HMCS RIBBLE K525

 

River Class Frigate

 

 

 

HMS RIBBLE K525

 

Source: IWM Ministry of Defence Foxhill Collection of Ship Photograph FL 18051

 

 

Laid down: 31 Dec 1942

Renamed: Jun 43

Launched: 10 Nov 1943

Transferred to the RCN: 24 Jul 1944

Commissioned: 24 Jul 1944

Paid off:  11 Jun 1945

Returned to the RN:  11 Jun 1945

Fate: Placed in reserve in 1945. Broken up at Blyth in 1957

 

Named for an English river, she was laid down as HMS DUDDON. Renamed HMS RIBBLE in Jun 1943, she was transferred to the RCN and commissioned on 24 Jul 1944 as HMCS RIBBLE at Blyth, U.K. After workups at Tobermory she arrived at Londonderry on 04 Sep 1944 to join the newly formed EG 26 the following month. She spent her whole career with this group, based much of the time at Portsmouth and Plymouth, and from 07-09 Oct 1944, towed the damaged HMCS CHEBOGUE toward Swansea, Wales. On 18 Dec 1944 RIBBLE and MONTREAL rescued 44 of 53 crewmembers of U-1209 ( OLtzS Ewald Hülsenbeck CO) in the Channel off Scilly Isles, 49-57N, 005-47W, after hitting Wolf Rock. Both frigates claimed their attacks were cause, but this was dismissed by Admiralty findings. Montreal and RIBBLE were members of Escort Group 26. They had attacked several asdic contacts but these produced no results and the contacts were classified as wrecks, of which there were many in the area. When the survivors were found and recovered a short time later the two ships were quick to claim that their attacks were the cause of a sinking. U-1209 had been scuttled after hitting Wolf Rock after her successful efforts to evade her pursuers. OLtzS Hülsenbeck was among those lost. RIBBLE was paid off at Sheerness on 11 Jun 1945, and returned to the RN. After 12 years in reserve at Harwich, she arrived at Hughes Bolckow, Blyth on 09 Jul 1957 and was broken up that year.

 

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

 

Frigate Days - My time on HMCS RIBBLE - by Cullis Lancaster, Navigating Officer, HMCS RIBBLE

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr Allan Brown Taylor, RCNR - 24 Jul 1944 - 20 Nov 1944

 

A/LCdr Aubrey Alvin Randle Dykes, RCNR - 21 Nov 1944 - 11 Jun 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Bertrand, Joseph Paul, A/Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jun 1944 / A/Lt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

Brockwell, Edward Warren, Lt, RCNVR - 13 May 1944  / Lt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

Crepault, Joseph Alexander Raymond, Lt, RCNVR - 05 Feb 1945

 

Davis, Vern, Stoker

 

Dickie, Edward Dudley, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 30 Jun 1944 / Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

Denyer, Horace Vincent, Lt (E), RCNVR - 07 Mar 1944 / Lt (E), RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

Germaniuk, Peter (Gery)   

 

Grist, George, Stoker

 

Holland, Harry Brehaur, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1944 / Lt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

Taylor, Allen Brown, A/LCdr, RCNR - 14 Mar 1944

 

Watson, Robert Ward, Lt, RCNVR - 30 Jun 1944 / Lt, RCNVR - 24 Jul 1944

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS RIBBLE K525

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

The commissioning of HMCS RIBBLE K525, South Shields, River Tyne, England, 1944.

 

"The still is being piped and the White Ensign being raised for the first time on HMCS RIBBLE"

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

The commissioning of HMCS RIBBLE K525, South Shields, River Tyne, England, 1944.

 

"The ship's company is fallen in for the commissioning ceremony.  The officers are saluting as the White Ensign is being raised for the  first time on HMCS RIBBLE"

 

Ch Sto PO E.W. Clark directly behind the Lieutenant that is furthest to the right

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

HMCS RIBBLE K525 rescuing survivors from U-1209

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

German sailor, from U-1209,who would not allow himself to be rescued is being prepared for burial at sea on HMCS RIBBLE

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

 

 

Burial at sea on board HMCS RIBBLE K525

 

The dead from U-1209 are being buried at sea.

 

Photographs courtesy of Dave Clark

 

Committal service for U-1209 casualty on HMCS RIBBLE

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

POWs peeling potatoes on HMCS RIBBLE

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

Cartoon drawn by a crew member of HMCS RIBBLE K525.  Gregory was the smallest man onboard the ship.

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

Stokers: top row, left to right- George Grist, Cassidy, unidentified ERA with hat

 

Bottom row: John Earl Smythe of Edmonton, Bill Crawford, Vern Davis of Edmonton.

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

Stokers: Vern Davis and John E. Smythe, both of Edmonton, AB.

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

Unidentified stoker, HMCS RIBBLE

 

From the collection of John Smythe

Courtesy of Ron Smythe

Sailors in a mess deck on HMCS RIBBLE

 

Bill Crawford on far left indicated by an arrow

 

From the collection of Bill Crawford

 

Courtesy of Michelle Crawford

 

 

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