HMCS ST CROIX 256 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS ST CROIX 256

Restigouche Class Destroyer

HMCS ST CROIX 256

DND Photo

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Battle honours and awards: Atlantic 1940-43

Laid down: 15 Oct 1954

Launched: 17 Nov 1957

Commissioned: 04 Oct 1958

Paid off: 15 Nov 1974

Fate: Sold to breakers in 1991

Built by Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel, ST CROIX was commissioned on 04 Oct 1958. In 1959, as a member of the 5th Canadian Destroyer Squadron, she served as escort to HMY BRITANNIA on a Royal visit to Canada and in Aug 1960, with Terra Nova, helped mark the 500th Anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator off Lisbon. In Apr 1963, 12 RCN ships, ALGONQUIN, MICMAC, CAYUGA, ST CROIX, TERRA NOVA, KOOTENAY, SWANSEA, LA HULLOISE, BUCKINGHAM, CAPE SCOTT, CNAV BLUETHROAT and CNAV ST CHARLES, took part in NATO Exercise New Broom Eleven, an exercise designed to test convoy protection tactics (click here to see the newspaper article). ST CROIX was transferred to the west coast in Aug 1964. On 03 and 04 May 1966, HMCS ST CROIX took part in blast tests off the coast of Long Beach, California. These tests were conducted in order to study the effects of near-misses and help make design changes to prevent damage from such explosions. After the blast on 03 May, HMCS ST CROIX recovered fighting capability in 30 minutes. The blast on 04 May rendered her non-operational and she could not become fully operational without Dockyard assistance. During these tests the ship was fully manned. The impact from the 2nd explosion lifted men 12 inches off the deck; equipment fell from bulkheads and bulkheads were distorted. The only casualty resulted from a clock coming off the bulkhead and hitting a sailor on the hand, injuring his thumb. On 02-05 June 1967, ST CROIX had a port visit in Powell River, BC. From 05-07 June 1967 she visited Port Mellon, BC. She returned to Halifax in 1974, where she was paid off on 15 Nov 1974, into Category "C" Reserve. Her guns and propellers were removed and her machinery spaces made into classrooms for Fleet School trainees. She served in this capacity from 1984 to Sept 1990. In 1991 ST CROIX was sold to Jacobson Metal of Chesapeake, Va., and early in Apr 1992 left Halifax under tow to be broken up.

RCN Memories: Man Overboard!! The Poseidon Adventure

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell

Crossing the Line Ceremony - 1966

Commanding Officers

Cdr Kai Hugh Boggild, RCN - 04 Oct 1958 - 27 May 1959

Cdr William Selkirk Taylor McCully, RCN - 28 Mar 1959 - 13 Mar 1961

Cdr Thomas Edward Connors, RCN - 14 Mar 1961 - 22 Jul 1962

Cdr Donald Cameron Rutherford, RCN - 22 Jul 1962 - 30 May 1963

Cdr Donald MacKay MacLennan, RCN - 31 May 1963 - 04 May 1964

Cdr John Sumner Hertzberg, RCN - 04 May 1964 - 26 Jun 1966

LCdr S. Riddell, RCN - 27 Jun 1966 - 19 Sep 1966

Cdr J.I. Donald, RCN - 20 Sep 1966 - 18 Jul 1968

Cdr James Malcolm Cumming - 19 Jul 1968 - 25 Aug 1971

Cdr Richard L. Donaldson - 26 Aug 1971 - 01 Jul 1973 (note: 1)

Cdr Thomas Stanley Murphy - 02 Jul 1973 - 09 Sep 1974

Cdr P.E. Simard - 10 Sep 1974 - 15 Nov 1974

(note 1: Appointed as CO as a LCdr. Promoted to Cdr on 01 Oct 1972 with seniority 01 Jul 1972)

Captain for the day

Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.

Warren Nicholson - 1971

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Lest We Forget

WITHROW, Maurice S.

PO1, RCN

Lost at sea 17 May 1961

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Bassingthwaite, James

Campbell, Beverley G.

Colclough, Frederick J.

Coveney, Frank E. D.

Cumming, James M.

Cunningham, Norman A.

Ferguson, James Stirling

Fortier, Louis-Philippe

Kellerman, Wilfred H.J.

McLean, Gilbert B. N.

Rutherford, Donald C.

Van Duzee, Michael F.

Former Crew Members

C1 = crew list sometime during the period of 31 Aug 71 - 02 Jul 73 when LCDR R.C. Donaldson was CO

Click here to view the crew list

Alford, OS (C1)

Baker, K., P1 (C1)

Ballentyne, AB (C1)

Baron, AB (C1)

Barrette, AB (C1)

Bayne, Slt (C1)

Beauchamp, Slt (C1)

Berry, David

Bertram, OS (C1)

Berube, O/cdt (C1)

Bilodeau, Slt (C1)

Binney, MS (C1)

Boseh, OS (C1)

Brisson, AB (C1)

Brown, LS (C1)

Brumley, LS (C1)

Buchanan, LS (C1)

Burmeister, MS (C1)

Butlin, OS (C1)

Campbell, LS (C1)

Campbell, R., P2 (C1)

Cantin, AB (C1)

Carr, Rod - 1974

Casey, R., WO (C1)

Chapman, OS (C1)

Chenhauer, LS (C1)

Coleman, J., P2 (C1)

Cooper, D., Lt (C1)

Corbin, LS (C1)

Corneit, J.R., LCdr (C1)

Costintini, Slt (C1)

Cox, LS (C1)

Craig, D., P2 (C1)

Crawford, A., P1 (C1)

Cummings, S., P1 (C1)

Davis, J., P2 (C1)

Dean, OS (C1)

Dickson, Slt (C1)

Dickson, T., Lt (C1)

Doyle, S., C2 (C1)

Dumas, AB (C1)

Dunning, LS (C1)

Dunnovin, Ls (C1)

Dustin, LS (C1)

Eddy, OS (C1)

Edison, William G. H. (Bill), Able Seaman Electrician's Mate

Edwards, Slt (C1)

Emslie, R., P2 (C1)

Evans, David John - 1968-1970

Ewing, AB (C1)

Fenner, D., P2 (C1)

Fetterly, MS (C1)

Fisher, AB (C1)

Foster, M., P2 (C1)

Gadoury, OS (C1)

Gard, William (Bil) - 17 Nov 1969 - Summer 1971

Gautheir, OS (C1)

Germa, Jack, 31968H, RCN - Commissioning crew

Gigvere, AB (C1)

Gilbey, OS (C1)

Giroux, Rock, AB (C1) - 1974

Goodwin, MS (C1)

Gould, R., Slt (C1)

Greenfield, LS (C1)

Greig, W., P2 (C1)

Gunn, OS (C1)

Hall, A., C1, Cox'n (C1)

Hall, D., P1 (C1)

Hamilton, D., C2 (C1)

Handley, AB (C1)

Hansen, W., P1 (C1)

Hanson, OS (C1)

Harmon-Wood, LS (C1)

Hart, Slt (C1)

Harward, LS (C1)

Hayes, J., P2 (C1)

Hayes, M., P2 (C1)

Hearrison, D., P2 (C1)

Heide, MS (C1)

Henderson, AB (C1)

Hendshee, D., P1 (C1)

Hill, MS (C1)

Hillyer, LS (C1)

Hosking, MS (C1)

Howard, B., P1 (C1)

Howardson, LS (C1)

Hughes, Cyril

Hushagen, AB (C1)

Innes, Ls (C1)

Irvine, K., P1 (C1)

Irwin, R., P2 (C1)

Ives, R., P1 (C1)

Jameson, MS (C1)

Jeans, LS (C1)

John, OS (C1)

Johnson, D., P1 (C1)

Johnson, Pte (C1)

Jordan, LS (C1)

Kautz, P. G., LCdr (C1)

Kehler, Eric, LS (C1) - 1974

Kerrie, L (C1)

King, T. Michael, Able Seaman Boatswain

King, MS (C1)

Kinsey, Pte (C1)

Klemp, Pte (C1)

Knadle, D., P2 (C1)

La Fave, John 33169-H

LaFlamme, AB (C1)

Lane, T., C2 (C1)

Lavalle, P., P1 (C1)

Law, OS (C1)

Lemire, OS (C1)

Lesard, OS (C1)

L'Heureux, Peter, LS (C1) - 1974

Lilgedahl, AB (C1)

Linott, Slt (C1)

Little, J., Lt (C1)

Logan, Slt (C1)

MacLean, AB (C1)

Mailloux, OS (C1)

Mann, AB (C1)

Mayo, E., P2 (C1)

McAllister, J., P1 (C1)

McCallum, AB (C1)

McCambridge, OS (C1)

McDougall, LS (C1)

McGreen, AB (C1)

McIssac, LS (C1)

McLellan, R., P1 (C1)

McPherson, OS (C1)

Mitehall, AB (C1)

Nairne, Craig - Nov 1969 - unk

Oigon, AB (C1)

Orbell, LS (C1)

Ouellette, AB (C1)

Padley, LS (C1)

Palmer, T., P2 (C1)

Parent, R., C2 (C1)

Pearson, AB (C1)

Pelletier, OS (C1)

Peterson, P., P2 (C1)

Phillips, MS (C1)

Piché, OS (C1)

Pickles, D., C2 (C1)

Pike, D., Lt (C1)

Plewa, LS (C1)

Plumb, LS (C1)

Poland, AB (C1)

Portolesi, Slt (C1)

Powell, AB (C1)

Price, MS (C1)

Provenzano, OS (C1)

Quinnett, Cpl (C1)

Ramsey, AB (C1)

Ramsey, OS (C1)

Ramsey, P1 (C1)

Redient, AB (C1)

Redmond, J., Lt (C1)

Regan, P., C1 (C1)

Risdale, LS (C1)

Roberge, AB (C1)

Robertson, J., C2 (C1)

Rocheleau, AB (C1)

Rottier, Adelard Everett, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 06 Apr 1943

Rousseau, AB (C1)

Royle, AB (C1)

Rudhardt, K,. WO (C1)

Rye, LS (C1)

Schelke, AB (C1)

Schleen, Donald C.

Shaver, OS (C1)

Shaw, B., Lt (C1)

Shepherd, LS (C1)

Shewan, MS (C1)

Shields, J., P2 (C1)

Shumanski, W., P1 (C1)

Sidley, AB (C1)

Smiley, LS (C1)

Smith, AB (C1)

Stephenson, I., P2 (C1)

Strandburg, K., P2 (C1)

Stubbs, AB (C1)

Takasaki, AB (C1)

Teskey, AB (C1)

Therriault, AB (C1)

Thivierge, AB (C1)

Thomas, LS (C1)

Townsend, D., P1 (C1)

Trimboli, LS (C1)

Turner, AB (C1)

Turner, LS (C1)

Turner, Les

Urquhart, LS (C1)

VanCamp, AB (C1)

Waddell, LS (C1)

Waetzold, LS (C1)

Wainman, AB (C1)

Waite, OS (C1)

Wardell, Ken

Watson, Jack E., SN, RCN

Webster, LS (C1)

Weston, Pte (C1)

White, Slt (C1)

Williams, Brian L., LS (C1)

Wills, Al, FC - Jan 1970 - Sep 1970

Yaworski, LS (C1)

Photos and Documents

Welcome letter to the Commissioning of HMCS ST CROIX

From the collection of Alphonse J. Belisle, P1RP, RCN / C.A.F.

HMCS ST CROIX 256

DND Photo

Volleyball at sea on HMCS ST CROIX

Courtesy of Hugh Muir

Left to right: HMCS Cape Scott 101, HMCS Grilse 71, and HMS Acheron. Foreground: HMCS ST CROIX (left), HMCS Antigonish (right). Recife, Brazil, Feb 1966

Courtesy of Robert Berbeck