Royal Canadian Navy : RCN PHOTOS, HISTORY

ABOUT 54 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY CHARLIE DOBIE

I joined the Royal Canadian Navy in September 1960, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. At that time the Navy had a three-year enlistment called the On The Job Training (OJT) programme, which appealed to those who weren't prepared to commit themselves for five years. I took basic training in Cornwallis, NS, and in January 1961 was posted to HMCS Ste. Therese, in Victoria BC. I served on the Ste. Therese as a sonarman (OSSN & ABSN) for the duration of my time and was released about July or August, 1963.

Basic Training : H.M.C.S. Cornwallis, 1960

When I left for basic training I was given a train ticket and told to be in Montreal by a certain time. The train had been collecting recruits all the way from the west coast so by the time it reached Thunder Bay it was a moving riot. I took a few photos in Montreal as we wandered around with several hours to kill before we caught the train to Moncton.

Recruits killing time in Dominion Square (now Square Dorchester), Montreal. Four tired and slightly stunned RCN recruits killing time in Montreal.			RCN recruits killing time on the street in Montreal. The Sun Life building is in the background so they're on Dorchester Blvd. (now Boulevard Rene-Levesque).
Assiniboine Division, 2/60, unofficial photo. The group I joined with were assigned to Assiniboine 2/60 Division. No photographer was available so no official "before" photo was taken.			Assiniboine 2/60 official graduation photo We were told we were the sorriest bunch of misfits to pass through Cornwallis in many years, but you wouldn't know it from these happy faces.

H.M.C.S. Ste Therese : photos from 1961 to 1963

This photo is of HMCS Ste Therese leaving Esquimalt Harbour for Long Beach and Pearl Harbour, June 1962. I am one of the men on the foc'sle and Robert Berbeck is one of the men on the flag deck. DND photo submitted by Robert Berbeck.

Ship's company photo, August 1961. This official photo was taken when we were visiting San Francisco. Many men are identified but most are not.			RCN Frigates at Pier 1 in San Francisco, August 1961. At least four frigates were tied up at this jetty and Ste Therese is one of them.
Foc'sle crew, August 1961. Preparing to leave San Francisco. Surnames so far: Abrams, Brown, Campbell, Compton, Sjolie.			Most of the weapons department, 1962/63. Taken on the quarterdeck, somewhere at sea. I can't place the time exactly but it must have been 1962 or the first half of 1963.
Foc'sle crew, Queen Charlottes. Possibly in Rennell Sound, but could be anywhere. As always, it was cold. Surnames so far: Bernard, Campbell, Daniels, Waters. (Revised March 10, 2011).			Crew on the quarterdeck in coastal waters. General view with some of the crew in the distance.
Drinking their rum ration on the quarterdeck. Location seems to be Esquimalt Harbour. Three men are now identified: Alford, Compton and Toth.			Lifeboat crew on an exercise. Hanging from the davits somewhere at sea. Names so far: Dahl, Owens, Srubowich.
Doing maintenance on the 4-inch gun. ABWS Fisher and OSWS Daniels freezing their butts off but still smiling.			Officer cadets & anti-submarine mortars. About a dozen cadets standing around the Squid-well waiting for something to happen. Names so far: Demchuck and Hoffman.
Frigates in San Francisco, August 1961. A general view over the quarterdecks of two ships, one of which must be the Ste Therese.			Ashore for a few hours in Tasu Sound. We were in the Queen Charlottes so it had to be winter. Three men almost smile for the camera. Two are AB Ted Hamilton (Thorne) & LS Ralph Oggelsby. (Revised October 11, 2011).
Ashore for a few hours in Tasu Sound. Crew members hamming it up for the camera. Surnames so far: Demchuk, Hamilton (Thorne) Oggelsby, Patterson, Toth. (Revised October 11, 2011).			ABSN Charlie Dobie I finally found another photo of myself to prove that it all actually happened. Taken on one of the Hawaii cruises. (Added August 15, 2011).
At sea off Diamond Head. Two photos. Crew members gaze at Diamond Head or pretend to work. Surnames: Bigcanoe, Egger, Graw, Hawkes, Hoffman.			Two of the crew having a conversation. Ordinary Seamen Yeager and Srubowich, both bosuns.
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Three Ste Therese sailors lean on each other at Fisherman's Wharf, 1961. Surnames: Sjolie, Mullin, Wurtz.			A Leading Seaman in the weapons department. I took this photo for him but now I can't remember his name.
Egger and Derkacz square off in the mess-deck. But there's no contest here when it comes to beer guts.			Egger and Waldron clean a winch cover. Both were members of the weapons department.
Crew member, inland waters. OSRP Wright looking at the view.			In front of the 4-inch gun. OSWS Fred Elgert, weapons surface.
Anchored in coastal waters. OSSN Robbin Wakefield.			In Esquimalt Harbour. OSWS Robert Egger, weapons surface.
Anchored in coastal waters. Three shipmates: Boyce, McFarlane and unknown.			Caught in the act of working. LSWS Hall, OSWS Leyden and OSWS Elgert do maintenance on the Bofors AA guns.
Sailing in Alaskan waters. OS Wayne Anaka with Alaska or BC in the distance.			Bentick Island demolitions course, 1963. An instructor explains why we can't put lit cigarettes into those little cans or hit them with hammers.
Bentick Island demolitions course, 1963. OS Hawkes, Spooner and Wakefield with plastic explosives.			Bentick Island demolitions course, 1963. Instructors watch men place explosives connected by primacord.
HMCS Beacon Hill anchored. This is probably the anchorage at Pat Bay but I'm not sure.			HMCS Margaree and a frigate anchored. This was probably taken at the same Pat Bay anchorage.

Esquimalt Harbour, Victoria BC : photos from 1961 to 1963

Three Destroyer Escorts at the jetty in Esquimalt. HMCS Assiniboine, HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Margaree.			HMCS Grilse at the jetty in Esquimalt. The conning tower is covered with tarps so it was undergoinig maintenance of some sort.
HMCS Ottawa at the jetty while HMCS Cape Breton leaves Esquimalt Harbour, Sept. 1962.			HMCS Grilse at the jetty in Esquimalt. Same view as above, more or less .
HMCS Cape Breton at Esquimalt View of Esquimalt harbour with HMCS Cape Breton on her way out, Sept. 1962.			General view of Esquimalt Harbour with the visiting British cruiser HMS Belfast at one of the jettys in the distance.
HMCS Grilse in Esquimalt Harbour Taken from the quarterdeck of HMCS Ste Therese as HMCS Grilse appeared through the fog.

RCN-Related photos taken ashore, 1961 to 1963

Native totem poles in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria. Unknown Ste Therese crew member. I took this photo for him so I hope he has a copy.			Driving to Winnipeg, summer of 1961. OS Ron Healey and I joined another sailor who owned a car and we drove to Winnipeg.
Ashore in wildest Hawaii. Several of us were escorted around Hawaii by an American sailor. Here we are at some sort of wild west theme village. Surnames so far: Anaka, Leyden.			Ashore near Juneau Alaska, 1963. OS Daniels, Lawson and another in front of the Mendenhall glacier.
Ashore near Juneau Alaska, 1963. OS Charlie Dobie -- the photographer gets his photo taken in front of the Mendenhall glacier.			Doris Day in Long Beach, 1963. Three Canadian sailors with Doris Day during the filming of "Move Over Darling".
Ashore in Victoria, 1962/3. OSSN Wakefield, OSSN Hegler and a German sailor at Wakefield's parents' home in Victoria.			Relaxing at Waikiki Beach, 1963. Sailors from HMCS Ste Therese at Fort DeRussy on Waikiki Beach. 3 photos. Surnames: Egger, Hawkes, Patterson, Pesclevich, Pounder, Weir, Yeager.

ABOUT 96 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT BERBECK

Robert Berbeck joined the RCN in 1960 and was trained as a signalman. He served on HMCS Ste Therese, HMCS Cape Breton, HMCS Antigonish, HMCS Assiniboine, HMCS Qu'Appelle, HMCS Provider, HMCS Kootenay, etc.

Bob took the photo which appears at the top of this website page. It was taken onboard HMCS Qu'Appelle in July 1964, enroute to Acapulco. The photo is of his late brother-in-law John White. Section updated December 6, 2012.

Robert Berbeck, 1960. Taken on his first day home after basic training, 1960.			Robert Berbeck, 1961. Studio portrait, age 18.
Lorna & Robert Berbeck Wedding photo, 1964.			Lorna & Robert Berbeck 44th wedding anniversary, Oct.3, 2008.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1960. Official photo of Terra Nova 2/60 Division with a link to a larger version. Names: Berbeck, Beverage, Campbell, David, Ethier, L'Heureux, Madsen, Powers, Reid, White. Added July 4, 2011.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1960. Three photos. Terra Nova 2/60 Division, champion water-polo team, trophy winners, trophy presentation. Surnames: Berbeck, Briggs, Campbell, Chute, Cicconi, Eithier, Hockley, Landymore, Madsen, Paul, Read. Revised July 4, 2011.
HMCS Cornwallis, Assault Course, 1960. Twenty photos of Terra Nova 2/60 Division during and after the assault course. Names so far: Berbeck, Broadfoot, Campbell, David, Chute, Ethier, Hall, Johnson, L'Hereux, Lloyd, Madsen, White.			HMCS Cornwallis, Church Class, 1960. Men from all divisions and ranks in Cornwallis. Only names known are Terry Banks, Robert Berbeck. Revised August 1, 2012.
Hurricane on HMCS Assiniboine, 1963. The ship takes some big waves -- three photos.			HMCS Mackenzie, 1964. Photo was taken in Vancouver Harbour.
Sunset at sea, 1966. With HMCS St Croix and HMCS Stettler in the distance.			Two destroyers at Midway, 1968. HMCS Qu'Appelle & HMCS Saskatchewan at Sand Island.
HMCS Antigonish in refit in Vancouver, 1965. Two photos.			Three decomissioned Tribals. HMCS Micmac, HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Haida in Halifax, 1964.
HMCS Assiniboine euchre game, 1963. One man unidentified. Surnames: Barre, Corrigal, Hazzard, Lawrence, Linaker, Thomas, White.			Graduation of SG105 in Esquimalt, 1960. Seven men. Surnames are: Berbeck, Fredrickson, Hockley, Law, Power, Stewart, Tucknott.
HMCS Grilse catches a dingy. April 1966. A dingy was caught in her vents when she surfaced. Four photos.			HMCS Bonaventure & HMCS Provider HMCS Provider refuels Bonaventure and Antigonish. Six photos taken in Feb., 1966.
Refuling from HMCS Provider. February 1966. HMCS St Croix refuling from HMCS Provider. Two photos.			Canadian sailors at Copacabana in Rio, 1966. Beach scenes in Rio plus a view from the bridge while entering Buenos Aires. Four photos.
Signalmen on board HMCS Assiniboine. October 1963. Men relaxing on board ship. Three photos.			HMCS Provider refueling HMCS Terra Nova. Two photos, one an aerial shot. Sept. 1969.
HMCS Saguenay, Nipigon, Terra Nova. September 1963. Three destroyers alongside in Halifax.			HMCS Provider and HMCS Terra Nova at sea. Two aerial photos. The ships were enroute to England.
HMCS Terra Nova refueling in the North Sea. October 1969. Terra Nova digs into the waves. Two photos.			HMCS Provider in Copenhagen. October 1969.
HMCS Provider in drydock. In Esquimalt, January 1970. Three photos.			HMCS Provider refuels destroyers, 1969. HMCS Assiniboine, Fraser, Skeena, Terra Nova receive fuel and groceries, Oct. 1969, 6 photos.
Two destroyers in Singapore. HMCS Qu'Appelle and HMCS Saskatchewan alongside in Singapore, 1968.			HMCS Qu'Appelle crosses the equator. King Neptune holds court as Captain and crew ask permission to cross the equator. 1968, 4 photos. Surnames: Campbell-Hope, McAdam.
HMCS Qu'Appelle ship's company, 1968. HMCS Qu'Appelle ship's company, taken in Manila, Phillippine Islands, May 1968. An enlarged version is also provided. 60 men identified so far. Updated Dec. 6, 2012.			HMCS Naden, 1968/69. The last Trade Group Three Signalmans course held on the west Coast. Surnames: Berbeck, Buburuz, Davies, Heron, Macadam, McCoy, Patterson, Rogers. Photo added May 31, 2011.
Signalmen on HMCS Qu'Appelle, 1964. Robert Berbeck and Jack Linaker flash signals on the way to Acapulco. Photo added June 2, 2011.			HMCS Beacon Hill, 1967. The decommissioning pennant is raised by Robert Berbeck and Kip Rumble. Photo added June 2, 2011.
HMCS Qu'Appelle hosts Boy Scouts, 1968. Four photos taken on Midway Island where the local scout troop was given a tour of the ship. Surnames so far: Berbeck, Hunter, McLean, Ratcliffe, Renaud.			Blood Donor Clinic, HMCS Provider, 1972. Robert Berbeck donates his 50th pint watched by Rear Admiral Leir. Photo added May 31, 2011.
Relaxing on HMCS Provider, 1970. Three photos. Names: Berbeck, Brent, Broadwood, Calder, Ganner, Kain, McGregor, Mitchell, Rumble, Staples.			Memorial for a lost shipmate. A wreath is thrown for ABSW William Gordon deBalinhard, who was lost overboard from HMCS Provider on September 22, 1971. Four photos including two of William deBalinhard. Three photos added January 1, 2011.
ASROC firing, HMCS Restigouche, 1983. Rob took this photo of an anti-submarine rocket just as it was fired.			Crewmembers, HMCS Yukon, 1977. Fun and games in Mazatlan, Mexico. Surnames: Johnston, Kyle, Puesch(?).

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY GRANT SINCLAIR

was an ABWU1 who served on HMCS Beacon Hill and HMCS Cape Breton. He left the RCN in February, 1964.

HMCS Cape Breton encounters a storm. Enroute to Pearl Harbor, HMCS Cape Breton encountered 50-ft. swells, and for two days she averaged 1 knot astern. Five photos.			HMCS Cape Breton crew members on board & ashore. Surnames are: Rozon, Sinclair, Tonkin. Seven photos, all taken in 1963.
HMCS Cape Breton in Pearl Harbour. Leaving for Esquimalt on its last voyage as an RCN ship, November 1963.

ONE DOCUMENT AND 15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JOHN GORMAN

Another former navy member is John Gorman of Halifax, N.S. Like many others, John served the initial three year enlistment as a Naval Airman/Air Boatswain in the R.C.N., beginning in Cornwallis and on to Shearwater and HMCS Bonaventure with some time towards the end at Stadacona and Mill Cove. After leaving the navy, he went on to become an Oceanography Technician at the Bedford Institute and also a trained federal Fisheries Officer. He further graduated from the Forest Technology program in Fredericton, N.B. and spent 29 more years as a warden with Parks Canada.

One Path of Life -- The Thereafter. Here is an entertaining and well-written account by John Gorman of his time in the RCN -- mostly on HMCS Bonaventure -- and his subsequent 29-year career with Parks Canada. There are also two photos of John in uniform embedded in the document.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1966. Group photo of assault course, St. Laurent Division, July, 1966. You can see two different sizes of this photo.
HMCS Cornwallis march past. St Laurent Division, July 1966. Graduation ceremonies.			St. Laurent Division graduation. Official RCN group photo, July, 1966. You can see two different sizes of this photo.
John lives in the Halifax area and has taken a series of photos of decommissioned RCN ships and submarines which are waiting to be scrapped. Added on December 29, 2009.
RCN Ship graveyard, 2009. Eight photos. The hulks of former HMCS Terra Nova, HMCS Gatineau and HMCS Fraser, waiting to be scrapped.			Submarine graveyard, 2009. Four photos. A former RN and two former RCN submarines waiting to be scrapped: HMCS Ojibwa, HMS Olympus, and HMCS Okanagan..

19 PHOTOS & THREE SCANS IN THIS SECTION BY DAVE TYSON

joined the RCN in Winnipeg in April 1962 under the OJT programme. After basic training in Cornwallis, he served as a radar plotter on HMCS Mackenzie from October 1962 when it was commissioned in Montreal, until it went into dry-dock at Esquimalt for refit in 1964. He was then assigned to HMCS Naden until his release in 1965. He left as an ABRUPT. Section updated April 25, 2011.

Dave Tyson, 1962. Dave Tyson in a portrait taken at HMCS Cornwallis.			Dave Tyson, wedding photo. Dave and his wife were married in Feb. 1963.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1962. This was Dave Tyson's division, Restigouche 2/62, at HMCS Cornwallis in April, 1962. 25 men are identified. Surnames: Ansdell(?), Aspinall, Barrow, Burr, Craig, Dodyk, Ferguson, Frechette, Harper, Jackson, James, Jenkins, LaRone, Labonte, Longford, Mattson, McCue, Pelocszi, Poole, Rainville, Storrier, Tyson, Vautour, Wallace, Worthington. Updated April 26, 2011.			Sports at Cornwallis, 1962. This team displays a trophy, but what was the sport? Only Dave Tyson is identified.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1962. A collection of photos taken at HMCS Cornwallis in 1962. Names so far: Dunker, Jackson, Lang, "Mouse". 9 photos.			HMCS Mackenzie, above & below decks. Six photos taken about 1964. The only surname so far is Hutchison.
HMCS Mackenzie Cruise Documents. Bluenose Cruise (Halifax to Esquimalt) 1962/'63; JETEX, 1964; Crossing the Equator, June, 1964.

14 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ROBERT BROWN

and I were fellow shipmates and sonarmen on HMCS Ste Therese. For some reason he was then known as "Charlie Brown", and it was a surprise to me to get these photos from Bob Brown.

Some HMCS Ste Therese crew members. Three photos taken about 1962. Surnames so far: Bigcanoe, Brown, Demchuk, Oggelsby, Richards, Sewers, Vigor, Yeager.			Squid (anti-submarine mortar) practice. A series of four photos from the mortars splashing into the sea until a wall of water hangs in front of the ship.
Queen Charlotte Islands. Anchorages and exercises in the Queen Charlottes, in winter of course. Three photos.			HMCS Ste Therese whaler crew in action. The faces aren't quite clear enough to recognize everyone.
Russian Spy Trawler. This Russian trawler stayed close by the area where our squadron was doing exercises. Winter of 1962.			Sunset/sunrise at sea. This photo speaks for itself.
Frigate from HMCS Saguenay. Taken from HMCS Saguenay with a frigate astern.

SEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION SUBMITTED BY PHIL MURPHY

served on HMCS Assiniboine from 1964 TO 1967. When the services were integrated he asked for a discharge and transferred to the U.S. Navy where he trained as a medical corpsman. He then transfered to the U.S. Marines and served for almost two years in Vietnam. Taking advantage of the G.I. bill he went to university, got his commission, and retired after a total of 35 years of active and reserve military service. Section updated April 30, 2013.

Phil Murphy, two portraits. The Cornwallis photo was taken about 1964.			RCN recruiting poster. Official RCN recruiting photo shot on HMCS Assiniboine. Of five men, Gary Crawford, Richard Levack and Phil Murphy are identified so far. Updated April 30, 2013.
HMCS Assiniboine photos. Three DND photos of HMCS Assiniboine taken at different times, plus another of Phil's HMCS Assiniboine ship's jacket.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION SUBMITTED BY ROGER HAWKES

Roger Hawkes served as an ABWU on HMCS Ste Therese from 1962 TO 1964 when he left the Navy. He re-enlisted after three years and sailed on HMCS Saskatchewan. After a year he transfered to the Fleet Diving Unit Pacific and served until 1975 when he had to leave because of a back injury. Section updated January 23, 2012.

Roger Hawkes, two portraits. The HMCS Cornwallis photo was taken in 1961. The civilian photo was taken in July 2009.			Recruits at Cornwallis, 1961 These recruits in front of the Kit Marking building are about to become Assiniboine Division, either 2/61 or 3/61. Surnames: Austin, Bjorenson, Egger, French, Hawkes, McLaughlin, Norman, Rowden, Srubowich. Updated Jan. 20, 2012.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1961. Official RCN photo. These guys are pretending to look fierce. They are hilarious. Names so far: Austin, Hawkes. Updated Jan. 23, 2012.			Remembrance Day march-past. Official RCN photo, November 1961. Assiniboine Division marches past the review stand inside the HMCS Cornwallis drill hall.
HMCS Cornwallis, Assault Course. 19 photos of the men of Assiniboine Division going through the assault course. 19 photos added April 27, 2011.

ONE DOCUMENT & SEVEN PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY AL MALCOMSON

Al Malcomson joined the RCN in May 1966. He sailed on Qu'Appelle, Mackenzie, Oriole and Restigouche. With the rank of LSFC2, he transfered to the RCMP in 1976 where he served another 15 years. He was medically discharged to pension after falling three storeys off a hotel roof.

Basic Training in HMCS Cornwallis. This is Al Malcomson's very entertaining account of his experiences during basic training in Cornwallis. There is one photo of him in his RCMP uniform in the document. Surnames: Asher, Barnes, Chapple, Douglas, Ellis, Ferguson, Field, Johnstone, Joynt, Kelly, Lepine, Martin, McDonnell, McGuigan, Mooney, Morley, Paddon, Parsons, Paul, Penny, Perkins, Plecas, Rawlings, Smith, Sousa, Tew, Waddington.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1966. Graduation photo of Skeena Division, who passed out Sept. 14, 1966. Almost everyone is identified. You can see two different sizes of this photo. Updated April 23, 2012.
Party time on HMCS Restigouche. On this 1973 cruise from Halifax to Esquimalt, HMCS Restigouche suffered from a surplus of beer, a hardship illustrated by three photos. Surnames: Barclay, Brown, Malcomson, McKay, Roberts, Spooner, Sutherland, Theriauf.			San Juan and Manzanillo. Views of two ports visited by HMCS Restigouche on the 1973 cruise from Halifax to Esquimalt. Also a tall tale from Al Malcomson.

24 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY CARL ASH

Carl Ash served in the Navy from 1961 to 1964. After basic training at HMCS Cornwallis he served on board HMCS Terra Nova.

Carl Ash, then and now. The "then" photo is a portrait taken at HMCS Cornwallis in 1961/2.			Basic training, HMCS Cornwallis, 1961/62. Two photos. One shows Carl Ash on the steps of Chaudiere Block.
HMCS Terra Nova ship's company. Two photos taken while the ship was in France in 1964. Large size versions of the photos can be reached by a link here as well.			On board HMCS Terra Nova. Nine photos. These seem to have been taken in 1963 & 1964. Surnames are: Ash, Cormier, Decker, Kaye, MacFarlane, Maclean, Murray, Rowe, Sinclair.
HMCS Terra Nova crew members ashore. Nine photos. Taken in London, Londonderry, Toulon, Halifax and Gibraltar. Surnames are: Ash, Lamont, Murray, Neault, Rowe, Sinclair.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY PETER FRIESEN

Peter Friesen was in the RCN from 1955 to 1960. He served on HMCS New Glasgow from November, 1956 to June, 1957, and on HMCS Fraser, from June, 1957 to September, 1960. After he left the Navy he worked for five years as a bread salesman and baker, then for 38 years for a window company until he retired in 2003. While working at the window company he was also a lay minister and preacher. He continued his ministry after retirement until a heart attack and triple bypass surgery in November 2008.

HMCS Cornwallis, Gatineau Division. This official RCN group photo was taken in April, 1956. Only Peter Friesen is identified.			HMCS Fraser, 1959. ABWS Peter Friesen and Sub. Lt. Elrington on board HMCS Fraser during inspection of the paint stores.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1955. Fourteen men and a CPO with rifles. The men had just finished the assault course. Only Peter Friesen is identified.			HMCS Fraser, ship's company, 1957. Two official RCN photos -- ship's company photo was taken in 1957, plus another of HMCS Fraser at sea.

45 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RONALD ARMSTRONG

Wilfred Ronald Armstrong was an Aircraft Technician in the RCN from 1967 to 1970. He served on HMCS Bonaventure, VS 880 in HMCS Shearwater, etc. and serviced Tracker aircraft.

HMCS Cornwallis, St. Laurent Division. This official RCN group photo was taken in 1967. Only Ron Armstrong and Rick Olsson are identified.			Ron Armstrong about 1967. Formal portrait, possibly taken in Cornwallis.
HMCS Cornwallis, obstacle course. These St. Laurent Division men finished the obstacle course. Photo taken in 1967. Only Ron Armstrong is identified.			HMCS Cornwallis, life in basic. Men of St. Laurent Division in training -- marching, kit musters, trying not to drown in the whaler. 38 great photos. All names are needed.
CFB Borden, Aircraft Technician training. Group of 13 Navy and Airforce men. Photo taken in 1967. Only Ron Armstrong is identified.			HMCS Shearwater, VS 880 tracker squadron, 1962 & 1968. Three photos: 1962 & 1968 graduation and 1968 officer's mess dinner on HMCS Bonaventure. Only the mess dinner officers are identified. Photo added Nov. 23, 2011.

15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY KEN LLOYD

Ken Lloyd joined the RCN in 1952, and was in Ottawa Division during basic training at HMCS Cornwallis. He served in Korea then stayed in the Navy as a reservist after his first stint, retiring at the compulsory retirement age of 55 with the rank of C1BN4. He was a long-time member of HMCS Discovery and was Cox'n from 1980 to 1985. He died in Vancouver on August 27, 2010, from Alzheimer's, age 75 years. Ken's photos are courtesy of Robert Berbeck. Ken was able to give only limited information about these photos before he passed. Some are official RCN photos, but others taken in the 1940's and 1950's, may be originals. However, it is not known who took them. Section revised January 30, 2013.

CPO1 Ken Lloyd at HMCS Discovery. Four photos taken in the 1980's. Surnames: Gamble, Lloyd, McRossan, Munro, Taggart.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1952. Ottawa Division, June 30 to Nov. 8, 1952. Formal division photograph, 62 men, nobody identified.
HMCS Cornwallis inspection, 1952. Rear-Admiral Rollo Mainguy inspects Ottawa Division's block.			HMCS Cayuga, Pearl Harbour, 1953. The ship's company at ceremonial divisions.
Three HMCS Discovery crew members. Possibly a recruitment photo. Men are unknown.			HMCS Provider before 1946. This HMCS Provider was sold to Peru in 1946.
HMCS Sioux at sea, 1953. Photo taken from HMCS Cayuga off Korea.			HMCS Athabaskan at sea, 1950's. Photo probably taken mid- to late 1950's. Corrected Jan. 29, 2013.
HMCS Quebec at sea, 1953. Photo taken from HMCS Cayuga in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Corrected April 23, 2012.			HMCS Discovery ship's company, 1970's. Date is uncertain, nobody is identified.
Crew of HMCS Chilliwack, 1941-42. An official photo, probably taken at the ship's commissioning. T/Lt(N) Leslie Lewendon Foxall, RCNR is the only one identified. There is also a link to an enlarged version.			HMS Prince of Wales, 1941. Church service in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, during the Atlantic Charter Conference, 10-12 August, 1941.

SIX PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY JIM THORN

Jim Thorn served from 1962-67. He was a medic and served mostly at Stadacona in the hospital. He also worked at Cornwallis in the sickbay which was across the street from the main gate. He says he enjoyed his work as a medic and although he only served five years he remembers them fondly.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1962. About 70 men soon to be St Laurent Division, 2/62, on the day they arrived in Cornwallis. The back of the photo has 58 signatures.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1962. Men of St Laurent Division at the rifle range, 68 men, nobody identified.
Kit Muster at HMCS Cornwallis. Two kit muster photos.			Assault course at HMCS Cornwallis. Two photos of the assault course.

THREE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DON YOUNG

Don Young is a long-retired mechanical engineer who worked for Vickers-Sperry from 1963 to 1970. In this capacity he had a continuing connection with HMCS Assiniboine's VDS system, anti-roll fins, and helicopter testing equipment. Then with the RCN Dockyards at Esquimalt, Shearwater and Halifax designing, testing and repairing dockyard cranes and other equipment.

After joining a consulting company in 1970 he serviced and maintained cranes at DND Halifax.

HMCS Assiniboine, 1963. Two photos showing the Variable Depth Sonar on Assiniboine.			DND Halifax, 1970's. A travelling hammerhead crane with a Whirler Crane at its tip.

13 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BERT VONKALCKREUTH

ABVS1 Bert vonKalckreuth was in the RCN from May 1962 until 1965. During basic training at Cornwallis he was in Columbia 2/62 Division. He served on HMCS Chaudiere from November 1962 until about October 1964, then at HMCS Shearwater until April 1965.

HMCS Cornwallis, Sunset Guard, 1962. Five photos of the Sunset Guard at HMCS Cornwallis. Four are of Columbia 2/62 Division and one is of Terra Nova Division, Sunset Artillery. Surnames: Lewis, Mahar, Turpin.			Bert vonKalckreuth, then & now. Three photos: one is a portrait taken at HMCS Cornwallis, another is of him in a messdeck on HMCS Chaudiere, and the third was taken February, 2011.
Heading home from Cornwallis. Five photos. Nobody is identified, except for one man who was known as "Red".

TWO PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY TERRY FINDLAY

Terry Findlay joined up in 1966 and after basic training he was in the first batch of airframe technicians to go to Camp Borden. Things didn't work out well for him and he was offered a change of trade or release. He chose release. He has submitted an official group photo of Terra Nova 2/66 Division as well as a portrait of himself at Cornwallis, age 17. On Feb. 1, 2013, Terry sent me, via Brian Lapierre, an undamaged photo of Terra Nova 2/66 Division, complete with all of the men's names. Section updated February 1, 2013.

HMCS Cornwallis, Terra Nova 2/66. An enlarged version of the men only is also shown. Everyone is identified.			Terry Findlay at HMCS Cornwallis. Formal portrait, about age 17.

21 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY STEEN LAURSEN, aka. STEEN HEILBUTH

Steen says: My name was Steen Heilbuth, ABSN, and I served on the Skeena, St. Laurent (world cruise in '64), the St. Croix and finished on the Ste. Therese, completing my three year hitch, March 20, 1963 to March 19th, 1966. In HMCS Cornwallis our division (Assiniboine) trained for the Sunset Guard and we performed at the then Dominion Day, July 1st celebrations on Parliament Hill. We were very proud!!

Looking back I have very fond memories, especially lucking out on a nine month around-the-world cruise. What young 18 year old wouldn't love that?

After leaving the service I again lucked out landing a thirty-year career as a firefighter with the City of Burnaby. I have been retired for just over ten years, living in Parksville, BC.

I stated above that my name was Steen Heilbuth which I have changed to my birth father's name of Laursen. I found out at the age of fifty years old that I was adopted. Quite a shock. Fortunately, I learned of my adoption soon enough to meet my birth parents in Denmark.

So there you have it in a nut shell. If you sailed with me please drop me a line. Steen Laursen, aka. Heilbuth. Section updated January 30, 2013.

HMCS Cornwallis, sunset guard. Assiniboine Division, sunset guard photo, June, 1963.			World Cruise, 1964. Twelve photos taken on the JETEX cruise, January to July, 1964. Corrected April 29, 2011.
Photos of OSSN Steen Heilbuth. Five photos of Steen on HMCS St Laurent and the JETEX cruise, 1964. Surnames: Anaka, Briggs, Heilbuth, Hissette. Updated Jan. 30, 2013.			HMCS Ste Therese, Daily Orders. Two pages of Daily Orders for Wednesday, September 22, 1965. Names mentioned: Alexander, Ford, Hall, Harstad, Hooper, McKinney, Pickering, Salus, Smith, Wyatt.
Crew List of HMCS St Laurent. A photo of the ship's company plus the complete list of names of the officers and crew.

22 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY ED KOSKI

Ed Koski says: "I joined March 15, 1959 in Sudbury, and was an OSLM (Electricians Mate). I was in Terra Nova Division 1/59 in Cornwallis and took part in Sunset Ceremony Guard (Rifles) and Queen's Honour Guard on (the Queen's) arrival in Gander Nfld. via BOAC, June 19, 1959. On her return (from the Royal Tour) we received her White Ensign in Halifax at the Citadell Hill Ceremony on July 31, 1959.

" I went on to commission HMCS Chaudiere in November 1959 with Dockyard Maties after Trade School in Stad and lived in Shearwater until the ship was ready." Section updated June 5, 2012.

HMCS Cornwallis, summer, 1959. Twelve photos of men in Terra Nova Division and back home in Sudbury. Surnames so far: Jamieson, Lowery, Montgomery, Rodgers. Names added Nov. 15, 2011.			Ed Koski, then & now. Ed Koski at the wheel of HMCS Chaudiere about 1961 and of HMCS Montreal, Sept. 2011.
HMCS Chaudiere, mostly 1961. Koski and his electrical dept. wingers on board Chaudiere. Eight photos. Surnames: Bedard, Bowman, Burrell, Cartille, Foisy, Jones, Macintosh, McCully, Patrick, Sawyer, Walsh. Updated June 5, 2012.

LINKS TO 27 PHOTOS & SEVEN VIDEOS IN THIS SECTION BY CLAUS MATHES

Claus Mathes was in the RCN from November 1960 to November 1968. He was a Steward and left with the rank of Leading Seaman. After leaving HMCS Cornwallis (Kootenay 3/60 Division) in March 1961, he served on HMCS Iroquois (April '61 to Sept. '62), HMCS Chaudiere (Sept. & Oct. '62), HMCS Columbia (Oct. '62 to Nov. '64), and HMCS Hochelaga (LaSalle) CFB Montreal (Nov. '64 to Nov. '68). Most of his time at sea was served as Captain's Steward and his time in Montreal was spent serving in the Officers' Mess.

This section is different from the others in that Claus has a website, complete with his own RCN photos and digitized 8mm movies, so I've provided direct links to the various sections of his website here. Links corrected June 5, 2012.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1960-1961. A video consisting of many photos of basic training, especially the Assault Course. Nobody is identified. This is a direct link to Claus Mathes' website.			HMCS Iroquois, 1961-1962. Three Youtube videos of HMCS Iroquois. These are original 8mm films taken by Claus Mathes.
HMCS Iroquois, 1961-1962. Sixteen photos taken of and on HMCS Iroquois, including two or three of the crew. Nobody is identified. This is a direct link to Claus Mathes' website.			HMCS Bonaventure. Eleven photos of HMCS Bonaventure. Two seem to be originals with the rest being official DND photos. None show crew members except at a distance.
HMCS Chaudiere, 1962. A very short Youtube video taken in Key West, Florida, September/October 1962.			HMCS Columbia, 1962-1964. Two Youtube videos of HMCS Columbia. One video shows entering harbour in thick fog; storm at sea. The other video is a slide show by Claus Mathes.

29 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY RICHARD FISH

During basic training at HMCS Cornwallis Richard Fish was in Restigouche 2/66 Division. Section updated October 12, 2012.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1966. Restigouche 2/66 Division, two photos: official group photo and passing out parade. Names so far: Chalmers, Chutter, Crowe, Fish, Puttick. Updated October 12, 2012.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1966. Eighteen official DND photos of buildings at HMCS Cornwallis, including an aerial photo of the whole base.
Restigouche Division, Assault Course. One DND photo of Restigouche Division in front of the Magazine, and eight DND photos of members of the Division during the Assault Course Nobody is identified.

FIVE PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY BRUCE MURRAY

Bruce Murray joined the RCN in September, 1961, and was in Assinniboine 2/61 Division when he was in basic training at HMCS Cornwallis. After training he served on HMCS Terra Nova as a sonarman until his release in 1964. Section added January 29, 2012.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1961. Two used and abused photos from Bruce Murray's time at Cornwallis. He is the only one identified.			HMCS Terra Nova, 1964. Three photos -- two on board HMCS Terra Nova and one on shore leave in Copenhagen. Names: Ash, Murray, Norman, Sinclair.

NINE PHOTOS & 17 "IN MEMORIUM" CARDS IN THIS SECTION BY ALLAN BERTELSEN

The late Allan Bertelsen served on HMCS Provider during World War 2 as a Morse Code operator. These photos were taken between 1940 and 1945. Shown are photos of Provider as well as of several Fairmile patrol boats. Included also are memorial cards dedicated to Canadian ships which were lost during the war. Allan passed away on May 6, 2013, at the age of 91. Section revised May 13, 2013.

HMCS Provider Crew Members, 1940's. Provider spent much time in Bermuda, provisioning ships from there. Allan Bertelsen is the only one identified.			HMCS Provider Photo Album, 1940's. Seven photos: HMCS Provider, HMCML Q106 & Q108 and an unidentified Italian submarine. Revised May 13, 2013.
World War 2 "In Memorium" Cards for HMCS Alberni, Athabaskan, Bras D'Or, Charlottetown, Fraser, Levis, Louisburg, Margaree, Ottawa, Otter, Raccoon, Regina, Saguenay, Shawinigan, Spikenard, St Croix, Valleyfield, Weyburn, Windflower.

ONE PHOTO IN THIS SECTION BY DAVE MACGREGOR

Dave Macgregor says: " I went through Cornwallis in Assiniboine 2/66. . . . I served on the Beacon Hill, Skeena, Kootenay, and Preserver, as an ABRM, also was stationed at CFS Mill Cove just outside of Halifax. I left after my five years in July, 1971. " Section added January 30, 2013.

Assiniboine 2/66 Division. HMCS Cornwallis, 1966: the official graduation group photo of Assiniboine 2/66 division.		Assiniboine 2/66 Division. HMCS Cornwallis, 1966: the official graduation group photo of Assiniboine 2/66 division.

ONE PHOTO IN THIS SECTION BY GORD BEATTIE

Gord Beattie says: " I was in Columbia Division the summer of 1962 and have fond memories of the guard and our drill instuctors. I moved on and became a Radioman Special, training at HMCS Gloucester (Ottawa) and finished out my service in Moncton, NB and Frobisher Bay. I had a career as a Director of Supply Management with Nortel, working in Ottawa, Montreal, Santa Clara CA and Raleigh, NC. I am now retired and living in Wake Forest, NC, the first village north of Raleigh. " Section added January 30, 2013.

Sunset Guard, Columbia Division. HMCS Cornwallis, 1962: the official group photo of Columbia Division's Sunset Guard. Surnames so far: Beattie, Lewis, McDade, vonKalckreuth.		Sunset Guard, Columbia Division. HMCS Cornwallis, 1962: the official group photo of Columbia Division's Sunset Guard. Surnames so far: Beattie, Lewis, McDade, vonKalckreuth.

29 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY HERBERT STEPHENSON

The late Herbert Stephenson was from North Battleford, SK, and joined the RCN in January 1955. He served five years, was a gunnery rate, and was discharged in 1960 with the rank of ABWS1. The ships he served on included HMCS Sioux, HMCS Ontario, and HMCS Antigonish. Herbert died about 2008.

Most of these photos were taken during the assault course in June, 1955, at HMCS Cornwallis, and Herbert probably purchased those, but a few others were taken by Herbert and are of him and his friends at Cornwallis. There is only one each of crew members of HMCS Sioux and HMCS Ontario. Section added February 25, 2013.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1955. Fifteen photos of the assault course at HMCS Cornwallis in June 1955. Nobody is identified.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1955. Four group photos taken before and after the men went through the assault course. Nobody is identified.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1955. Seven photos taken at HMCS Cornwallis, probably in June 1955. Only Herbert Stephenson is identified.			Victoria, BC, 1956. One photo of Herbert Stephenson and an unidentified shipmate, both with HMCS Naden cap tallies.
HMCS Sioux, 1958. One photo of unidentified crew members of HMCS Sioux, in 1958. One man's name might be McGuire.			HMCS Ontario, 1959. One photo of the crew milling about on the foc'sle of HMCS Ontario. Can anyone explain what's going on here?

15 PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION BY DON HENDERSON

Don Henderson joined the RCN in December, 1953. He served on HMCS New Glasgow, Athabaskan, James Bay, St Laurent and Granby. He was released in December, 1958 with the rank of LSCV1. Section updated April 9, 2013.

HMCS Cornwallis, 1954. Graduation photo of Vancouver Division, May, 1954. A link is provided to an enlarged version. Surnames so far: Arsenault, Barber, Bartello, Boulton, Channel, Dewba, Dupree, Evans, Ghillies, Henderson, Keyes, Low, McWalters, Moffat, O'Neil, Pernocious, Powell, Price, Reaume, Scott, Short, Tennant, Wadsworth.			HMCS Cornwallis, 1954. Group assembled before going through the assault course. Surnames so far: Henderson, Moffat, O'Neil, Scott, Tennant.
HMCS Cornwallis, 1954. Five photos of Don Henderson and his friends at Cornwallis. Surnames: Bartelo, Boulton, Channel, Henderson, Keyes, Low, McQuestion, O'Neil, Prentice, Reaume.			Don Henderson, 1954, 1957. Three photos of Don Henderson, one in Victoria, 1954, the others at sea, on HMCS St Laurent in 1957.
Guantanamo, Cuba, 1957. Two photos of men and ships at Guantanamo. Surnames: Bresett, Burk, Carley, Ganon, Henderson, Kerr.			HMCS St Laurent, 1957. Three photos -- one taken on the bridge, another of the ship taking a bit of a wave and another of refueling at sea.

16 HISTORICAL PHOTOS & TWO VIDEO LINKS IN THIS SECTION

This section contains historical photos related to the RCN. If you have any photos in your family album, perhaps taken by a friend or relative, please send me a scan as I would love to use it in this section. Section updated January 30, 2013.

Marines of HMS Niobe, about 1900. Niobe was handed over to Canada in 1909 and became her first warship: HMCS Niobe. Photo is a stereoscope slide.			HMCS Niobe, before 1911. Postcard mailed in 1911 showing HMCS Niobe, Canada's first warship.
Crew list of HMCS Niobe, 1911. A sortable and printable list of 575 names of the crew of HMCS Niobe, transcribed from the 1911 Canadian census, and with additional information from other sources. Updated August 22, 2012.			HMCS Beacon Hill crew, 1945-46. An undated publicity photo with the four crew members named. Surnames: Bank, Corbet, Morina, Smith.
Crew of HMCS Ste Therese, 1944. Two photos taken in Bermuda, August 4, 1944. A partial crew list is included. Crew list added August 8, 2011.			100 Years of Faces: Tribute to the RCN. This video on Youtube, along with several others, pays tribute to the men and women of the RCN over the past 100 years. Several images used are from this website. VIDEO NOW OFF-LINE.
Crew of HMCS Chilliwack, 1945. Official crew photo taken in Ireland, June, 1945. One man identified: Gerald James Ryan. A link is given to a full-size photo. Updated March 27, 2012.			Crew of HMCS Chilliwack, 1944 Three photos & two news clippings. Official crew photo taken before June 20, 1944. Includes 38 signatures with home towns and a link to a full-size photo. 4 men identified: Biletchi, McMurdo, Ryan, Sequin. Updated March 23, 2012.
Crew of HMCS Prince Robert, 1943. Official DND crew photo dated December 28th 1943. Nobody identified. A link is given to a full-size photo. Added August 30, 2011.			William Ireland Creed of HMCS Niobe. Two photos of him, one possibly taken on HMCS Niobe. Also a photo of his wife, Mary Ann Elizabeth Hill, plus a short biography. Added February 28, 2012.
Gerald James Ryan of HMCS Chilliwack. Three photos of him taken during WW 2; two in RCN uniform and the other as a merchant navy seaman. Photo added April 22, 2012.		Sailors of The Queen. A rare look at our past: the ships and sailors that participated in the Queen's Coronation in 1953. This is a 20-minute video from the CBC archives. Added May 29, 2012.
A Stoker's War, 1941-1945. This 50-minute home documentary on YouTube shares personal photographs taken by Leading Stoker Gilbert Davis, as he narrates stories of his navy experiences; from joining the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941 and defending Canada's west coast aboard the HMCS Bellechasse to his service on the HMCS Merrittonia escorting Merchant Marine convoys across the Atlantic Ocean to provision needed supplies to England and the European allies, through to the mass surrendering of the German U-boat fleet on the Foyle River near Londonderry in Northern Ireland at the end of the war. Recorded while nearing his 90th birthday, Gilbert's recollections are of daily war-time service life rather than distinguished battles, told in a manner that only a dedicated serviceman could deliver; his emotion resonant as he describes the saving of a single survivor from a torpedoed supply ship. One of only a few servicemen who traveled with a personal camera during the war, Gilbert Davis shares his experiences through his own photos and words. Added June 7, 2012.
FATAL ACCIDENT ON HMCS PROVIDER, 25 OCTOBER, 1963 I am looking for information about an accident onboard HMCS Provider which killed Naval Officer René Patrick Trudel on 25 October 1963 (I don't know his rank). The ship had just been commissionned 27 days earlier at Davie Shipbuilding and was still tied up at Lauzon. Trudel's daughter was only 3 years old at the time and her mother never talked about the accident. Her children are now asking about their grandfather so she would like to find out more about what happened that day onboard HMCS Provider. What she has been told is that a boat was being hoisted onboard the ship and her father stepped forward to help the sailors. The new hoist malfunctioned, killing her father. Apparently one arm and one leg were amputated, and a piece of metal pierced his head. He died instantly. If anyone knows anything about this accident, please contact Donald Courcy so he can inform the Trudel family.

HMC SHIPS -- ORIGINALS AND DND PHOTOS

Click here to see this section of photos of RCN Ships, mostly without members of the crew visible. Most are DND photos but some are originals taken by those who submitted them to me. There are many other such photos in the sections above and I don't intend to re-shuffle the items on the website, so they'll stay there. Section updated April 8, 2013.