Q082

Fairmile Motor Launch

Built by Honey Harbour Nav. Co. Ltd., Midland, Ont., she was delivered to the RCN on 27 May 1942. 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). Q082 was a "B" Type ML, Length: 112 ft, Beam: 17.9 ft, Draft: 4.9 ft, Complement: 3 officers, 14 men, Armament: 3-20mm.

In Jan & Mar 1944, Q082 was listed as part of the 79th ML Flotilla. She was removed from service after having caught fire in 1944. 

From The Fairmiles - Canada's Little Ships - "After the war Q082 was sold to Stanley C. Alexander, Gaspe, Quebec. There is a photograph of HMCS MILLTOWN assisting HMC ML082 into a cradle at the Pictou, Nova Scotia, shipyard on page 76 of Minesweepers of the Royal Canadian Navy 1938-1945 by Ken Macpherson. HMC ML082 is flooded and about all that can be seen is her Monkey Island, the top of her wheelhouse. This is dated December 11th, 1942, and the source of this flooding would be interesting. HMC ML082 went on to serve another two years. She was the first Fairmile to terminate her naval career. Her last commanding officer was the first to leave on September 25th, 1944. Commander Fraser McKee told me in April, 2006, that HMC ML082 caught fire at Gaspe in 1944 and was sold as just a hull a couple of times after the war."

Photos and Documents

Commanding Officers

Lt Albert Bruton Strange, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1942 - 04 Feb 1943

Lt John Franklin Stevens, RCNVR - 25 Aug 1943 - 09 Jan 1944

Lt John Franklin Stevens, RCNVR - 26 Jan 1944 - 25 Sep 1944

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

McPhail, Archibald B.

MM, RCNVR

killed - 07 Sep 1944

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

ML Q082, pushed ashore in a December storm, aground on Prince Edward Island, Dec 1942

The grounding on PEI was described as pitch dark, gale, blizzard conditions. The captain ordered a member of the crew up the mast to search for land. At first light some men climbed up the embankment and walked toward the nearest village. Turned out the people in the town shunned technology and there were no telephones to report the location of the ship and her crew. The men were well treated with hot food and blankets.

From the collection of James Norman Craik

Courtesy of Ross Craik