HMCS RACCOON S14

 

Armed Yacht

 


 

HMCS RACCOON S14

Source: Canadian War Museum George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20070195-008b_front

Courtesy of the Canadian War Museum

 


 

Built: 1931

Acquired by RCN: Mar 1940

Commissioned: 31 Dec 1940

Fate: Sunk on 07 Sep 1942

 

Originally the yacht Halonia, built in 1931 for Charles A. Thorne of Chicago, she was acquired by the RCN in Mar 1940 , converted to an armed yacht and commissioned as HMCS RACCOON. 

 

On 20 Mar 1942, RACCOON sailed from Halifax as convoy escort to St. John's, Nfld arriving at St. John's on 26 Mar 1942.  She departed St. John's  on31 Mar 1942 as convoy escort to Halifax, arriving at Halifaxon 07 Apr 1942.  

 

From 07 Apr to 12 May 1942 she served on Local Escort duty from Halifax to Sydney, NS and from Halifax to Shelburne, NS.

 

From 12 May 1942 onward she was part of the Sydney and Gulf Escort Force.

 

She was assigned to HMCS FORT RAMSAY near Gaspé, Quebec on 25 May 1942 to patrol and escort convoys in the river and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

 

During the night of  06-07 Sep 1942, U-165 attacked Convoy QS-33, escorted by the armed yacht HMCS RACCOON. Some time later, the ship set out in search of the submarine, when she was hit and sunk by two torpedoes from U-165. All 37 hands were lost.

 


 

Photos and Documents

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr John Lewis Diver, RCNR - 17 May 1940 - 17 Oct 1940

Lt F. Roberts, RCNR - 18 Oct 1940 - 16 Apr 1941

Lt Norman Garfield Bennett, RCNR - 17 Apr 1941 - 22 Jul 1941

Lt Douglas Wharrie Main, RCNR - 23 Jul 1941 - 16 Nov 1941

Lt A.H. Cassivi, RCNR - 17 Nov 1941 - 04 Dec 1941

LCdr John Norman Smith, RCNR - 05 Dec 1941 - 07 Sep 1942

 


 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

ADAMS, George M.

M.M., RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

ALLEN, John H.

MM, RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

ANDERSON, James C.

Stwd, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

ASHMALL, Royden

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

BELANGER, Roger

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

BOUDREAU, John J.

LS, RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

CHAMPION, Charles

AB, RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

CHERPETA, John E.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

COOK, John F.

Lt, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

DILLABOUGH, Guy

L/Sto (M), RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

DUNCAN, William

OS LR3, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

FOWLER, George

Chief MM 2c, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

FRALIC, Owen W.

MM, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

GALLANT, Frank J.

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

HAMILTON, William

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

HARVIE, William A.

Cook, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

HENDERSON, Robert

Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

HOLMES, Arthur G.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

HOWE, Ernest F.

Sto 1c (M), RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 19422

HUGHES, John J.

LS ST, RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

LAFLAMME, Joseph 

O/Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

LUCAS, Henry B

AB A/SD, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

MARTINDALE, Ralph

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

MCCONNELL, Russell

SLt, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

MCDONALD, John H.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

MONKLEY, Harry F. 

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

MULLER, Howard J.

L/Sto, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

PARSONS, John G.

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

PAYNE, Albert J.

AB, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

PROWSE, Louis H.

Sto 2c, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

SHEFLIN, John E.

Supply Ass't, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

SMITH, John N.

LCdr, RCNR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

STEWART, Beverley

AB A/ST, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

SWEENEY, Michael

Tel, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

TAYLOR, Glenwood L.

OS, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

THOMAS, James E.

SLt, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

THOMAS, Percy J.

O/Sig, RCNVR

MPK - 07 Sep 1942

 

 

 

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Fowlow, Arthur, Ch/Skpr, RCNR - Jan 1941

 

MacMillan, Walter Angus, A/Mate, RCNR - Jan 1941

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

Article on the Yacht Halonia

 

The Toronto Star Sep 1942

HMCS RACCOON S14

Original source unknown

Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

HMCS RACCOON S14

DND/RCN photo Neg # 2784

Courtesy of Erling Baldorf

Newspaper article on the loss of HMCS RACCOON

Courtesy of Murt Howell

Her Guns Were Blazing As RACCOON Went Down

Newspaper Article from the Toronto Daily Star, 05 Oct 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell

Newspaper article on the finding of the body of Slt. Russell McConnell

Toronto Daily Star, 10 Oct 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell

These Toronto Sailors Are Reported Missing After Sub Attack On RACCOON

Toronto Daily Star, 15 Sep 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell

Casualty List Released As Patrol Boat Is Sunk

Toronto Daily Star, 15 Sep 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell


Newspaper article on the convoy battle in which HMCS RACCOON was lost

Toronto Daily Star, Sept. 15, 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell

RACCOON 8th Navy Loss For Dominion This War

Toronto Daily Star, 15 Sep 1942

Courtesy of Murt Howell

Newspaper article on LCdr John N. Smith, Commanding Officer of HMCS RACCOON when she was sunk

Toronto Daily Star, 16 Sep 1942

 

Courtesy of Murt Howell

Newspaper clipping of Michael Sweeney (on left in photo) who was lost on HMCS RACCOON and his brother Daniel who became a POW after the sinking of HMCS Athabaskan G07

 

Article on the loss of HMCS RACCOON and Casualty List

 

From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Denis Messier

Article on HMCS RACCOON Casualties

 

The Toronto Star sep 1942

Article on HMCS RACCOON Casualties

 


 

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