HMCS UGANDA

 

Crown Colony Class Light Cruiser

 

 

 

FIDEL PRAEDAEQUE

TENAX 

 

Courtesy of Eric Stapleton

HMCS Uganda

 

Laid down: 20 Jul 1939

Launched: 07 Aug 1941

Commissioned: 03 Jan 1943

Transferred to RCN: 21 Oct 1944

Commissioned: 21 Oct 1944 as HMCS Uganda

Paid off: 10 Jan 1947

Re-commissioned: 14 Jan 1952 as HMCS Quebec

Paid off: 13 Jun 1956

Fate: Scrapped at Osaka, Japan, in 1961

 

As HMS Uganda, she was completed 03 Jan 1943, at Vickers-Armstrong Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne. After working up with the Home Fleet she joined Plymouth Command in Apr 1943 for operations in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel, and in Jul 1943 joined the 15th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet, as part of Force "K." She was badly damaged by a German glider bomb on 13 Sep 1943, while supporting the Allied landing at Salerno, Italy, and arrived at Charleston, S.C., in November for a year of repair work.  Presented to the RCN, the ship was commissioned HMCS Uganda on 21 Oct 1944, at Charleston, and in Nov 1944 returned to the U.K. for further modifications. She left in Jan 1945, for the Pacific via the Suez Canal, to join the 4th Cruiser Squadron, British Pacific Fleet thus becoming the first ship of the RCN to transit the Suez Canal. In Apr 1945 she joined Task Force 57 in the Okinawa area, and was thereafter principally employed in screening the Fleet's aircraft carriers operating against Japanese airfields in the Ryukyu Islands. 

 

After the fall of Germany, while Uganda was involved in operations with the US Navy's Third Fleet that a directive came through from RCN Headquarters that Captain Mainguy poll the crew on whether they would volunteer for the Pacific War and eventually Operation Downfall, the codename for the invasion of the Home Islands. The crew of Uganda felt that they had volunteered for "hostilities only", (i.e., hostilities against Nazi Germany) but now found themselves fighting a different enemy in a quite different part of the world. On 7 May 1945, the vote was held onboard Uganda and 605 crew out of 907 refused to volunteer for continuing operations against Japan. The British Admiralty was furious and said it could not replace the ship until 27 July at the earliest. An embarrassed Royal Canadian Navy offered to replace Uganda with HMCS Prince Robert, an anti-aircraft flak ship that was being refitted in Vancouver.

 

Uganda remained on duty until relieved by HMS Argonaut. On 14 Jun 1945 she participated in the bombardment of Truk, and in Jul 1945 supported carriers operating against Tokyo. HMCS Uganda was detached from the US Navy's Third Fleet on 27 July 1945 when HMS Argonaut arrived. Uganda proceeded to Eniwetok, and then to Pearl Harbor for refuelling before heading for Esquimalt. En route to Pearl Harbor, one boiler suffered a liner collapse which would have resulted in the ship's withdrawal from active combat at any rate. Uganda limped into Pearl Harbor on 04 Aug 1945 but was not welcomed because of the resentment that her crew was "quitting" the war. Uganda departed after refuelling and proceeded for Esquimalt. En route to Canada, the crew heard news about the atomic bombs being dropped on Japan. They arrived in Esquimalt on 10 August 1945, the day that Japan announced its acceptance of the Instrument of Surrender.

 

Click here to view a summary of Uganda's deployment from her commissioning on 21 Oct 1944  till her arrival in Esquimalt on 10 Aug 1945 (from the collection of Charles Bourgeois)

 

On 05 Feb 1946, HMCS UGANDA sailed from Esquimalt for a South American cruise.  During that deployment she "rounded the Horn" west to east "under sail" and became the first ship of the RCN to do so.  She returned to Esquimalt transiting from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Panama Canal, arriving at Esquimalt on 17 May 1946.  UGANDA was paid off into refit on 10 Jan 1947 and on completion of refit she was re-commissioned as HMCS Quebec on 14 Jan 1952.

 

 

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

 

Shipboard Newspaper:  The UGANDA TAR PAPER - Feb-Aug 1945

 

 

A Lonely Ambassador - HMCS UGANDA and the War in the Pacific by Bill Rawling

 

Paved with Good Intentions: HMCS UGANDA, the Pacific War, and the Volunteer Issue

by Bill Rawling, Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence

 

Thesis - HMCS UGANDA: ‘Volunteers Only’ By Naval Cadet Malcolm A.P. Butler

 

Transcription of the wartime diary of Sto 1c Lawrence Brown, RCN during his time on HMCS UGANDA from joining ship in Halifax after commissioning until her arrival in Esquimalt

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Capt Edmond Rollo Mainguy, OBE, RCN - 21 Oct 1944 - 04 Jul 1946

 

Capt Kenneth (Ken) Frederick Adams, RCN - 05 Jul 1946 - 01 Aug 1947

 

 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

BRUZZESE, Anthony V.

AB, RCNVR

died - 31 Aug 1945

DUMONT, Joseph E.

PO, RCNR

died - 26 Jun 1945

PHILLIPS, Caswell I.

L/Sto, RCNVR

died - 02 Apr 1945

RORISON, Robert J.

Sto, RCN

MPK - 12 Jul 1945

STUART, George E.

L/Stwd, RCN

died - 11 Apr 1946

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

A

 

 

B

 

 

C

 

 

D

 

 

E

 

 

F

 

 

G

 

 

H

 

 

I

 

Iggulden, Andrew J.

 

 

 

 

 

 

J

 

 

K

 

 

L

 

 

M

 

 

N

 

 

O

 

 

P

 

 

R

 

 

S

 

 

T

 

 

V

 

 

W

 

 

Z

 

Zabrick, Demetro

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ship's Mascots

 

Cordite

Wartime Mascot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Barker, Kenneth, CPO - 1945

 

Barlor, Frank Ernest, Gnr (T), RCN - 08 May 1944 (Stand by)

 

Barnes, Garth, AB - 1945

 

Bedwell, George E. 

 

Bennett, Orval Walter, Ord Lt, RCN - 29 Jul 1946

 

Blackie, Arthur Robert, Wt (E), RCN - 30 Jun 1944

 

Bourassa, André, AB, Stwd, RCN - 1955

 

Brebner, Walter Bruce, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Jun 1944

 

Brigham, M.M., AB - 1945

 

Butler, Gerry 

 

Calderwood, John, PO

 

Caldwell, John Birch, A/LCdr (E) (WHA), RCN - 05 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

Chalu, Sidney Arthur Mowatt, Slt, RCN - 15 Jun 1946

 

Cockrane, Blain, Stwd - 1946 

 

Crombie, Kenneth Reeves, Slt, RCN - 01 Jul 1946

 

Docker, Thomas, Wt (E), RCN - 14 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

Dow, William, A/Gnr, RCN - 21 Jun 1946

 

Down, Albert Ernest Robert, Wt/Shpt, RCN - 19 May 1946

 

Elder, John B., LS - 1945

 

Evans, Leslie Murray, Wt (E), RCN - 22 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

Elliott, Herbert Lane, LCdr (E), RCNR - 28 Jun 1944

 

Feir, Ronald Allan

 

Fitzgerald, Michael John, Midshipman, RCN(R)

 

Gaynor, Beverley Emerson, A/LCdr (S), RCN - 15 Jun 1946

 

Giroux, Gordon, LS, Stwd, RCN - 1955

Goodyear, Stanley Charles, Wt (El), RCN - 08 May 1944 (Stand by)

 

Graham, Douglas Kenneth Moody, A/Cdr (S), RCN - 10 Jun 1946

 

Harley, Frank, A/LCdr (E), RCN - 05 Jul 1946

 

Hayman, Gordon, LS, Stwd - 1955

 

Hindle, Hamilton Francis, Wt (E), RCN - 30 Jun 1945

 

Johns, Leonard Raymond, Wt (E), RCN - 05 Jun 1946

 

Karagianis, Leslie, Lt (S), RCN - 1955

 

Keate, James Stuart, Lt (SB), RCNVR - 04 Feb 1945

 

Kuzma, Paul, AB - 1945

 

Littler, LCdr - 1944

 

Marks, John, AB, Stwd, RCN - 1955

 

McCandless, Henry Alexander, A/Paym/Cdr (WHA), RCN - 27 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

McDerby, Charles Leonard, Gnr, RCN - 05 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

McFayden, Edward Arnold, A/Gnr, RCN - 05 Jun 1946

 

Moir, Victor

 

Moore, W.C., AB - 1945 

 

Moses, Gerald Milne, Lt (SB), RCNVR - 07 Feb 1945

 

Parker, Charles Rodger, Lt, RCNVR - 1944

 

Quinn, Howard Lee, LCdr, RCN - 31 May 1946

 

Rafter, John, CPO - 1945

 

Ramsey, Ales, LS, A-6208

Renvik, John, PO ERA 

 

Sinclair, Peter H., Cdr (S), RCN - 1955

 

Spergel, Gordon Dean, P/A/Ord Slt, RCN - 29 Jul 1946

 

Stewart, George Charles, Lt (E), RCN - 10 Jul 1946

 

Stewart, John Marshall (Marsh), Lt (P), RCN - 28 Jun 1946

 

Stewart, Thomas, Ch/Sto - 1945 (of Victoria, BC)

 

Sturgeon, Clarence Alfred, Cd (G), RCN - 05 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

Svenningson, Freeman, Lt (E), RCNVR - 25 Jun 1944

 

Tanbling, S.A., Stoker - 1945

 

Taylor, Harry Ernest,, Lt, RCN - 27 Jul 1945

 

Taylor, J.L., AB - 1945

 

Titsign, E., Stoker - 1945

 

Torrie, Arthur Bruce, Slt, RCN - 01 Jul 1946

 

Toye, John McCardle, Lt (El) (R), RCNVR - 29 Jul 1944

 

Tuttle, Ernest - 1946

 

Veerge, George Howard, Wt/Ord, RCN - 05 Jun 1944 (Stand by)

 

Warren, Reginald, AB, Stwd, RCN - 1955

 

White, Richard Paul, LCdr (T), RCNVR - 05 Jun 194 (Stand by)

 

Williamson, Charles - 1946

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS Uganda

Courtesy of Gordon Howard

HMCS Uganda's badge and motto

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Newspaper article on the transfer HMCS UGANDA to the RCN from the RN

From the World War II collection of John Acorn

Courtesy of Barry Acorn

Newspaper article on the transfer HMCS UGANDA to the RCN from the RN

From the World War II collection of John Acorn

Courtesy of Barry Acorn

Robert Gordon Browne's Crossing the Line (Equator) Certificate on HMCS Uganda 25 Feb 1945

From the collection of Robert Browne

Courtesy of Daniel Browne

LS Alex Ramsey, A-6208, served on HMCS Uganda during WWII.

Courtesy of Don Ramsey

The gundeck of HMCS Uganda after shelling Miyakojima in May, 1945. The ship in the distance is HMNZS Gambia.

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum:  Image # VR2014.1.1

Officers from HMCS Uganda visit El Alamein

In photo - Lt Eric Makovski, Instr Lt E. Smeathers and Capt H. Hollister

Crow's Nest newspaper - May 1945

Crossing the Equator on HMCS Uganda

Crow's Nest newspaper - May 1945

Bombardment by HMCS Uganda off Sukuma Airfield on Miyako Jima

Source: Library and Archives Canada, ref PA-136073

Petty Officer Engine Room Artificer John Renvik, HMCS Uganda, Jun 1945

Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-179624

Sailors from Medicine Hat, Alberta, serving aboard HMCS Uganda, Jun 1945

(L-R): AB J.L. Taylor, W.C. Moore, M.M. Brigham, Stokers E. Titsing, S.A. Tanbling

Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-188863

AB Garth Barnes and Paul Kuzma relaxing during a lull in action stations aboard the cruiser HMCS Uganda in the Pacific Ocean, 18 May 1945

Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-140832

Gun crew of HMCS Uganda setting fuses on 6" shells prior to bombardment of Truk 23 June 1945

Source: Lt Gerald Milne Moses / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-114920

HMCS Uganda

Source: Obituary for Kenneth Grant Stewart

HMCS Uganda

From the photo collection of the late Sid Mowat

Courtesy of Rod Holt

HMCS Uganda

Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe

HMCS Uganda - Stoker Phillips Burial at Sea 1945

Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-132982

Aboard HMCS Uganda in the Pacific

 

CPO Kenneth Barker, Lt Eric Makovski, LS John B. Elder and CPO John Rafter

 

Crow's Nest newspaper - Aug 1945

HMCS Uganda - Esquimalt, 1945

From the collection of Hugh A. Benson

Courtesy of Doug Benson

 

Summary of Uganda's voyage from her commissioning in Charleston to her arrival in Esquimalt on 10 Aug 1945.

From the collection of Charles Bourgeois

Courtesy of John Bourgeois

 

HMCS UNGANDA arrives in Esquimalt after service in the Pacific

 

From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR

 

Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor

 

HMCS Uganda - Esquimalt, 1945

From the collection of Kenneth Marlatt, HMCS Hespeler

Courtesy of Judy Agis

WRENs on HMCS Uganda, 30 Aug 1945

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

PO's Mess, HMCS Uganda - PO Larry Restall serving

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda in Esquimalt - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda in San Diego - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

PO Larry Restall (left) and friend at the San Diego Zoo - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Share Patrol in San Diego - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

PO Larry Restall (right) and friend in Tijuana, Mexico - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda, Magdalena Bay, Mexico - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

PO Larry Restall, Magdalena Bay, Mexico - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda joins HMCS Warrior and HMCS Crescent of Acapulco Bay

Halifax Mail, Wed. 27 Nov 1946

Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

Newspaper article on crew of Uganda assisting locals in the village of Bahia, Magdelina Bay, Mexico, 1946

 

Crew mentioned in article: Chaplain (R.C.) J.H. Laporte, RCN; Surgeon-Commander J. Blair MacLean, RCN; Capt. E.B. Hooks (Dentist), C.D.C.(N); Surgeon-Lt F.C. Johns, RCN; L/S.B.A. Frank Oliver, RCN

 

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda's padre performing Baptisms/Christenings at Bahia, Magdelina Bay, Mexico, 1946

He was the first priest to visit the village in 11 years

 From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda's ship's dentist examining the local villagers at Bahia, Magdelina Bay, Mexico, 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Crossing the Line (Equator) on HMCS Uganda during her trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Crossing the Line (Equator) on HMCS Uganda during her trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

King Neptune's Men

Crossing the Line (Equator) on HMCS Uganda during her trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda at anchor of Peru - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

PO Larry Restall standing by a train in Perua steam locomotive in Peru.

The train ran up the mountains using a series of switchbacks. At the end of the day they still had not got to the top, so they returned to their starting point. PO Restall had hoped to get up to Machu Pichu.

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Petting a Llama, Peru, 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Newspaper article on Uganda's visit to Talara, Peru and then Callao, Peru

The Halifax Mail 01 Mar 1946

Research by / Courtesy of George Newbury

HMCS Uganda arriving at Valparaiso, Chile

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda Libertymen, Valparaiso, Chile

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Some of the crew of HMCS Uganda

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda rounding Cape Horn "under sail", 1946

From the photo collection of Eric Stapleton

HMCS Uganda rounding Cape Horn "under sail", 1946

"It may not look rough, but the swells were so large that when the ship's whaler went in a trough it could not see the ship"

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Charles Williamson onboard HMCS Uganda rounding the Horn in 1946

Courtesy of Dale Welta

HMCS Uganda rounding Cape Horn "under sail", 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Falkland Islands - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Penguins on the Falkland Islands - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Crew member of HMCS Uganda at an event on the Falkland Islands - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda entering harbour - possibly Montevideo

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

 

 

 

The crew of the Uganda collection artifacts from the wreck of the Admiral Graf Spee, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

 

Webmaster's note: If anyone knows of a sailor who was one of many who collected artifacts from the Graf Spee or you can identify anyone in this photo, please seen me an EMAIL.  I would like to hear the stories behind this expedition.

 

        

 

These artifacts were collected from the Admiral Graf Spee when some of Uganda's crew went aboard her.  In the photo of the Uganda sailors on the Graf Spee, the Petty Officer in the top right of the photo is the one who collected these items.  It is regretted that the name of the Petty Officer is no longer remembered.

Courtesy of George Cruikshank

 

A piece of the pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee

From the collection of Tom Elstone

Courtesy of Rick Elstone

A few of Uganda's crew talking to a local in Montevideo - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Montevideo - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

A few of HMCS Uganda's crew, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1946 - PO Larry Restall on the left

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda at sea en route to Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda at sea en route to Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda entering Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda entering Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Surgar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Church service on HMCS Uganda - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda alongside in Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Parade / Ceremony, Rio de Janeiro - 1946

 

       

 

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

A few sailors at the Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda alongside in Trinidad - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

Trinidad - 1946

From the collection of Larry Restall

Courtesy of Clayton Restall

HMCS Uganda at the old Ocean Dock, Prince Rupert, BC - circa 1946

Courtesy of John Gabel

     

 

Rodney Carson on HMCS Uganda 1945

From the collection of Rodney Carson

Courtesy of Chris Carson

 

AB21

AB22

AB23

(AB21) HMCS UGANDA in Esquimalt.  Crew milling about the upper decks.  Castle Class HMCS LEASIDE K492 is alongside UGANDA with and 2nd vessel pendent number ending in a "4" out board of her  (AB22) Unknown sailors in front of UGANDA'S "A" turret  (AB23) Looking down from the bridge of HMCS UGANDA in Esquimalt.  On the left hand side of the photo, the Castle Class Corvette HMCS COPPER CLIFF K495 is alongside other Castle Class Corvettes.  The "5" in her pendent number visible

 

From the collection of Sto 1c Art Bell, RCNVR

 

Photos courtesy of Art's son Andrew, daughter-in-law Rita Giulietti and daughter Janet Bell Crawford

 

Fo'c's'le of HMCS Uganda circa 1945

From the collection of Rodney Carson

Courtesy of Chris Carson

Valley Sailor on the Uganda

The Picton Gazette 13 Feb 1946

Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection

Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016

HMCS Uganda in San Francisco - date unknown

From the collection of Robert Gordon Coleman

Courtesy of Sue Horsley

 

HMCS Uganda in the government dry dock in Esquimalt, BC - 1948

From the collection of Tom Smith, C2ET, RCN

Signatures of Uganda crew members

From the collection of Dale Pollard

 

 

 

 

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