HMCS SMITHS FALLS K345

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS SMITHS FALLS K345

DND / RCN Photo

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Laid down: 21 Jan 1944

Launched: 19 Aug 1944

Commissioned: 28 Nov 1944

Paid off: 08 Jul 1945

Fate: Final disposition unknown

 

Commissioned at Kingston on 28 Nov 1944, she was the last RCN corvette to enter service. She arrived at Halifax late in Dec 1944 and remained there fitting out until 10 Feb 1945, then proceeded to Bermuda for work-ups. On her return SMITHS FALLS was assigned to EG C-2, Londonderry, and made her passage there as escort to convoy SC.171 early in Apr 1945, the first of three crossing before the end of hostilities. She left Londonderry early in Jun 1945 for the last time, and was paid off 08 Jul 1945 and placed in reserve at Sorel for disposal. Sold for conversion to a whale-catcher, she entered service in 1950 as the Honduran-flag Olympic Lightning, but was sold to Japanese owners in 1956 and renamed Otori Maru No. 16 then, Kyo Maru No. 23 from 1961 until 1978.

 


 

Photos and Documents          The Ship's Bell

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

A/LCdr Philip Taber Byers, RCNR - 28 Nov 1944 - 08 Jul 1945

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Anderson, Ainsley Thomas, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jan 1945

 

Millar, James Francis, SLt, RCNVR - 10 Feb 1945

 

Thomson, Robert Kidd, Skipper Lt, RCNR - 1944-1945

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS SMITHS FALLS during christening ceremony at Kingston Shipbuilding  on 19 Aug 1944

 

From the collection of Henry J. (Hank) Winsor, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Roger Litwiller

The launching of HMCS SMITHS FALLS at the Kingston Shipbuilding Company, 19 Aug 1944

 

Source: Maritime History of the Great Lakes Digital Archives

HMCS Smith Falls K345

 

Source: Bowling Green State University

Christening on HMCS SMITHS FALLS

Bonny Lynn Thomson, daughter of Lt and Mrs. Robert Thomson

Crow's Nest newspaper - Feb 1945

 


 

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