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 […]
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 […]
Friendly Fire Incident -Normandy
A wounded sailor from the cableship HMTS Monarch is transferred to HMCS TRENTONIAN after the two allied ships came under friendly fire from USS PLUNKETT off the Normandy coast on the night of 12-13 June 1944. See HMCS TRENTONIAN: A Victim Of Friendly Fire Photo credit SBA A. Singleton courtesy of Bruce Keir, RCNVR, Stoker, HMCS […]
The Canadian Maple Leaf -A RCN Tradition Honouring Our Sailors Past
If you look at any ship in the Royal Canadian Navy today, you will see a bright red Maple Leaf proudly displayed on the funnel or helicopter hangar. This has become a unique tradition in the RCN and can be traced back to 1918 when several RCN Drifters (CD Class) used for minesweeping had placed […]
The Sacrifice of SS Beaverford “The Heroic Saga of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Ship with Teeth.”
Many will know the celebrated legacy of the Royal Navy’s armed merchant cruiser HMS JERVIS BAY and her final moments as she battled the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER protecting her North Atlantic convoy, HX-84 on 5 November 1940. The battle for the convoy did not end with the loss of JERVIS BAY. The Canadian […]
Avenger Aboard HMS PUNCHER
An Avenger is secured to the flight deck of HMS PUNCHER during a ferry operation of aircraft from Norfolk Virginia in September 1944. Eventually ending in Glasgow, the Canadian manned aircraft carrier transported 40 aircraft including, 18 Corsairs, Hellcats, Avengers, and one Helldiver. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA051)
RCAF Submarine Attacks Battle Of Atlantic during WWII
Royal Canadian Air Force attacks Against Submarines during WWII -Battle of Atlantic 1939-1945 Compiled by Roger Litwiller © Date U-Boat Sqn/Base/AC/Pilot/ Latitude/Longitude Details 31 Jul 1942 U754 Sunk 113 Squadron RCAF Yarmouth, NS Hudson BW 625 S/L N.E. Small 4302N 6425W South East of Cape Sable. 1st successful attack by Eastern Air Command. 30 Oct […]
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 […]