HMCS STRATFORD J310

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 

 

HMCS STRATFORD J310

click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1942-44, Gulf of St. Lawrence 1942, 1944

 

 

Laid down: 29 Oct 1941

Launched: 14 Feb 1942

Commissioned: 29 Aug 1942

Paid off: 04 Jan 1946

Fate: Sold for scrap

 

Commissioned at Toronto on 29 Aug 1942, STRATFORD arrived at Halifax on 22 Sep 1942 and was assigned to Newfoundland Force. She remained with this force as a convoy escort throughout her wartime career, and saw continuous service. She did not require a major refit until Dec 1944, when this was done at Dartmouth, N.S. On its completion she carried out workups in Bermuda from 15 Feb to 08 Mar 1945. Returning from Bermuda, she was involved in a collision with HMCS OTTAWA in the Halifax approaches on 11 Mar 1945, receiving extensive damage to her fo'c's'le. Though inactive thereafter, she was not paid off until 04 Jan 1946, and was then sold for scrap.

 

 

Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt R.M. Meredith, RCNR - 29 Aug 1942 - 30 Oct 1942

Lt R.J.C. Pringle, RCNVR - 31 Oct 1942 - 03 May 1943

Lt William Grant Garden, RCNVR - 04 May 1943 - 04 Aug 1943

Lt D.W.G. Storey, RCNVR - 05 Aug 1943 - 20 Dec 1943

Lt H.A. Ovenden, RCNR - 21 Dec 1943 - 21 Jun 1944

Lt Robert George Magnusson, RCNVR - 21 Jun 1944 - 01 Apr 1945

Lt Jean Paul Charbonneau, RCNVR - 02 Apr 1945 - 25 Apr 1945

Lt James Manley Scott Clark, RCNVR - 26 Apr 1945 - 13 Jun 1945

S/Lt Gordon Gray Currie, RCNVR - 04 Oct 1945 - 04 Jan 1946

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Bruce, Reginald Maxwell, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1944

 

Clark, James Manley Scott, Lt, RCNVR - 25 Apr 1945

 

Dewar, John Thomas, Lt, RCNVR - 13 May 1944

 

Douglas, Ralph Louis, Lt (E), RCNVR- 02 Jun 1945

Graham, Barry Roscoe, Lt (E), RCNVR - 22 Feb 1944

 

Jacobs, Robert Archibald, SLt, RCNVR - 28 Jan 1945

 

Mara, George Edward, A/Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

McCaffrey, Keith Allen, Lt (E), RCNVR - 30 Apr 1944

McLean, Ian Arthur Latimer, A/Lt, RCNVR - 11 Jul 1944

 

Meredith, Ralph Morton, Lt, RCNR - 15 Jun 1942 (Stand by) CO

 

Myler, Bertal Thomas, Cd (E), RCNR - 11 Apr 1943

 

Reynolds, Burton Cooke, Skpr, RCNR - Jan 1945

 

Wilson, William Hargen, AA, RCNVR

 

 

Photos taken between 27 Nov 1942 and 03 May 1943

 

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LK39

LK40

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(LK38-LK39) Unidentified Allied sub in Harbour, St. John's, Nfld - Winter 1942-43. Photos taken from HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK40) Aux. Minesweeper J0? - either SUDEROY IV or SUDEROY VI - at St. John's, Nfld. Winter 1942-43. Photo taken from HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK41) Unknown sailor on the bridge of HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK42) SLt Kennedy on the bridge of HMCS STRATFORD J310

 

LK43

LK44

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(LK43) Part of the crew of HMCS STRATFORD J310. SLt Kennedy, standing, far right

(LK44) Ship's mascot for HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK45) Lt R.J.C. Pringle, RCNVR (left) CO and SLt Kennedy (right) on the bridge of HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK46-LK47) Unknown officers on HMCS STRATFORD J310

 

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LK51

(LK48) Unknown officer on HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK49) SLt Kennedy on watch on HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK50) Lt R.J.C. Pringle, CO on the bridge of HMCS STRATFORD J310

(LK51) Unknown RCNR SLt on the bridge of HMCS STRATFORD J310

 

From the collection of LCdr Lionel Kennedy, RCN

 

Courtesy of Barbara Holliday

 

 

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(AC09) White Ensign off HMCS STRATFORD J310

(AC10) Alex Cruickshank, sporting a beard, onboard HMCS STRATFORD

(AC11) Alex Cruickshank on duty as Quartermaster, standing on the quarterdeck / sweepdeck of HMCS STRATFORD J310

(AC12) Alex Cruickshank onboard HMCS STRATFORD J310 at sea

(AC13) HMCS STRATFORD J310 detonating a mine

 

AC14

(AC14) HMCS STRATFORD Christmas card

From the collection of Alexander Cruickshank, LS SD, RCNVR

Courtesy of Ron Cruickshank

 

 

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