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Ocean Rescue Tug DP Ingram heading out through pack ice to assist a CD (visible to the left on the horizon) in entering St. John's Harbour Courtesy of William (Bud) Rose
Welcome to "For Posterity's Sake" - a site dedicated to the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy and the ships they lived and served in. This is a personal website and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada nor the Department of National Defence.
The goal of this site is to preserve and share the history of those who have sailed in the ships of the RCN. The history we all have buried in our basements or closets in boxes and photo albums - photos of grandparents and parents, aunts and uncles who have also taken pictures and told stories of their time in. This is the history you will not find on the government's historical pages - and its these photos and stories that we all have that I'm hoping to preserve here for posterity's sake.
If you would like to submit photos or stories to be posted here, please send me an EMAIL ( info@forposterityssake.ca ). With the help of all sailors past and present and their families this page can be made into a historical site for future generations to learn about our proud past. May you always have fair winds and following seas!
Memorable quotes pertaining to the RCN extracted from various sources
"He had entered the battle with the confidence we all possessed, did his part in the face of severe enemy fire and was undoubtedly unaware of his end. A man can do no more than die at his gun." - Excerpt from the letter to the sister of LS Dugald Leitch, RCNVR
In all things ships must come first, they are the only reason for us being in our present jobs. In dealing with any problems we must always ask "How does it affect the ships?" If you have any bright ideas put them forward . . . and remember SHIPS FIRST. - Extract from a memorandum circulated by Vice Admiral E.R. Mainguy, OBE, CD, RCN, Chief of Naval Personnel
There can be no doubt that the sea takes from the sailors something intangible and gives it to the ship herself - and that something intangible is her soul. Heretical as it may seem, ships do have souls, personalities of their own, and because of this, they inspire a very real love which no landsmen will ever understand - Louis de la Chesnaye Audette, Commander. RCNVR (ret 'd)
Click here to read more Quotes
Don't forget to stop by and sign the Ship's Log (Guestbook)
Gunnery practice hiccups - The Battle of Roberts Creek and U.S. hit by Canadian Navy shells
Honoring the Legacy of HMCS Canada: An Archaeological and Marine Sciences Expedition In commemoration of the 115th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the HMCS Canada Expedition seeks to highlight Canada’s first purpose-built warship, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Canada, through advanced marine archaeological and scientific research. The project aims to preserve Canada’s naval legacy while contributing to marine science and conservation efforts. Click on the above photo to go to the HMCS CANADA Expedition 2025 website
What's New - back to the top of the page
16 Jul 2025 - HMCS CORNWALLIS - A course photo for Columbia 2/62 from the collection of Gord Beattie has been added 16 Jul 2025 - Historical Vignettes - A vignettes on the sinking of HMCS OTTAWA H60 has been added 14 Jul 2025 - HMCS VILLE DE QUÉBEC 332 - An image of her new gunshield art has been added 30 Jun 2025 - HMCS SHELBURNE - Eighteen photos from the collection of CPO Shpwt Everett Robertson have been added to her page 22 May 2025 - Documents and Manuals - HMCS NEW GLASGOW - A Canadian Frigate in World War II by John Ayre has been added. 19 May 2025 - HMCS ST LAMBERT K343 - Twelve photos from the collection of PO Jack Irwin, RCNVR have been added to her page 19 May 2025 - HMCS PRINCE ROBERT - Thirty-eight photos from the collection of PO Jack Irwin, RCNVR have been added to her page 16 May 2025 - Diesel Boats Forever - A page for the Victoria Class Basic Submarine Course # 2025-0083 has been added 09 May 2025 - HMCS HURON 216 - Five photos from the collection of Terry Whiteland have been added to her page 09 May 2025 - HMCS SAGUENAY 206 - Six photos from the collection of Terry Whiteland have been added to her page 09 May 2025 - HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - Eleven photos from the collection of Terry Whiteland have been added to her page 15 Apr 2025 - HMCS HUNTSVILLE K499 - A ship's company photos page has been added 02 Apr 2025 - HMCS ST THOMAS K488 - Ship's movement message for May-Jul 1944 have been added 02 Apr 2025 - HMCS MORDEN K170 - The ship's deck logs for 24 Jan 1943 to 08 Nov 1944 have been added 02 Apr 2025 - HMCS STETTLER K681 - Ship's files for CO's Requestmen / Defaulters; Submarine Attacks; and Nominal Lists have been added 02 Apr 2025 - HMCS QUINTE J166 - The ship's deck logs for 24 Feb - 22 May 1942 and 14-30 Nov 1942 have been added 22 Mar 2025 - a page for Historical Vignettes - researched and written by William Dziadyk has been added 17 Mar 2025 - HMCS LA HULLOISE K668 - Twenty-nine photos from the collection of Murray Howard, CPO, RCNVR have been added to her page 13 Mar 2025 - Books (on the RCN and navy in general) - Sons of Neptune, an autobiography by Donald "Buster" Brown, CPO1, MMM, CD, RCN has been added 13 Mar 2025 - RCN Memories - A new story - V.W. Bug Aweigh has been added 09 Mar 2025 - Documents and Manuals - A Steam Engineering Course Notebook for a course at HMCS NADEN in 1940 has been added 09 Mar 2025 - HMCS OAKVILLE K178 - A ship's bell page for HMCS OAKVILLE has been added 11 Feb 2025 - The Field of Honour Project - Cemetery pages for Gods Acre Veterans Cemetery, Esquimalt; Knox Prebyterian Church Cemetery, Sooke; and Royal Oak Burial Park, Sannich have been added 10 Feb 2025 - The Surname Index has been changed to "Sailors Service / Career Information"
Credits / Resources 1) Sailors - past and present and their families 2) ReadyAyeReady.com for ship's badges post 1949 3) The Naval History Net - Ship Histories, Convoy Escort Movements for Casualty Lists 1939-1947 4) THE FAIRMILES - CANADA'S LITTLE SHIPS by Spud Roscoe VE1BC Edited by Jerry Proc 5) German U-Boat Casualties in World War 2 - Information on U-Boats sunk by Canadian ships 6) The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-1981 by Ken Macpherson and John Burgess 7) The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002 by Ken Macpherson and Ron Barrie 8) Veterans of World War II, Langruth, Manitoba 10) A History of the West Coast Canadian Forces Auxiliary Fleet by Matthew Chapman 12) A List of the Ships Scrapped or Broken Up By Capital Iron & Metals Ltd. in Victoria BC. 13) The Bosun's Watch - The Fleetwood Steam and Sailing Trawler website 14) Arnold Hague Convoy Database 15) Ultimate Sacrifice by Robert D'Aoust 16) Designs of Distinction - Unofficial Insignia of the RCN 1910 - 1948 by David J. Freeman 17) The Nauticapedia - Celebrating the stories of the maritime heritage of British Columbia, western and northern Canada, and Canada's Naval Forces
Disclaimer This is a personal website and the website owner is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or Department of National Defence (DND).
The information on this site is for informational purposes only. This website is a compilation of information from government websites, books and other resources such as wartime diaries and stories from the memories of those who served and may contain historical inaccuracies. For Posterity's Sake and those who submit information to this site are not responsible for any historical inaccuracies and accepts no responsibility for any costs / expenditures by those using this information. Anyone using information from this site should exercise due diligence and verify any information used.
This web site contains links to other web sites. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy or opinions expressed in such web sites, and such web sites are not investigated, monitored or checked for accuracy or completeness by us. Inclusion of any linked web site on or through this web site does not imply approval or endorsement of the linked web site by us. If you decide to access these sites, you do so at your own risk.
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