HMCS WASKESIU K330 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS WASKESIU K330

River Class Frigate

HMCS WASKESIU K330

Battle honours and awards: Atlantic 1943-45, Arctic 1944, Normandy 1944

Laid down: 02 May 1942

Launched: 03 Apr 1942

Commissioned: 16 Jun 1943

Paid off: 29 Jan 1946

Sold: 1947 to India

Re-named: Pilot Vessel Hooghley in 1950

Fate: Unknown

The first frigate completed on the west coast, WASKESIU was commissioned at Victoria on 16 Jun 1943, and left for Halifax on 08 Jul. She worked up in Bermuda the following month, returning to Halifax on 11 Sep 1943, and late in Oct 1943 left for Londonderry to join EG 5, re-numbered EG 6 on 21 Nov 1943. WASKESIU severed chiefly in U.K. waters, but early in 1944 supported Gibraltar and Sierra Leone convoys. On 24 Feb 1944, while escort to SC.153, she sank U 257, and in Apr 1944 made a trip to North Russia to bring back convoy RA.59. On 28 Apr 1944, WASKESIU , GROU K518, OUTREMONT K322 and CAPE BRETON K350 departed Kola Inlet with Convoy RA.59; arriving at Loch Ewe on 06 May 1944. She was present on D-Day. On 14 Sep 1944 she left 'Derry with ONF.253 for Canada, and soon after arriving began an extensive refit at Shelburne. On its completion in Mar 1945, she proceeded to Bermuda to work up, following which she sailed for Londonderry via Horta. She left 'Derry for Canada late in May 1945, proceeding to Esquimalt in Jun 1945 to commence tropicalization refit, but work suspended in Aug 1945 and she was paid off into reserve on 29 Jan 1946. She was sold to the Indian government in 1947 for conversion to a pilot vessel, and re-named Hooghly in 1950.

U-Boats Sunk: U-257 (Kptlt Heinz Rahe) sunk on 24 Feb 1944 by HMCS WASKESIU K330 in position 47-19 N, 26-00 W. Of her crew of 51, there were 19 survivors. U-257 was a VIIC type U-boat built by Vegesacker Werft, Vegesack, launched 19 Nov 41, commissioned 14 Jan 42, in service 25 months, with no record of sinking any ships, operated with the Wolfpacks in 1942 with the "Luchs" group (1-7 Oct) & attacked convoy HX 209, the "Falke" group (31 Dec-22 Jan 43). Some survivors were picked up by HMCS NENE.

RCN Memories: Life on a WW 2 Frigate

Photos and Documents Ship's Company Photos The Ship's Bell

An Extract from MS of White Ensign, Black Pit - By Gary McGregor, LL.B. George Devonshire's Diary and Comments - 1942 to 1945

Commanding Officers

LCdr John Hubert Smith MacDonald, RCNR - 16 Jun 1943 - 04 Feb 1944

LCdr James Philip Fraser, RCNR - 05 Feb 1944 - 13 Dec 1944

A/LCdr Lewis Denis Quick, RCNR - 14 Dec 1944 - 22 Oct 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Devonshire, George A.

Ship's Mascot

Former Crew Members

Agnew, Irving - 1943

Booth, William, AB from Windsor, ON. - 1944

Burns, William, Sto PO - 1944

Dunnam, Roderick, AB - 1944

Farmer, James, Lt, (MID for actions during battle with U-257 - "For good service in the destruction of an enemy submarine.")

Finch, Jack, Sto - 1945 (of Winnipeg, MB)

Fortune, M.G.T., PO - 1944 MID for actions during battle with U-257 - "For good service in the destruction of an enemy submarine.")

Extence, Alan Barr, Lt (E), RCNVR - 17 May 1944

Glennon, Bill - 1944 - 1946

Gordon, Arnold - 1944

Hartley, Bill - 1943

Hatch, Carr, Lt, RCNVR - 10 May 1943 (Commissioning crew)

Hodding, Aubrey Vyvyan, A/Wt (E), RCNR - 16 Jun 1943

Holms, John Edward Vandeleur, Lt, RCNVR - 16 Jun 1943

Irven, Leonard Manley, SLt, RCNVR - 03 Mar 1945

Klayh, Arnold B.

Lanigan, Clarence Hamilton, A/Lt, RCNVR - 01 Mar 1944

MacAulay, Beverley Francis, Lt (El), RCNVR - 28 Jun 1943

MacDonald, John Hubert Smith, LCdr, RCNR - 10 May 1943 (Commissioning crew)

MacFarlane, Robert Murray, A/Lt, RCNVR - 20 Feb 1945

Manson, Lt - 1944

McLeod, Lt - 1944

McPhee, Lt - 1944

Montgomery, Lt - 1944

Nares, George Peter, SLt, RCNVR - 10 May 1943 (Commissioning crew).

O'Brien, J.G. - 1944 (MID for actions during battle with U-257 - "For good service in the destruction of an enemy submarine.")

Paterson, Lt - 1944

Ravis, Don

Rennie, Fred, Lt - 1944

Rickard, John H., LS - 1944 (DSM for actions during battle with U-257)

Russell, John Leslie, Surg/Lt, RCNVR -30 Jun 1943

Saint Louis, Joseph Albert, A/Lt, RCNVR - 01 Feb 1945

Stanley, James D. (Jim), AB, ASDIC Operator

Stevenson (??Stephanson), Thomas, AB, Gunner during sinking of U-257 - 1944 (DSM for actions during battle with U-257)

Stoner, B.M., AB (DSM for actions during battle with U-257)

Taylor, Gord - 1944

Wall, Art, Gunner during sinking of U-257 - 1944

White, Arthur, AB, from South Lancaster, ON - 1944

Williams, William Edward, Lt, RCNR - 16 Jun 1943

Worsencroft, Ken, Sig - 1944

Photos and Documents

HMCS WASKESIU K330 Christmas Card

Courtesy of Dave Upright

HMCS WASKESIU K330

DND / RCN photo Negative # F835-R

HMCS WASKESIU K330

Source: flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

HMCS WASKESIU K330

Source: flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

HMCS WASKESIU K330

Source: flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

HMCS WASKESIU K330

Source: flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

Newspaper article from a Hamilton newspaper of HMCS WASKESIU sinking German sub

Courtesy of Doug Benson

Newspaper article on HMCS WASKESIU K330

LIEUT. JAMES FARMER, RCNVR, of Windsor, (left) well known rugby star, is one of the officers aboard WASKESIU. The Number One Oerlikon gun crew is pictured at the right. A.B. THOMAS STEPHENSON, Mount Dennis, is at the gun while his loader, standing behind, is A.B. WILLIAM BOOTH, of Windsor.

Note: Written on article "Seaman Herbert Parker is a member of crew"

Source: City of Kawartha Lakes Digital Archives

Oerlikon gun crew AB William Knox (left) and AB Arthur White

Courtesy of Gavan Knox

19 Germans Rescued after Sub Polished Off

Globe & Mail, 05 Apr 1944

Ottawa, April 4 (CP) - Nineteen days after leaving a fitting-out berth as the first Canadian frigate, HMCS WASKESIU -- pronounced Was-ka-sue -- recently destroyed a German U-boat involved in the north Atlantic and brought back nineteen survivors as evidence. If there were any "stars" in the grim game which the WASKESIU played and won they were the members of her No. 1 and No. 2 gun crews. Gunner on the No. 1 gun was AB Thomas Stevenson, Mount Dennis, Ont. His loader was AB William Booth, Windsor, Ont. On No. 2 gun were AB William Knox, Calgary and AB Arthur White, South Lancaster, Ont. (Transcription of article from the Globe & Mail)

Courtesy of Gavan Knox

Newspaper article on Herbert Parker, HMCS WASKESIU K330

Source: City of Kawartha Lakes Digital Archives

AD91

(AD91) HMCS WASKESIU K330 - possibly during trials as the ensign she is flying is not a White Ensign. RCN neg # HN390-R // edited / lightened copy of photo

From the collection of Allan Dougall, LCdr (E), RCN(R)

Courtesy of David Dougall

Newest mascot on board frigate HMCS WASKESIU - this is pert parakeet, a small tropical parrot - but the bird will get some "leave" first before fighting the Japs. So will its "boss," Stoker Jack Finch of Winnipeg, shown here as he prepared to leave ship after her recent arrival at a B.C. port for pre Pacific refit. Finch picked up the parakeet in Panama while the ship was making a 7,000 mile trip through the Canal from Halifax to the west coast. The sailor took the bird home with him but said he intends to bring it back. Finch is a pacific volunteer.

The Crow's Nest newspaper - Aug 1945