On August 26 1944, HMCS IROQUOIS met a small boat from Ile d’Yeu, a small channel Island. On board was the local school teacher who stated the Germans had left the Channel Island the day before. In their retreat the post office, radar installations and lighthouse had been destroyed, nineteen citizens and the mayor were […]
CH-148 Cyclone
CH-148 Cyclone flying over Halifax Harbour on 1 August 2017. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL13801)
Hospital Ship
Unidentified Hospital Ship, possibly in the English Channel 1944. Photo taken from HMCS MAYFLOWER. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL-ROB020)
Canadian Sailors in HMS Puncher
Several of HMS Puncher’s sailors take advantage of the hot weather to tan on the carriers crowded flight deck, while ferrying aircraft to Casablanca in July 1944. Too hot to touch they cover the deck with blankets and towels. Howard Abbott is front left. The Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA050)
CARIBOPS 1981
HMCS PROTECTEUR and HMCS IROQUOIS steaming for CARIBOPS in January 1981. Photo Taken from HMCS OTTAWA. Note: Scanned from original 110 Negative. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller.
HMCS OTTAWA Underway
Aft view of HMCS OTTAWA (3rd) while underway during CARIBOPS in January 1981. The hatch covers for the mortar well are open on deck. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller.
The First Women to Serve in Canada’s Navy
The legacy of women serving in Canada’s Navy is legendary, beginning in 1914 in the early days of the First World War. Six nurses joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served in His Majesty’s Canadian Hospital Ship (HMCHS) PRINCE GEORGE. At the time, concern was not given to making history or furthering women’s rights, in […]
Canada’s Navy Honours the Sacrifice of our Sailors Past
By: Roger Litwiller -Canadian Naval Author and Historian Recently the Royal Canadian Navy unveiled two of Canada’s warships painted in a multi-coloured camouflage scheme. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship REGINA (2nd), a Halifax class frigate and HMCS MONCTON (2nd), Kingston class maritime defence vessel, have been given the “new” paint scheme. The purpose of this remarkable […]
Change of Command -Commander of the RCN
On 12 June 2018, Canada’s Navy appointed a new Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy during a historic Change of Command Ceremony in HMC Dockyard in Halifax. Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd stepped down to retirement and Vice-Admiral Art McDonald took over the RCN and became the 36th person to command Canada`s Navy since it`s inception in […]
Operation Neptune -The Naval Operations for DDay
When we speak of the Normandy Invasion or D-Day as it is more commonly called, photos of soldiers hitting the beaches are usually the first images we think of. The hard fought assault on five beaches to gain a foot hold on Fortress Europe on the morning of 6 June 1944. Very little is discussed […]