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Q117
Fairmile
Motor
Launch
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Fairmile ML Q117 outboard ML Q118
Source: Flickr photo collection of Don Gorham
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Laid down: 21
Apr
1943
Launched: 06
Nov 1943
Delivered to the RCN: 16
Nov 1943
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Removed
from service: 03
Aug 1945
Transferred to RCMP Marine Division: 1945
Fate:
Sold in 1946. Final disposition unknown
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Built by Grew Boats Ltd.,
Penetanguishene, Ont.,
she was delivered to the RCN on 16 Nov 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).
In Jan 1944, Q117 was listed as part of the
82nd ML Flotilla. Transferred to
the RCMP in 1946, she was renamed Fort Steele. Never commissioned,
she was sold in 1946 and renamed Nakomis, later Supertrader, Polar Clipper.
Photos and Documents
Crew
photos
Commanding Officers
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SLt Edward Hamilton Gudewill,
RCNVR - 17 Dec 1943 - 25 Jan 1944
Lt Gerald Estabrooks Rising,
RCNVR - 26 Jan 1944 - 26 Dec 1944
Lt James Gilchrist Menzies,
RCNVR - 27 Dec 1944 - 13 Mar 1945 |
Lt William Joseph King, RCNVR - 14 Mar
1945 - 02 Apr 1945
Lt James Gilchrist Meznies,
RCNVR - 03 Mar 45 - 19 Jul 45 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
They shall not be
forgotten
Former Crew Members
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Bagshaw, William Edward - 1944-1945
Caya,
Jean Jacques, Slt, RCNVR - 05 Feb 1944
de Montigny, P. - 1944-1945
Hannam, T. - 1944-1945
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Hewitson,
Albert Gordon, Slt, RCNVR - 27 Jan 1944
John, W. - 1944-1945
MacLean, J. - 1944-1945
Murray, A., Cox'n - 1944-1945 |
Reece, R. - 1944-1945
Teague, E - 1944-1945
Ulrickson, O., CPO - 1944-1945 |
Photos and
Documents
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Engine room on Q117
.ML112 to ML129 were powered by 2 x 850 hp
Sterling Admiral gasoline engines
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Christmas on Q117 - Dec 1944
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton
Webmaster's comment: Not enough room to
swing a cat |
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Crew members of Q117
Christmas 1943
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton
Front Row: 2nd from left- unknown rating
"CO for the Day", 3rd from left - SLt Edward
Gudewill, CO
Back Row 1st on left: Allan Francis Nicholson (with hat pushed back) |
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Crew members of Q117
Christmas 1943
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton
Front Row: 1st on
left - Unknown rating - "CO for the Day", 2nd from
left - SLt Edward Gudewill, CO
Back Row 1st on left: Allan Francis Nicholson (with hat pushed back) |
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Crew members of Q117
Arthur Penelton sitting in front with shirt on
- remainder unknown
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Looking aft on Q117
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Looking aft on Q117
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Looking aft at Fairmiles in line ahead
formation. Note the smoke maker on the right of the photo
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Q117 laying a smoke screen
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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A wall of smoke
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Q117 launching a depth charge
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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Unknown sailor as QM on Q117
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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U-889 seen through a scuttle on Q117
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton |
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The surrender of U-889 - ML Q117 in the background. RCN photo. Neg # A-1416
From the collection of H.W. Patterson
Courtesy of Steve Patterson |
The surrender of U-889
After
the German surrender on 8 May 1945, the German High Command ordered
all U-boats to surrender. On the afternoon of 10 May, U-889 was
spotted south of Newfoundland by a RCAF airplane, steaming at 10
knots and flying a black flag of surrender. The RCAF plane radioed
to nearby Western Escort Force W-6 who intercepted the submarine an
hour later. U-889 was ordered to head to Bay Bulls, Newfoundland. 24
hours later U-889 was turned over to the frigates HMCS BUCKINGHAM and HMCS
INCH ARRAN who escorted her to Shelburne Harbour where she
was boarded and Braeucker, her Commanding Officer, made a formal
surrender.
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photo 1 |
photo 2 |
phot 3 |
photo 4 |
photo 5 |
photo 6 |
photo 7 |
photo 8 |
(1)
Q117 alongside U-889.
Boarding party raises White Ensign on U-889 (2) U-889 with 3 Fairmiles. Q121 on right.
RCAF flying boat overhead. (3) U-889 underway with White Ensign. Q121 in
background. Unknown Fairmile in foreground (4) U-889 underway with prize crew.
Q118 followed by Q117 on left, frigate in background either Buckingham or Inch
Arran (5) U-889 with 3 Fairmiles. Lead Fairmile unknown,
2nd is Q121 and 3rd is Q117 with German POWs on fo'c's'le
(6) U-889 with White Ensign (7) Q117 with U-889 prisoners on fo'c's'le
(8) Q117, with U-889
prisoners, approaches barge off Shelburne, NS
From the collection of Arthur Penelton
Courtesy of Gary Penelton
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