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HMCS PRINCE DAVID F89
Armed Merchant Cruiser
Formerly a three-funnelled Canadian National Steamships liner, she was purchased on 19 Dec 1939, and after very extensive conversion commissioned at Halifax on 28 Dec 1940, as an armed merchant cruiser. After working up at Bermuda in Jan and Feb, 1941 PRINCE DAVID was assigned to the RN's America and West Indies Station for the rest of the year. That December she was transferred to Esquimalt and in May, 1942, after refit at Esquimalt and Vancouver, joined Esquimalt Force. During her refit, scenes from the 1942 film Commandos Strike at Dawn were filmed using PRINCE DAVID and Nenamook. From Aug to Nov she served under USN control in the Aleutian campaign. She then resumed her former duties out of Esquimalt until the beginning of Mar 1943, when she was paid off for conversion to an infantry landing ship. The rebuilding, which took place at Esquimalt and Vancouver, was completed that December, and shortly after re-commissioning she left for the U.K. via Cristobal and New York. Upon arrival in the Clyde in Feb 1944, PRINCE DAVID joined Combined Operations Command, and landed troops in Normandy on D-Day. In Jul she left for the Mediterranean to take part in Operation "Dragoon," the invasion of southern France, on 15 Aug. She was extensive service in the Mediterranean until damaged by a mine on 10 Dec 1944, off Aegina Island, Greece. Repaired at Ferryville, North Africa, she left in Mar 1945, to refit at Esquimalt, but saw no further service was was paid off on 11 Jun 1945. Charlton Steam Shipping Co. purchased PRINCE DAVID in Sep 1946. By Feb 1947 PRINCE DAVID was in Britain undergoing conversions to her superstructure for passenger service. Renamed Charlton Monarch, she entered the immigrant trade and ran from Britain to Australia. PRINCE DAVID seemed to be predisposed to striking underwater hazards: in 1932 as CNSS PRINCE DAVID she spent six months hard aground on the North-East Breaker at Bermuda; in 1941, she was aground again in Bermuda; during her Alaskan tour, she struck an uncharted piling; and in the Mediterranean an exploding mine opened a 17-foot (5 m) hole in her plates. These events, plus the pre-war years of neglect, may have contributed to her early end. She lasted only 6 years and was broken up at Swansea in 1951.
Photos and Documents Ship's Company Photos The Ship's Bell The Three Princes - The Legion Magazine
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
R
S
T
V
W
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
Record of Ship's movements HMCS PRINCE DAVID 20 Dec 1943 - 01 Mar 1945
From the collection of Jim Evans L/Sto, RCNVR
Courtesy of Ron and Barbara Simpson
(WW16) Airing the signal flag on HMCS PRINCE DAVID - LAC PA211364 (WW17) Capt T.D. Kelly, RCNR, CO, HMCS PRINCE DAVID - LAC PA211365 (WW18) Capt. Norris, RN Combined Ops. Specialist. Sailed on PRINCE DAVID as CO of a group LSI (M) Invasion of South/France July ’44 later killed in mine explosion on beach Yugoslavia.” - LAC PA143812 (WW20) Bob Hicks, PO Tel and PO Sig William Welsh, HMCS PRINCE DAVID 29 Oct 1944 - LAC PA211360
(WW21) Crowded jetty at Ajaccio [sic].” “Loading Senegalese troops in Adjaccio [sic] for S/France invasion July ’44." - LAC PA143834 (WW22) July/44 PRINCE DAVID Med officer works on German “E” boat crew who were sunk and taken prisoner during S/France invasion; prisoners brought to PRINCE DAVID for medical treatment.” (WW23) “PRINCE DAVID landing craft exercising S/France" - LAC PA211357 (WW24) PRINCE DAVID and PRINCE HENRY in Adjacco [sic.] - LAC PA211359 (WW26-WW27)
(WW26-WW27) HMCS PRINCE DAVID in dry dock at Ferryville, North Africa for repairs after striking a mine - LAC PA142894, PA211363, PA211363 (WW29) Sailors on HMCS PRINCE DAVID - Aug 1944 - LAC PA211358 (WW30) Looking forward from the signal bridge on HMCS PRINCE DAVID - LAC PA211350
(WW31) William Welsh (centre) having birthday cake in mess aboard HMCS PRINCE DAVID, Portsmouth Harbour before D-Day on 05 Jun 1944 (WW32) Capt. Kelly addresses ship's company on HMCS PRINCE DAVID on D-Day - LAC PA211353 (WW33) HMCS PRINCE DAVID'S battle ensign on D-Day - LAC PA143815 (WW34) HMCS PRINCE DAVID anchored off Omaha Beach. There is a signalman on the flag deck holding on to a halyard - LAC PA211354 (WW35) LCT loaded with troops on D-Day - LAC PA211352
(WW36) "D-Day, after initial landings, this LCT came along side PRINCE DAVID with badly wounded cases and requested that we take them back with us to U. K.” - LAC PA141521
From the collection of William Welsh, Sig
(GG03) Lea Gillard (left) with unidentified officer on HMCS PRINCE DAVID circa Jan 1944 (GG04) On the bridge of HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG05) Sketch of ship's badge for HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG06) Unidentified PO.QR 2c on HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG07) HMCS PRINCE DAVID
(GG08) Skit night onboard HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG09) Lea Gillard (2nd from left) with in his cabin on HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG10) Lea Gillard holding service on HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG11) Lea Gillard with PRINCE DAVID officers ashore in Greece (GG12) Lea Gillard with PRINCE DAVID officers ashore in Athens, Greece
(GG13) A boxing match on HMCS PRINCE DAVID - Padre Lea Gillard on right; Dr. John Beggs as referee (GG14) Cdr Thomas D. Kelly addressing the PRINCE DAVID's crew (GG15) soldiers boarding the landing craft on HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG16) Soldiers in one of PRINCE DAVID's landing craft (GG17) Ashore in unknown location. Padre Lea Gillard front row in naval uniform
(GG18) Unidentified (Square Rig) Petty Officer onboard HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG19-GG20) Inspection of PRINCE DAVIDS's crew by visiting Rear-Admiral (GG21) Unidentified Chief Petty Officer placing a shell in the magazine rack on HMCS PRINCE DAVID (GG22) Medical procedure being performed on the ship's mascot on HMCS PRINCE DAVID by Dr. John Beggs.
(GG22) Capt. Norris, RN Combined Ops. Specialist. Sailed on P.D. [Prince David] as C.O. of a group LSI (M) Invasion of South/France July ’44 later killed in mine explosion on beach Yugoslavia Photo PA143812 from Library and Archives Canada (GG23) Ammunition boxes being loaded on to PRINCE DAVID's landing craft LCA 1115 (GG24) Unidentified sailor touching up the Maple Leaf on one of PRINCE DAVID's LCAs (GG25) Lea Gillard (right) with Lt. Col. US Army Engineers - 05 Jul 1944
Some of HMCS PRINCE DAVID'S crew ashore in Athens - circa fall of 1944 - both taken in front of the Parthenon. These photos were printed as post cards but were not sent. (GG26) Rev. Lea Gillard 2nd from right (GG27) L-R: Jacko Killeen, Ottawa; Keith Brason, Calgary; “me”, no name given; Charles Joyce, Port Credit; Tom Emerson, Moose Jaw; and, Qui Guiele (?), the guide
From the collection of Rev. Lea Gillard, Chaplain, RCN / RCN(R)
Courtesy of Charles Quinn
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
