The invasion areas are crowded as HMCS MAYFLOWER passes all sorts of vessels involved in the landings on 7 June 1944. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL-ROB047)
HMCS COWICHAN
HMCS COWICHAN, Bangor class minesweeper assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM007)
Crossing the North Atlantic
An unidentified RCN sailor in HMCS TRENTONIAN while the corvette is crossing the Atlantic Ocean to join the invasion in April 1944. He is standing above the port side depth charge throwers. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy of Jack Harold, RCNVR. (RTL-JH069)
Approaching Invasion Area
A single Landing Craft sails past HMCS MAYFLOWER as the corvette approaches the Normandy Invasion Area on 7 June 1944. Hundreds of ships of all types can be seen on the horizon. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL-ROB052)
HMCS IROQUOIS -Ile d’Yeu
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 […]
HMCS WASAGA Mine Sweeping
HMCS WASAGA during mine sweeping operations off the coast of Normandy, France, post D-Day 1944. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM111)
Cherbourg Harbour
Cherbourg’s waterfront normally a postcard in real life, now shows the signs of battle, with windows broken and damage to the buildings in October 1944. Photo taken from HMCS TRENTONIAN as the corvette approaches the French harbour with a convoy for the advancing armies. Roger Litwiller Collection, A. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy of Bruce Keir, […]
HMCS KENORA
HMCS KENORA sits outboard of two Bangor class minesweepers in #3 Basin in Plymouth, UK, from 31st Minesweeping Flotilla. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM126)
HMCS MULGRAVE
HMCS MULGRAVE, Bangor class minesweeper in Cherbourg, France. She is part of the 31st Canadian Minesweeping Squadron, clearing the French port of mines. Photo taken from HMCS WASAGA. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM106)
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 […]