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 […]
HMCS IROQUOIS Exploits After VE Day
Great detail has been recorded of the Royal Canadian Navy’s ships during the Second World War, including the Battle of the Atlantic, Operations in the Arctic, Mediterranean and many other ocean battlefronts. Sadly very little has been written about what happened to our ships after VE Day? Recently I have received a large collection of […]
MAC Ship in Convoy
Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) ship in convoy with two aircraft on her after flight deck, ready to launch. MAC ships were converted merchant tankers, given a flight deck and up to four fighter aircraft to ward off U-Boats. Photo taken from HMCS WASAGA in 1943. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM146)
PIPE THE SIDE -Admirals Arriving
Rear-Admiral Fairbain, RN (FOIC) Milford Haven arrives to inspect HMCS TRENTONIAN in October 1944. The navy, stooped in traditions has a ceremony when receiving an Admiral aboard. The side is piped, orders called out and the ship’s officers stand ready. With all the ceremony the Admiral still has to climb the rope ladder up TRENTONIAN’s […]
HMS WARSPITE
HMS WARSPITE off Spithead, September 1944. Photo taken from HMCS MAYFLOWER. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ralph O’Brien, RCNVR. (RTL -ROB065)
HMCS MARGAREE
HMCS MARGAREE -River class destroyer, was lost in collision with M/V Port Fairy on the North Atlantic on 22 October 1940. At the time of her loss she had 176 sailors in her ship’s company, 142 were killed with thirty-two survivors. MARGAREE had commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy only a few weeks earlier on […]
HMS ARK ROYAL -Halifax
HMS ARK ROYAL in Halifax, for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Centenary celebrations on 27 June 2010. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL-DSCF5730)