HMCS WARRIOR

Colossus Class Aircraft Carrier

HAUL TOGETHER

HMCS WARRIOR

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Laid down: 12 Dec 1942

Launched: 20 May 1944

Commissioned: 02 Apr 1945

Paid off: 14 Mar 1946

Commissioned RCN: 14 Mar 1946

Paid off: 23 Mar 1948

Returned to RN: 23 Mar 1948

Commissioned RN: 23 Mar 1948

Paid off: 01 Feb 1958

Sold to Argentina: 04 Jul 1958

Commissioned in Argentine Navy: 08 Jul 1959

Paid off: 1970

Fate: Sold 17 Mar 1971 for scrap and broken up.

Built for the RN at Belfast, Ireland, she was commissioned at HMS WARRIOR on 02 Apr 1945. She was transferred to the RCN on 14 Mar 1946 and commissioned the same day as HMCS WARRIOR. Soon after it was found her heating system was insufficient to deal with the cold waters of the North Atlantic. WARRIOR was transferred to the West Coast until she was returned to the RN in exchange for a more suitable carrier - the MAGNIFICENT. In Feb 1948, she arrived at Belfast, where she transferred stores to MAGNIFICENT and, on 23 Mar 1948, was paid off by the RCN. She served in the RN until 1958, when she was sold to Argentina and on 08 Jul 1959 was commissioned as INDEPENDENCIA. She served until being paid off in 1970 and sold for scrap in 1971.

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

Commanding Officers

Capt. Frank Llewellyn Houghton, CBE, RCN - 24 Jan 1946 - 17 Jan 1947

Cmdre Henry George DeWolf, CBE, DSO, DSC, RCN - 18 Jan 1947 - 23 Mar 1948

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Lest We Forget

ALLEN, Frank G.

Chief Blacksmith, RCN

died - 03 Jun 1947

GAVEL, Clifford R.

Lt (P), RCN(R)

died - 31 Jan 1947

KINNEY, Glen E.

Stoker 2c, RCN

died - 16 Mar 1947

LAMBERT, James A.

Shipwright 1c, RCNR

died - 03 Jun 1947

LITTLE, Sheldon B.

Stoker 2c, RCN

died - 22 Dec 1946

For those in peril on the sea

MacDONALD, James W.

Steward, RCN

died - 04 Nov 1947

For those in peril on the sea

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Derbyshire, William S.

Farrell, William L.D.

Gamblin, Donald K. Sr

Karagianis, Leslie C.

Kellerman, Wilfred H.J.

Salsiccioli, Peter P.

Sommerville, Wilfred J.

Stiles, Russell A.

Sunderland, Albert E.

Westerbert, Arnold R.

Whelly, Joseph E.

Whitby, John P.

White, Omer

Williamson, Albert C.

Williamson, James W.

Wilson, Joseph F.

Zerbin, Helmut

Former Crew Members

Anderson, James Douglas, Lt (E), RCNVR - 16 Jun 1945 (Stand by)

Andrews, Alexander Witherspoon, Wt (E), RCN - 18 Jul 1945

Angle, Walter H., 5887-H

Angus, Daniel Burton, Inst/LCdr, RCN(R) - 17 Jul 1946

Barlow, William, AB, RCN - 1946

Bath, Ronald, Sig, RCNVR

Bird, Henry John Gibb (Dickie), LCdr (P), RCN (drafted to HMCS WARRIOR on 23 Jun 1947 as LCdr (P), RCN, 803 Sqn CO)

Boak, Eric Eversley, LCdr (N), RCN - 01 Jul 1946

Boudreau, Alphee Thomas, Inst/LCdr, RCN - 01 Apr 1947

Brock, Thomas (Tom) Carey (Badger), Lt (P), RCN(R) - 20 Jun 1946

Brown, Louis Adrian, LCdr (L), RCN - 15 May 1947

Cornish, Bob - 1950

Dyer, Kenneth (Ken) Lloyd, LCdr, RCN - 16 Jun 1945 (Stand by)

Fife, Thomas, A/Cdr (E), RCN - 12 May 1945 (Stand by)

Fisher, John Wellington, Cd (S), RCN - 01 Jul 1947

Fisher, Ralph Ervin, A/SLt, (L), RCN - 25 Jul 1946

Gill, David (Dave) Bertram, SLt (O), RCN(R) - 20 May 1945, 825 Sqn

Gray, James Charles, Surg/LCdr, RCN(R), 01 Jun 1946

Greene, Robert Mansfield, Lt (P&RT), RCN - 27 Jun 1947

Heath, Ron, Lt (P), RCN, 803 Sqn - 01 Jul 1947

Heenan, Neil Ignatiouis, A/SLt (L), RCN - 25 Jul 1946

Henry, Vincent, A/SLt, RCN - 06 Jun 1945

Horam, John Shaw, LCdr (E), RCN - 30 Jun 1946

Isaac, Henry (Hank) Wightman, Lt (L) (A/R), RCN(R) - 17 Apr 1946

Jamieson, Fraser Clarks, Lt (El) (R) (A/R), RCNVR - 01 Jul 1945

Johnson, James Harold, Lt (E), RCN - 16 Jun 1945 (Stand by)

Kings, Dennis (Denny), Wt (A/E), RCN(R) - 01 Jul 1947

Lane, John William, Bos'n, RCN - 29 May 1945 (Stand by)

Lavack, Robert (Robbie) Francis Joseph Ferdinand (Curt) (Kurt), Lt (P), RCN, 825 Sqn - 01 Jul 1947

Laws, Charles Vincent, A/Cdr (S), RCN - 31 May 1945 (Stand by)

Lawson, Thomas Duncan, Lt (S), RCN - 08 Jun 1947

Leighton, Charles Edmund Musgrave, A/SLt, RCN - 29 Mar 1947

Lewis, Kenneth Ewart, Lt (E), RCN - 23 Mar 1946

Little, Marcus Harvey, Surg/LCdr, RCN - 0 Jul 1946

McCallum, Colin, Lt, RCN - 22 Jun 1946

McKenzie, Kenneth David Fraser, A/Inst/Lt, RCN - 28 Jul 1947

Ross, Carl Webley, A/SLt (L), RCN - 25 Jul 1946

Murphy, Vincent John, Lt (P), RCN, 825 Sqn - 01 Jul 1947

Nairn, Leonard Jack, A/Cdr (S), RCN - 15 Jul 1946

Ollson, George Leroy, Lt, RCN - 03 Jun 1946, 833 Sqn

Padmore, Donald Gordon, Lt (G), RCN - 04 Jun 1945

Palmer, Frederick Cecil, Lt (L), RCN - 23 May 1946

Patton, Cyril (Cy) George, Lt (P), RCN, 825 Sqn - 01 Jul 1947

Peacock, Thomas Stewart Reid, Lt (D), RCN(R) - 03 Jul 1946 / A/LCdr (D), RCN - 10 Jun 1947

Pitcher, Ronald John, Wt/Shpt, RCN - 05 Jun 1945 (Stand by)

Riddell, Robert McMillen, Cd/Rad, RCN - 15 May 1946

Rogers, Albert John, Wt (L), RCN - 14 Jun 1947

Russell, Patrick (Pat) Francis Xavier, LCdr, (TAS) (D), RCN - 23 May 1947

Salsicciloi, Peter Paul, Wt (E), RCN - 31 Jul 1945

Slater, Frederick Gordon, Cd/Gnr (T), RCN - 24 Jul 1946

Tucker, John Bracken, Mid (S), RCN - 25 Jul 1946

Wade, Henry John, A/SLt, RCN - 29 Mar 1947

Wagener, Lawrence Ross, A/SLt (L), RCN - 25 Jul 1946

Walton, William James (Wally), Lt (P), RCN, 803 Sqn - 01 Jul 1947

Wilson, John Allan, Wt (El), RCN - 27 Jul 1946

Wiswell, Blanchard

Photos and Documents

The arrival of HMCS WARRIOR in Halifax - 31 Mar 1946

Courtesy of Hugh Muir

Murray Clapp Writes of R.N.A.S. in Ireland (article includes info on WARRIOR being built for the RCN)

The Picton Gazette 25 Jan 1946

Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection

Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016

WARRIOR in drydock - prior to being commissioned in the RCN

The Picton Gazette 01 Feb 1946

Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection

Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016

The commissioning of HMCS WARRIOR

Courtesy of John Knudsen

The commissioning of HMCS WARRIOR

Courtesy of John Knudsen

Ship's Guide for HMCS WARRIOR

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

Newspaper article on AB William Barlow serving in HMCS WARRIOR

Halifax Chronicle 05 Apr 1946

Research by / Courtesy of George Newbury

HMCS WARRIOR

RCN Photo - Neg # HS.1822-15

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

HMCS WARRIOR

RCN Photo - Neg # HS.1822-7

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

HMCS WARRIOR

From the collection of Wilfred Rafuse

These photos are from the collection of George Crewe when he served in HMCS WARRIOR from 1946 to 1947. None of the photos are identified but appear to be of HMCS WARRIOR's trip to Esquimalt via the Panama Canal. George Crewe appears in a few of the photos. They are displayed here in the same sequence they were in his photo album.

Row 3: (3) Electric trolley bus, Matilda's Corner, Jamaica (6 - 8) Panama Canal zone

Row 5: (1) RKO Radio Pictures, Culver City, Calif. (2) Earl Carroll Theatre, Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, Calif. (4) the Palladium, Hollywood, Calif. (5) the CBS building, Hollywood, Calif.

Photos courtesy of Catherine Crewe

HMCS WARRIOR entering Esquimalt harbour

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

Christmas on HMCS WARRIOR, Dec 1946

From the collection of George Crewe

Courtesy of Catherine Crewe

Webmaster's note: Children leave out milk and cookies. Sailors leave Santa a bottle of Three Feathers Whiskey

Union Jack that was flown from HMCS WARRIOR circa 1946-1947

This flag was one of George Crewe's rabbits when he left the WARRIOR, which he kept till he passed away in 2014. It has been donated to RCSCC WARRIOR in Edmonton and will be put on display at their unit as a way of linking the current WARRIOR, RCSCC WARRIOR to her predecessor.

Hands to Muster for grog - HMCS WARRIOR - 1946

Mr. Stirling, Cd Wt, Issuing Officer

From the collection of Jim Tyre

Courtesy of Dave Tyre

Ranging Aircraft on HMCS WARRIOR - 1946

From the collection of Jim Tyre

Courtesy of Dave Tyre

RCN Air Service, Fairey Firefly FR Mk 1, gets a wave off. HMCS WARRIOR - 1946

From the collection of Jim Tyre

Courtesy of Dave Tyre

HMCS WARRIOR pulls away from "A jetty, Esquimalt, BC

From the collection of LCdr Douglas John Ford

Courtesy of Jay Ford

Bob Cornish (right) with two shipmates in the West Indies circa 1950

From the collection of Bob Cornish

Courtesy of Gerald (Jerry) Sullivan

Fairey Firefly crash on HMCS WARRIOR

Source: Canadian War Museum George Metcalf Archival Collection CWM 19910238-690

Battle Honours HMS WARRIOR

From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Courtesy of Gerry Curry

Hangar deck of HMCS WARRIOR

From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Courtesy of Gerry Curry

Landing on HMCS WARRIOR

From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Courtesy of Gerry Curry

Flight deck of HMCS WARRIOR

From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Courtesy of Gerry Curry

ARA Independencia V-1 circa 1965

Source: Wikipedia

OM’s Course nineteen…

I'm thinking back to fifty-nine, Observer's Mates nineteen.

I hoped to wear those wings so fine, those wings you need not preen.

At any cost, with fingers crossed, I hoped to make the grade.

There’s something new to learn about, and flight pay; rightly paid.

A bunch of men from different trades, were gathered in the cinema,

And what's in store, would be no bore; but rather, an enigma.

So while we wait, contemplate our fate, we’re looking at the screen,

at Yankee planes that crash in flames, some faces turned quite-green.

I'm thinking it’s their likely ploy, for separating man from boy.

Some they'd lose, and some they’ll choose; those that they would employ.

As luck would have it, from force of habit, I answered honestly.

I hoped I’d passed, be accepted fast, to that great fraternity.

It seems I did, found myself amid, a class with eleven others,

My life it changed, was rearranged, when i joined that “Band of Brothers.”

I spout no guff, the course was tough, ‘twas not an easy road,

for me; when I found; I had to pound, that bloody Morse’s code.

I persevered, and even cheered, with those wings on my left cuff,

wore them with a pride I couldn’t hide, eventually sure enough,

at eight-eighty fixed wing, I did my thing, and then to “ H.S. fifty”

When I got my hand in, I got to land on, those bouncing seaborne aeries.

Author: Unknown

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

(1) Captain F.L. Houghton, with dignitaries in Mexico City, November 1946, for Inauguration of its President (2) 5 officers and 95 men flown to Mexico City to take part in the inauguration parade for the Mexican President - 1946. HMCS WARRIOR was anchored off Acapulco at the time (3) Article on crew from HMCS WARRIOR attending the Inauguration of Mexico's President

(1-2) Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan (3) Courtesy of George Newbury

HMCS UGANDA joins HMCS WARRIOR and HMCS CRESCNET of Acapulco Bay

Halifax Mail, Wed. 27 Nov 1946

Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

HMCS WARRIOR run aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway due to a steering gear problem in 1947. She was floated off with then next tide with the assistance of a tug.

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

HMCS WARRIOR fueling HMCS Nootka R96 during deployment to the Pacific Ocean in 1947

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

Sunday divisions on HMCS WARRIOR circa 1947

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

Sunday divisions on HMCS WARRIOR

Courtesy of Vern Olson

HMCS WARRIOR passing under the Lion's Gate Bridge 10 Mar 1947

Photographer: Jack Lindsay

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

HMCS WARRIOR with HMS Savage G20 in the background

From the collection of Larry Hartman

Courtesy of Ray Hartman

Donald Fraser Hunter on HMCS WARRIOR

From the collection of Donald Hunter

Courtesy of Jean Haverkate