HMCS TRANSCONA J271

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 

 

HMCS TRANSCONA J271

From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee

Courtesy of Ryan Lee

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Laid down: 18 Dec 1940

Launched: 26 Apr 1941

Commissioned: 25 Nov 1942

Paid off: 12 Jun 1945

Transferred to the RCMP Marine Division

Commissioned: 01 Sep 1945

Paid off: 1961

Fate: Sold for scrap in 1961

 

Built at Sorel and commissioned there on 25 Nov 1942, TRANSCONA was the last Bangor class minesweeper to join the RCN. She arrived at Halifax on 19 Dec 1942, having escorted HMCS Provider en route, and remained in shipyard hands there from 22 Dec 1942 to 06 Mar 1943, owing to engine defects. Following workups at Halifax, she was assigned in Apr 1943, to WLEF and, in June, to newly created EG W-2. In May 1944, she joined Halifax Force, remaining until Jun 1945, after which she performed various local tasks until she was paid off at Sydney on 12 Jun 1945. On 01 Sep 1945 TRANSCONA was transferred to the marine section of the RCMP and renamed French. She was sold for scrap at La Have, N.S, in 1961.

 

 

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

 

Remembering VE Day: Battling the enemy and a merciless sea

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt Harry Bush Tindale, RCNVR - 25 Nov 1942 - 17 Jan 1944

A/LCdr Albert Elliott Gough, RCNVR - 18 Jan 1944 - 06 Apr 1945

Lt John Newby Fraser, RCNVR - 03 May 1945 - 18 Aug 1945

Skpr/Lt Harris Vernon Mossman, RCNR - 19 May 1945 - 12 Jun 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

SC1 - Ship's Company photo c1942-1944

 

Ackerman, W., OS (SC1)
Anderson, A., L/HSD (SC1)

Baker, R., AB (SC1)

Ballem, G., AB, RDF (SC1)

Batt, H., AB, ST (SC1)

Brennan, J., Elect. (SC1)

Buckley, K., Coder (SC1)

Bunning, R., Sig (SC1)

Callett, G., OS (SC1)

Carron, J., AB, RDF (SC1)

Christie, H.A., Lt (SC1)

Clark, F., LS (SC1)

Clarke, L., Sto (SC1)

Cotter, G., OS, RDF (SC1)

Cox, D., Coder (SC1)

Crompton, J., Ck (SC1)

Ferguson, J., Tel (SC1)

Fitzgibbon, C., L/Sto (SC1)

Fraser, E., L/Sto (SC1)

Freeman, S., Tel (SC1)

Garrick, David, Lt, RCNVR - 21 May 1943

German, L., CPO, MM (SC1)

Goodall, George Graham, SLt, RCNVR - 23 May 1945

Gough, Jack 

Grant, Donald MacArthur, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Mar 1944

Gronelle, J., OS (SC1)

Gross, Robert Wallace, SLt, RCNVR - 25 May 1945

Hadley, G., AB, SD (SC1)

Hills, G., Sto (SC1)

Houston, J., Sig (SC1)

Johnston, C., Stwd (SC1)

Johnston, R., AB, ST (SC1)

Jordan, William James, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Feb 1945

Kidd, R., SA (SC1)

Kottemeir, S., PO, MM (SC1)

Lea, P., AB (SC1)

Leach, A., OS (SC1)

Lovett, W., OS (SC1)

MacKenzie, D.A., 1st Lt (SC1)

Mahoney, R.A., SLt (SC1)

Marsden, C., Sto (SC1)

McCarthy, R., Tel (SC1)

McFarland, S., LS, LTO (SC1)

McKay, B., OS, AA3 (SC1)

McSweyne, D., Stwd (SC1)

Moore, J., L/Sto (SC1)

Mott, D., Coder (SC1)

Murphy, F., OS (SC1)

Murphy, F., Stwd (SC1)

Pepper, F., Sto (SC1)

Ray, J., AB, AA3 (SC1)

Reid, W., OS (SC1)

Rich, T. OS, SD (SC1)

Robertson, W., PO, MM (SC1)

Rowe, W., CPO, MM (SC1)

Schlatter, J., Sto (SC1)

Seiling, E., Ck (SC1)

Shaw, W., Ck (SC1)

Simpson, Douglas, SLt (E), RCNVR - 27 Jul 1944

Skelly, Thomas Denis, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1944

Sommers, L.W., Wt Eng (SC1)

Stewart, A., Sig (SC1)

Stewart, J., Sto (SC1)

Thomas, F., PO, MM (SC1)

Tindale, H.B., Lt, C.O. (SC1)

Walsh, R., Sto (SC1)

Welch, SLt Arnold Philip, RCNVR - 04 Feb 1944

Whelan, Eldred, SLt, RCNVR - 28 Jun 1944

Whitman, W., L/Tel (SC1)

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

WM15

 

WM16

WM17

WM18

WM19

(WM15) HMCS TRANSCONA's gunshield art  (WM16) HMCS TRANSCONA's mascot "Skipper".  Born at sea 17 Nov 1943  (WM17) HMS GLASGOW - photo taken from HMCS TRANSCONA  (WM18) A/Lt, Alexander Bell, HMCS TRANSCONA  (WM19) Unidentified officer on HMCS TRANSCONA - believed to be A/LCdr Albert Elliott Gough

 

 

WM20

WM21

WM22

WM23

(WM20-WM21) Unidentified sailors on HMCS TRANSCONA's iced-up fo'c's'le  (WM22) HMCS TRANSCONA's iced-up fo'c's'le, just aft the breakwater  (WM23) Looking aft down port side of HMCS TRANSCONA.  Note the ice covered depth charge launcher

 

(WM24) Diagram of Flooding Arrangements - HMCS TRANSCONA

Drawn by William J. Miller

 

From the collection of Lt William J. Miller, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Heather Edwards

 

 

Calm after the storm- the refugee schooner Amanda was towed into calm Halifax harbor by the RCMP cutter French, ending a 3 week battle with the Atlantic. The ship left Gothenburg Sweden July 7th carrying 31 refugees. High winds and lashing rain tore away her sails and the Amanda was tossed' around by storms before rescue reached her. Canadian press photo August 23, 1949.

 

From the collection of Luc Normand

Courtesy of Luc Normand

 

 

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