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HMCS QUINTE J166
Bangor Class Minesweeper
Commissioned at Vancouver on 30 Aug 1941, QUINTE left Esquimalt 10 Oct 1941 for Halifax, arriving on 14 Nov 1941. She was assigned at first to WLEF, and then, in Jun 1942, to Halifax Force. On 28 Nov 1942, after completing a six-week refit at Lunenburg, she grounded, causing extensive damage to her bottom and had to be beached.
In the memoirs of L/Tel George Crewe, the CO had him send a message requesting permission to enter Halifax to oil as the ship was low on oil. Permission was denied and QUINTE was ordered to proceed without stopping at Halifax. As a result, she ran out of fuel oil, drifted and was driven ashore in a storm, grounding on 28 Nov 1942 on Horse Head Shoal and was beached near St. Peter’s, Cape Breton.
QUINTE was re-floated ten days later and moved to the wall at St. Peter’s Canal to continue pumping operations. The next day she took an unexpected list, rolling on her side and sank making her the only ship in the RCN to sink twice in 10 days.
Salvage work continued throughout most of the winter, and on 25 Apr 1943, she arrived at Pictou in tow for repairs, which were not completed until Jun 1944. She was then sent to HMCS CORNWALLIS as a training ship, arriving at Digby on 21 Aug 1944, and remained there until the end of 1945. In 1946 she was employed with the Naval Research Establishment at Halifax until paid off on 25 Oct 1946.
While HMCS QUINTE was employed with the NRE, Lt Beatrice Helen Worsley, WRCNS (WREN), was assigned to a research project on hull corrosion. In 1946 she spent 150 days at sea, the majority on HMCS QUINTE, setting a sea time record for a WREN that was never broken.
In August 1947, QUINTE sold to the Steel Co. of Canada, Hamilton, ON and was broken up at Sydney, NS, later that year.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
HMCS QUINTE J166 - RCN negative # NP1013 From the collection of Cdr Bernard Summers Lake, RCN Courtesy of Barry Lake
(GEC026) "Shower time" // Sailors on HMCS QUINTE getting hosed down // George Crewe standing, 1st on right (GEC027) Three sailors in tropical rig on HMCS QUINTE J166 // Likely taken on the trip from Esquimalt to Halifax (GEC028) Unknown sailor scrubbing the deck by the depth charge thrower on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC029) Unknown sailor posing with the kisby ring that is mounted on the Ensign Staff on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC030) Unknown sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC031) Unknown sailors scrubbing and hosing down the quarterdeck of HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC032) Unknown sailor off HMCS QUINTE J166 ashore in an unknown location (GEC033) Unknown sailors by the minesweeping davits on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC034) Aircraft Carrier USS WASP (GEC035) Unknown Town class destroyer - an old USN 4 stacker
(GEC036) Unknown Allied sub in harbour at St. John's, Nfld (GEC037) Unknown sailor on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC038) George Crewe (centre) with two unknown shipmates on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC039) Unknown sailors on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC040) Unknown sailor on HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC041) Unknown sailor behind the Vickers twin .50 cal machine gun on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC042) Unknown sailor by the Vickers twin .50 cal machine gun on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC043) Unknown sailor wearing the gunnery headset and voice tube for the 4-inch gun on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC044) Unknown sailor on the quarterdeck of HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC045) Unknown sailors on HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC046) Unknown sailors by an ice encased depth charge thrower on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC047) 4-inch gun mount on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC048) Unknown Allied submarine seen from HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC049) Unknown sailor with a machine gun on the quarterdeck of HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC050) RCAF Crash boat. Photo taken from HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC051) A convoy seen from HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC052) A convoy seen from HMCS QUINTE J166 - Webmaster's note: This convoy appears to have a battleship or battle-cruiser escort. Note the 5th ship from the right in the photo. (GEC053) Unknown battleship or battle-cruiser in photo GEC059 (GEC054) Gunnery drills on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC055) Leading Telegraphist "Mac" on HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC056) The fo'c's'le of HMCS QUINTE J166 encased in ice (GEC057) Unknown sailor amongst the ice on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC058) Three sailors chipping ice off the fo'c's'le of HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC059) Same Three sailors chipping ice on the fo'c's'le of HMCS QUINTE J166. Note the spray from the wave about to hit them. * Webmaster's Note: Life in the North Atlantic was hard at the best of times. U-boats were not the only enemy in the North Atlantic. Ice made life for the sailors difficult to say the least. If too much ice built up, the ship would become top heavy and capsize.
(GEC060) Unknown sailor in his hammock on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC061) Five unknown sailors on HMCS QUINTE J166. By the looks of it, the sailor on the hatch cover is dancing a jig (GEC062) Two unknown sailors by the 4-inch gun mount on HMCS QUINTE J166 (GEC063) Unknown sailors off HMCS QUINTE J166 ashore
Sailors from QUINTE enjoying some time ashore at St. John's, Nfld - 1942 Note: These five photos of "Sailors from QUINTE enjoying some time ashore" series were all taken within 1/2 mile of the RCN Dockyard. (GEC064) Submitted by Bud Rose - This photo taken as the boys commenced their ride down Church Hill in the Donkey Cart towards Duckworth Street (GEC065) Submitted by Bud Rose - This photo taken on Church Hill also - in the same vicinity as the photo above. Note: Vehicles driving on ‘Left’ hand side of the road. Nfld did not switch to the ‘Right’ until 1947. (GEC066) George Crewe is holding the reigns. Submitted by Bud Rose - This photo was taken on Church Hill in St. John's Nfld. They are heading down towards Duckworth Street where photo below was taken. The large building in the background is the Methodist United Church; which was rebuilt after the original structure was destroyed in the great fire of 1892. (GEC067) Submitted by Bud Rose - This photo was taken on the South side of Duckworth St. in St. John's Nfld. The metal structure which the two sailors have climbed upon to mug for the camera, is a war time telephone wire support tower. These towers were installed between the Telephone exchange (located just behind the person who took the picture) and the Admiralty Building at the RCN Dockyard. (GEC068) Submitted by Bud Rose - In this photo the boys are having their picture taken with a constable of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. (Note the original policemen's fur hat and "Great Coat") The RNC is now the oldest police force in Canada, having been established prior to the Dominion Police in Ottawa and the RCMP. The building next to them is the original "Government Bond Store" where all the liquor was stored - hence the steel bars for the doors and windows. This building still stands today with bars removed.
HMCS QUINTE J166 after grounding on Horse Head Shoal near St. Peter's, NS (GEC069) Unknown sailor on deck of HMCS QUINTE J166 as she she lists to starboard (GEC070) Unknown sailors on deck of HMCS QUINTE J166 as she lists to starboard (GEC071) HMCS QUINTE J116 listing to Starboard with ML Q090 alongside her (GEC072-GEC073) HMCS QUINTE J166 grounded after hitting Horse Head Shoal
HMCS QUINTE J166 The photos above show HMCS QUINTE J166 sinking at the entrance to St. Peter's Channel. The final photo on the right shows her submerged, on her side. These photos are have been added here based on the number of the writing on the back of each photo, but it appears the the 3rd and 4th photo were taken during the salvage operations to raise the QUINTE.
This is a transcription of the notes on the back of each of the above photo: HMCS QUINTE - Named after Bay of QUINTE in Ontario. Built by Burrard Dry Dock Vancouver in 1941. Commissioned on August 29, 1941 at Vancouver. Went on trial run to Prince Rupert. Left Esquimalt October 10, 1941 and arrived in Halifax Nov 15, 1941. Commenced convoy duty Jan 1942 and continued till October 1942 when she went to Lunenburg for refit. Left Lunenburg Nov 27 and headed for Pictou. On night of 27th we got in storm and trouble began. Galley stove was wrecked and then the L/F aerials were broken. About midnight Gyro compass blew out and fun commenced. Fog closed in and we became lost. Saturday we lost all boat oars and also 2 depth charges. Oil fuel ran low on Sunday and at 1830 we struck a reef and then jumped four more before finally stopping. A hole was torn in both boiler rooms and engine room. Number 1 room filled first but we used 2 until the engine room was abandoned. In meantime distress message was sent and we waited patiently for help. The Q090 received our distress and came to our rescue at 2330 on the night of 28th. The ship was sinking rapidly and at 2345 orders were given to get ready to abandon ship. The Q090 however managed to pass a rope and they started in tow us. At 0630 on 29th they beached us on a ledge at St. Peters, N.S. Everyone was so tired we just slept where it was dry. In the afternoon of 29th she began to settle and on the following day she began rolling over. Nearly everyone's gear was lost but no lives. On the Tuesday she sank, rolling completely over to port side.
Historical Note: QUINTE was salvaged over the winter of 1942 / 1943 and then repaired at Pictou from Apr 1943 - Jun 1944. She was then transferred to HMCS Cornwallis to serve as a training ship.
(GEC079- GEC080) Salvage operations to raise HMCS QUINTE J166
(GEC081) HMCS QUINTE J166 - Gunnery training ship at HMCS Cornwallis at Pictou Wharf - 1944 From the collection of George Crewe Courtesy of Catherine Crewe
(RTL-WG003) The salvaging of HMCS QUINTE J166 by the Foundation Maritime Ltd’s ship Foundation Aranmore Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Walter Gregory
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
