Fairmile ML Q072 - For Posterity's Sake

Q072

Fairmile Motor Launch

From the collection of John Joynt

Fairmile ML Q072 encountering her first storm en route to Toronto, November 1941

Source: From the collection of John Joynt

Courtesy of Kevin Joynt

Laid down: May 1941

Launched: 12 Nov 1941

Delivered to the RCN: 24 Nov 1941

Removed from service: 17 July 1945

Fate: Sold after the war. Final disposition unknown

Built by Grew Boats Ltd., Penetanguishene, Ont., she was delivered to the RCN on 24 Nov 1941. While she flew the White Ensign, she was not commissioned into the RCN but instead was listed as a tender to HMCS SAMBRO, the depot ship for escorts (tenders were not commissioned vessels). In Apr 1944 and Mar 1945, Q072 was listed as part of the 73rd Ml Flotilla. In Oct 1944 had an explosion in her engine room. She was repaired and then later sold in 1945 to Acme Boat and Salvage Company, New York, USA.

Photos and Documents Crew photos The Ship's Bell

Three ML Q072 videos on Youtube: (1) ML Q072 (2) ML Q072 (3) ML Q072

Commanding Officers

Lt H.F. Newell, RCNVR - 22 Nov 1941 - ?? Dec 1941

Lt Claude Lane Campbell, RCNVR - 01 Apr 1942 - 18 Jun 1942

Lt Douglas Stevens Howard, RCNVR - 19 Jun 1942 - 30 Apr 1943

Lt Edward Gilbert Jarvis, RCNVR - 18 May 1943 - 18 Nov 1943

Lt J.A. Davis, RCNVR - 14 Dec 1943 - 23 Apr 1944

Lt Francis Amyot, RCNVR - 24 Apr 1944 - 16 Mar 1945

Lt Angus Moore Colfax Kenning, RCNVR - 17 Mar 1945 - 05 Sep 1945

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Ashmore, George A.

Former Crew Members

(CC) = First Crew / (DC) = Paying off crew

Adourian, Paul, LS, Cook

Akin, J.R., Lieut.

Andony, George, AB, W/T (DC)

Barrett, Harry, AB, R.D.F.

Beasley, PO, M. Mec.

Beaver, G., LS, M. Mec. (CC)

Bingham, PO, Cox’n

Black, SLT

Boyd, Clifford, OS (CC)

Brodie, C., LS, Cox’n

Campbell, Creg L., Lt, RCNVR - 01 Apr 1942

Cant, James, OS, M. Mec. (CC)

Chiz, Mike, LS, Cox’n (DC)

Clark, Frank, AB, Gunner (DC)

Clark, J., LS, M. Mec. (CC)

Clay, Charles (Keith), AB, W/T

Clift, Jack, PO, M. Mec. (DC)

Coons, Arnold, AB, ASDIC

Cowper, Reginald, PO, M. Mec. (DC)

Craig, SLT, 1st Lt.

Craik, Thomas, LS, M. Mec. (DC)

Davis, J.A., Lt

Dawdy, Wilfred, Chief PO, M. Mec. (DC)

Dodds, John, SLT, RCNVR - 25 Apr 1945 (DC)

Downes, John, AB, Gunner

Eldershaw, R., OS, M. Mec.

Fraser, Austin, Cook (CC)

Fryer, F., LS, Cox’n

Gibbons, R.N.

Gillis, J.H.L., Lt, 1st Lt.

Graham, John William Robert, SLT, RCNVR, 1st Lt - 19 Jun 1942

Granda, John F., OS, Gunner (CC)

Hanson, Robert, LS, M. Mec. (DC)

Hardy, Alton, AB, R.D.F. (DC)

Hilts, Harry, AB, Signalman

Holloway, C.J., SLT, 1st Lt.

Howard, D.S., Lt

Hoyt, Howard, Cook (DC)

Isles, Chuck, AB, W/T

Jarvis, E.G., Lt

Kenning, Angus M.C., Lt (DC)

Kirkpatrick, Leaford, OS, M. Mec. (CC)

Leith, Ken E., AB, Gunner (DC)

Leroux, Jack, AB, Signalman (DC)

Lilly, R., OS, M. Mec.

Ludford, John, AB, Gunner

MacDonald, Hector, AB, Gunner

MacGregor, M.C., SLT, 3rd Officer

Macness, S., OS, Signalman

McEachern, Joseph, PO, Cox’n

Meriam, Ross, AB (CC)

Mullen, Tom, M. Mec. (DC)

Murphy, Joseph, OS (CC)

Nahirny, S., OS Tel.

Nelson, N., AB, Signalman

Newell, H.F., Lt (CC)

Osborne, James, LS, S.T. (CC)

Place, John, OS, ASDIC (CC)

Poulin, R., LS, M. Mec. (CC)

Quiring, F., AB, LR III

Rhodes, J.A., SLT, 1st Lt.

Sainbury, G., SLT, 1st Lt.

Sale, J.R., SLT, 1st Lt.

Scholes, K., AB, ASDIC

Sheardown, Terry, AB, Steward (DC)

Smith, Dave, OS, Gunner (DC)

Stewart, W., OS, R.D.F.

Stuart, J., AB, R.D.F.

Photos and Documents

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(JPJ001) Captain J.A. Heenan, RCNR, Captain of Motor Launches, May 1943 - January 1945. He is pictured here inspecting the 73rd Flotilla

(JPJ002) The forward Oerlikon on Q072

(JPJ003) The First Crew of ML Q072, Penetanguishene, Ont., 1941

(JPJ004) Looking aft on ML Q072. Note the two Oerlikon guns located amidships

(JPJ005) Looking aft on ML Q072

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(JPJ006) The wheelhouse - on the left, R. Cowper; on the right, J. McEachern. The sailor in the middle is unidentified

(JPJ007) ML Q072 and ML Q073 at Penetanguishene

(JPJ008) Two Subchasers Launched at Penetang // Page from the Free Press Herald, November 19, 1941

(JPJ009) ML Q072 and ML Q073 docked at Penetanguishene

(JPJ010) Crew members of ML Q072 // Left to Right - Back: R. Cowper, Unknown, H. Hilts // Front: J. Clift, A. Coons

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(JPJ011) Coxswain J. McEackern admiring the "Black Panther" logo on the funnel. The panther crushing a U-Boat was painted by Harry Barrett during the spring of 1944

(JPJ012) John Joynt on watch on the bridge of ML Q072

(JPJ013) A day on the town with Harry Hilts, Paul Adourian, Hecor MacDonald and Arnold Coons

(JPJ014) Reg Cowper plays hard to get with Joe McEackern in a hammock strung up in the band stands of the forward Oerlikon

(JPJ015) George Andony in the wheelhouse of ML Q072

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(JPJ016) J. McEachern and A. Coons on ML Q072

(JPJ017) Left to Right: Howard Hoyt, Jack Leroux and Frank Clark

(JPJ018) Jack Leroux on Q072's signal light with Johnny Downes looking on.

(JPJ019) Harry Hilts at his station on ML Q072

(JPJ020) Harry Hiltz and Harry Barrett painting ML Q072

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(JPJ021) Roy Hanson in shorts and socks after a night of cards

(JPJ022) Terry Sheardown posing for a photo

(JPJ023) Johnny Downes dancing a jig on the high seas

(JPJ024) Drawing - A direct hit on the cargo of explosives - the loss of the S.S. James Sprunt

(JPJ025) Crew of Q072 shortly before the "Alleged Enemy Action". // Left to Right - Back: H. MacDonald, A. Coons, R. Cowper, J. Joynt, unidentified, J. Downs // Front: R. Hanson, W. Dawdy, H. Barrett, P. Adourian, T. Sheardown

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(JPJ026) John Downes and Reg Cowper, 1944

(JPJ027) Chipping ice off ML Q072, winter 1943/44

(JPJ028) Harry Barrett and John Joynt (right) on watch or at play? Spring 1944

(JPJ029) John Leroux, Signalman on the wheelhouse of ML Q072

(JPJ030) John Joynt at his action station

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(JPJ031) Leading Seaman John Joynt and SLT John Dobbs on the bridge of ML Q072

(JPJ032) Arnold Coons and Roy Hanson

(JPJ033) Lieutenant Angus M.C. Kenning, RCNVR, Commanding Officer ML Q072, March 17, 1945 - September 5, 1945

(JPJ034) Crew members of ML Q072 late summer, 1944 // Left to Right- Front: F. Clark, T. Sheardown // Centre: J. McEachern, H. Hiltz, W. Dawdy, K. Clay, J. Joynt, M. Chiz // Back: L. Lazzari, R. Cowper

(JPJ035) Roy Hanson in the mess deck

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(JPJ036) V.E. Day on ML Q072 - "Splice the Mainbrace" // Left to Right - Back: LT A. Kenning, SLT J. Dobbs, J. Clift, J. Leroux, F. Clark, T. Sheardown, J. Joynt, T. Mullen // Front: K. Leith, H. Hoyt, D. Smith, L. Lazzari. R. Hanson, A. Hardy, R. Cowper, G. Andony, W. Dowdy

(JPJ037) Harry Barrett in the galley

(JPJ038) Lieutenant E.G. Jarvis M.I.D., Commanding Officer ML Q072, May 18, 1943 - November 18, 1943

(JPJ039) Lieutenant J.H.L. Gillis, 1st Lieut.

(JPJ040) Top to bottom: Len Lazzari, Ken Leith and George Andony - 1945