HMCS DOMINION / HMCS NIOBE

Greenock, Scotland

HMCS NIOBE

Greenock, Scotland (2nd Commissioning)

Courtesy of the office of the RCN Heritage Officer

click on the above photo to view a larger image

HMCS DOMINION: Commissioned: 01 Oct 1940

Paid off: 28 Feb 1941 - then re-named

HMCS NIOBE (2nd): Commissioned: 01 Mar 1941

Paid off: 30 Jun 1941

HMCS Niobe (2nd): Re-commissioned: 15 Dec 1941

Paid off: 09 Feb 1946

HMCS DOMINION / HMCS NIOBE (2nd) - By late 1940 nearly all RCN destroyers were based in Britain on loan to the Royal Navy, and the RCN corvettes were expected in Britain a few months later. But there was no RCN manning depot in Britain, so relief personnel for RCN ships had to come from the RN.

After the sinking of HMCS FRASER, it became quite apparent especially when they needed to post the survivors either to another ship or to a Depot Ship that something needed to be done. On October 1st, 1940 HMCS DOMINION was commissioned. They had a hard time finding a permanent location for DOMINION and it moved around, first it had rooms at the Stoke Dameral School and later moved to a private house at 6 Havelock Terrace also in Devonport. It finally landed at the Royal United Services Orphan Home for Girls at 1 Albert Road. This establishment combined the new manning pool and the RCN pay offices already in Britain.

By March 1941, the name DOMINION was proving to be something of a problem as it was being confused with the cable address of the High Commissioner, "Dominion London." DOMINION was paid off and re-commissioned as HMCS NIOBE.

By June of 1941, however, the effective range of German U-boats extended across the North Atlantic. Most of the RCN's destroyers and corvettes were needed back in Canada to protect vital shipping. It was felt that the manning depot was no longer needed in Britain and NIOBE was paid off.

Due to the large number of sailors in the UK awaiting new ships, or waiting for ships to come out of refit, or becoming part of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force, the need to re-open an shore establishment in the UK was realized. Because Canadian ships typically used Greenock or Gourock as a berthing place, the search for a site in Scotland began. After some time negotiations for the Smithston Institute, which was the local poor house and insane asylum, a deal was struck and HMCS NIOBE was commissioned again on December 15th 1941. HMCS NIOBE would serve as a parent ship to all HMC Ships in UK waters. It functioned as an accounting base, manning pool and hospitalization centre for all RCN personnel in England. HMCS NIOBE (Greenock) was paid off on 9 February 1946.

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Lest We Forget

CORRIGAN, Francis O.

Supply PO, RCN

MPK - 26 Sep 1942

HMCS NIOBE - Staff photo - date unknown

NIOBE IN THE VALLEY

Article on HMCS NIOBE from the CROWSNEST magazine Sep 1960 Vol. 12 No. 11

Royal United Service Orphan Home For Girls which became HMCS Dominion, then HMCS NIOBE (2nd)

Courtesy of the office of the RCN Heritage Officer

HMCS NIOBE, Scotland - date unknown

From the collection George R. Rae, V32806

Courtesy of Virginia McCann

The blitz on Plymouth began shortly after moving into the Orphanage. The Canadian sailors distinguished themselves fighting the fires and rescuing those caught in the destruction.

Courtesy of the office of the RCN Heritage Officer