Q088

Fairmile Motor Launch

Built by Taylor and Sons, J.J., Toronto, Ont., she was delivered to the RCN on 05 Oct 1943. 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). Q088 was a "B" Type ML, Displacement: 79 tons, Length: 112 ft, Beam: 17.9 ft, Draught: 4.9 ft, Speed: 20 kts, Complement: 3 officers, 14 men, Armament: 3-20mm.

In Feb 1945, Q088 was listed as part of the 77th ML Flotilla.

From The Fairmiles - Canada's Little Ships "After the war Q088 was sold to W. F. Christie, Toronto and was renamed Eighty-Eight, Penetang Eighty-Eight, Midland Penetang Eighty-Eight and Olympia III.  The first commanding officer joined this one on 19 May 1943, and the last one left on 25 Jun 1945. Not only that, but the first commanding officer was a Lieutenant Commander and he was in command for most of her first six months in service. He is the highest rank, and the only one of that rank, to serve as commanding officer in these little ships, so she must have been a flotilla leader of some description or a senior training vessel."

From Nauticapedia: Sold September 1945 for $3,000. Re-named Eighty-Eight. Owner W.L. Christie, Christie St., Toronto. Sold and re-named various times - Penetang Eighty-Eight; Eight-Eighty (1954) Olympia III (1974). Reported burnt. (no records – possibly the ML seen beached and abandoned at Lachine QC)

Photos and Documents

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

BEECH, Walter H.

C.E.R.A. (M), RCNVR

died - 16 Apr 1945

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Barlow, Clement Vernon, SLt, RCNVR - 28 Jun 1943

Tidsbury, William Harold, Lt, RCNVR - 12 Feb 1945

Photos and Documents