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HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
Algerine Class Minesweeper
Built at Port Arthur, Ont., she was commissioned there on 10 Sep 1943, ST BONIFACE arrived at Halifax late in Oct 1943, and worked up at Pictou from Nov to Dec 1943. She was then assigned as Senior Officer's ship to EG W-5 of Western Escort Force until mid-Apr 1944. She then transferred to W-4, again as S.O., until early Dec 1944 when, following minor repairs at Halifax, proceed to Bermuda to work up. Upon returning to Canada, she rejoined W-4 until the group was disbanded in Jun 1945. On 18 Apr 1945, ST BONIFACE was in collision with SS Empire Chamois in the Halifax approaches, as the freighter's convoy, SC.173, was forming up for passage to the U.K. ST BONIFACE suffered extensive damage to her bows, but made Halifax under her own power and was under repair there for three months. In Aug 1945, she became a training ship at HMCS CORNWALLIS until Jan 1946, when she was placed in reserve at Halifax. She was finally paid off on 25 Sep 1946, and sold for mercantile use. She was last noted under Panamanian flag as Bess Barry M. in 1954.
The wedding ceremony of Kathleen (Kitty) Keen and Russell Daniels, Stoker 1st Class, took place on board HMCS ST BONIFACE while the ship was at Port Arthur, Ontario
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
HMCS ST BONIFACE - Deck Log - 10 Sep 1943 - 06 Dec 1943
HMCS ST BONIFACE - Deck Log 14 - 22 Nov 1943
Engineering ratings on HMCS ST BONIFACE
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(JH01) Unknown officer on HMCS ST BONIFACE J331 (JH02) Lt (E) Carl Bartlett Britnell, Lt (E), RCNVR, HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 - 1944 (JH03) Unknown Wren and SLt James (Jim) Gordon MacLennan Hicks, RCNVR on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (JH04-JH05) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 From the collection of Lt James Hicks, RCNVR Courtesy of Ian Simpson
(PJ09) Paul James on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 just forward of the after gun mount (PJ10) USN Blimp searching for U-boats (PJ11) Paul James with shipmates on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (PJ12-PJ13) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 iced-up all the way to New York
* PJ11 - Click here to view the photo with sailors numbered for identification
(PJ14) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 conducting a stern fueling at sea (PJ15) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 Christmas card (PJ16) Frigate HMS GLENARM K258 approaching HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (PJ17) HMCS GALT K163 at St. John's, NFLD (PJ18) Unknown frigate alongside HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(PJ19-PJ23) Unknown sailor on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(PJ24) Shipmates Pete Dalphe and Jack Dyso (PJ25) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 jacket patch - based on the ship's badge (PJ26) Convoy escorts in line ahead - photo taken from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (PJ27) A foggy day at sea - with a ship barely visible, approaching HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (PJ28) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 bites into a wave in heavy seas
(PJ29) Paul James and shipmates on weekend R&R (PJ30) Stray dog that was on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 for a while (PJ31) Stoker Al Gardener on HMCS ST BONIFACE, Halifax, NS (PJ32) Stoker Paul James on HMS ST BONIFACE J332, Halifax, NS (PJ33) Stokers from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 on the jetty with HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 in the background
(PJ34-PJ37) Unknown sailors on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (PJ36) Eldon Robinson front right with only his head visible over the canvas wave dodger
(PJ38) HMCS VALLEYFIELD K329 - taken not long before she was torpedoed and sunk (PJ39) Tribal Class destroyer HMCS IROQUOIS G89 (PJ40) Damage of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 after her collision with the freighter SS EMPIRE CHAMOIS on 18 Apr 1945 in the Halifax approaches as the freighter was forming up for convoy SC173 (PJ41) Unknown sailor sitting on the damaged fo'c's'le of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(PJ42-PJ43) Troopship Ile De France in convoy (PJ44) Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) (PJ45) Anti-aircraft balloon - possibly somewhere in England
(PJ46) Volunteers for the Pacific Theatre before they go on leave
Webmaster's note: it is not known if these sailors are all from ST BONIFACE J332 or if the are from various ships
HMCS U-190 (former German U-boat U-190) arrives in Halifax Photos taken from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(PJ64) William Edward, son of SLt (E) and Mrs. Carl B. Britnell christened on ship From the collection of Paul James, Stoker, RCNVR Courtesy of Gary James
(WD153-WD154) Christening of William Edward, son of SLt and Mrs. Carl B. Brittnell aboard HMCS ST BONIFACE. Godparents Lt John De La Fosse Frewer, CO, HMCS ST BONIFACE and Mrs. H.F. Richardson, of Larder Lake, Ont.
From the collection of William (Bill) Dougall, LTO (LP), RCNVR
Courtesy of Grant Dougall
(AD20) Guests at the commissioning of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 10 Sep 1943 // Photographer Clarke Seaton, News Chronicle Publishing Company (AD21) Article on the Christening (Commissioning) of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(AD22) Ship's Company HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD23) Officers of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 These 2 photos are also found on the Ship's Company Photo page for HMCS ST BONIFACE
(AD24) Engine Room Ratings on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD25-AD26) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 at Port Arthur, Ontario 10 Sep 1943. Photographer Clarke Seaton, News Chronicle Publishing Company (AD27-AD28) HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 - location unknown
(AD29) LCdr J.J. Hodgkinson, C.O., HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD30) LCdr Hodgkinson, (left). Officer on the right unknown on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD31) Lt (E) Allan Dougall (left) and Surg-Lt William R. "Doc" Fraser on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD32) Surg-Lt William Fraser (left) and LCdr J. Hodgkinson (back, centre) on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD33) Lt Lawrence G. (Larry) Hampson on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332
(AD34) L-R: Lt Hugh Barton (Hughie) Young, Lt Lawrence (Larry) Hampson and Walter J. Barrett-Lennard on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD35) Lt Hughie Young on the bridge of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD36) Officers of HMCS ST BONIFACE on the bridge of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD37) ST BONIFACE officers ashore in the Latin Quarter, New York, NY - L-R: J. Hughes, J.J. Hodgkinson, H. Young, W.J. Barrett-Leonard, A.T. Dougall and R. Angus
(AD35) Port Oerlikon gun on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD36) Aft Oerlikon gun on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD37) Forward 4-inch gun, port and starboard Oerlikon mounts on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD38) A few sailors on HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 enjoying a bit of quiet time on the quarterdeck (AD39) Bridge and 4-inch gun of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 as seen from the crow's nest
(AD40) HMCS ST BONIFACE in the Dartmouth slips - May 1944 (AD41) Lt Allan Dougall extinguishing a fire in the ST BONIFACE'S funnel - photo between Apr-Nov 1944
AD42 (AD42) Click on the above image for the story behind the painting of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 From the collection of Allan Dougall, LCdr (E), RCN(R) Courtesy of David Dougall
HMCS ST BONIFACE 1994 Reunion
Madam Deputy Speaker, as the representative for the provincial constituency of ST BONIFACE, it is for me a singular honour to speak on the resolution that is before this House. In particular, I would like to make special mention to the veterans who will be celebrating this evening at the ST BONIFACE City Hall the 50th anniversary ship's reunion of the HMCS ST BONIFACE. Their valour and bravery brought glory not only to the country under whose flag they fought, but also to the city their ship's name so proudly bore. St. Boniface is a community rich in 175 years of history of western Canada. Their vessel and its crew stand as proud memorials to this history. (Excerpt from the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Thursday, June 2, 1994)
(AD43) Former crew members of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 (AD44) Former crew members of HMCS ST BONIFACE J332 with spouses
From the collection of Allan Dougall, LCdr (E), RCN(R) Courtesy of David Dougall
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
