assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force until 23 May 1941. Orillia sailed that day for St. John's to become one of the seven charter members of the NEF, and for the balance of the year escorted convoys between St. John's and Iceland. In Sep 1941, she was escort to convoy SC.42, which lost 18 ships. She arrived at Halifax 24 Dec 1941 for a refit, upon completion of which on 22 Mar 1942, she joined EG C-1, leaving St. John's 02 Apr 1942 with SC.77 for Londonderry. On her arrival she was sent to Tobermory for three weeks' workups, then returned to the "Newfie-Derry" run until Jan 1944. Orillia took part in major battles around convoys SC.94, which lost 11 ships in Aug 1942 and ON.137 in Oct 1942, which lost only 2 ships despite being heavily attacked. She was a member of EG C-2 from Nov 1942 to May 1944, when she joined EG C-4 following two months' refit at Liverpool, N.S. She left Londonderry for the last time on 16 Jan 1944, to commence a long refit, again at Liverpool, which included the lengthening of her fo'c's'le. This refit was completed on 03 May 1944, but further repairs were completed at Halifax late in Jun 1944. She arrived in Bermuda on 29 Jun 1944 for three weeks' workups, on her return joining EG W-2, Western Escort Force, for the duration of the war. Paid off on 02 Jul 1945, at Sorel, she was broken up at Steel Co. of Canada, Hamilton, Ont., in Jan 1951.

Commanding Officers

A/LCdr William Edward Slade Briggs, RCNR - 25 Nov 1940 - 04 Sep 1942

Lt Harold Victor William Groos, RCN - 05 Sep 1942 - 13 Feb 1943

LCdr Richard Jackson, RCNR - 14 Feb 1943 - 16 Apr 1943

A/LCdr James Evelyn Mitchell, RCNVR - 17 Apr 1943 - 13 Mar 2944

A/LCdr John Winston Sharpe, RCNR - 08 May 1944 - 02 Jul 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar They shall not be forgotten
A-B
Baird, Eric ____-____	Baxter, Duncan 1924-2005
C-D
Campbell, William R. ____-____
G-H
Groos, Harold Victor William 1912-1987 2nd Commanding Officer	Guildford, Thomas Kerr 1919-2013	Henderson, Gordon Hudson 1925-2010
O-P
Priel, James Daniel 1925-2011
W-X
Wilson, John Robert 1923-1973 Served in Orillia 13 Mar 1941 - 17 Apr 1943