HMCS WASAGA sailors, Wm. Black, Ross Milligan and Wm. Weaver in St. John’s in 1942. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM035)
Crowded St. John`s Harbour
Exceptional photo of St. John`s Harbour in Newfoundland in 1943. With the war, activity in the port reflects the huge importance of this harbour to the war effort. Crowded with merchant ships and escorts, two minesweepers are in the foreground and several corvettes are secured astern. On the opposite side of the narrow harbour are […]
Royal Navy Submariner
Unknown Royal Navy submariner, in St. John’s, NF in 1942-43. Submarine may be one of the Royal Navy practice subs on loan to the RCN for training escorts ships in anti-submarine warfare. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM096)
Canadian & Newfoundland Merchant Navy Losses “Battle Of Atlantic in WWII
Canadian & Newfoundland Merchant Navy Losses “Battle Of Atlantic in WWII 1939 to 1945 By: Roger Litwiller © 1939 26 August 1939 -Admiralty signals FUNNEL to Commonwealth & British navies. Commonwealth merchant ships placed under naval control. 3 September 1939 -England & France declare war on Germany. Within two hours U30 torpedoes & sinks SS Athenia sailing from the […]
Royal Canadian Navy -Victory’s/Losses Battle of Atlantic in World War II
RCN Victory’s/Losses Battle Of Atlantic in WWII 1939 to 1945 By: Roger Litwiller © 1939 26 August 1939 -Admiralty signals FUNNEL to Commonwealth & British navies. Commonwealth merchant ships placed under naval control. 31 August 1939 -HMCShips FRASER & ST. LAURENT ordered “With Dispatch” from Esquimalt to Halifax. Arrive in time to escort first convoy WWII from […]
Canada and the Battle Of Atlantic
During the Second World War a fierce and decisive battle was fought on the world’s oceans and seas. Collectively it has become known as the Battle Of Atlantic. Winning this battle would determine the outcome of the war. The momentous responsibility of winning or losing WWII fell on Canada. The Second World War would have […]
Merchant Ships in St. John’s, NF.
Tanker in St. John’s Harbour, NF in 1942. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM050)
SPIKENARD -“His Spike”
HMCS SPIKENARD, Flower class corvette, was lost 10 February 1942 Â when she was torpedoed by U136 in the North Atlantic while escorting Convoy SC-67. Â Of her crew of 65, there were only 8 survivors, 57 killed. Prior to SPIKENARD’s last sailing, her officers were engaged in a friendly competition with the officers of the other […]
Roger Visits the Historic Crowsnest Officers Club in St. John’s, NF. and Meets Vice-Adm McFadden
On 20 June, Roger and his wife visited the historic Crowsnest Naval Officers Club in St. John’s, NF. Roger was invited to speak to the members of the Naval Officer’s Club and present his book Warships of the Bay of Quinte. During the visit he signed several copies of the book and donated a copy […]
HMCS GOOSE BAY is the first Royal Canadian Navy ship to have a copy of Roger’s book
While in St. John’s NF, Roger was able to visit two of Canada’s Ship’s, One a “stone frigate,” the Naval Reserve Unit HMCS CABOT and later the Canadian Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel, HMCS GOOSE BAY. The visit to CABOT was planned, Roger was able to meet with Lt. (N) Miller, Executive Officer and discuss some […]