Sailors clear snow and ice from HMCS MATAPEDIA’s forward gun deck in early spring 1941 at Quebec City. The shield for the 4 inch gun has not yet been installed. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy William Belling, RCNVR. (RTL-WB063)
A RCN Sailor
Serving in HMCS TRENTONIAN, AB Joe King, RCNVR, from Newfoundland, had been a fisherman before the war. The heavy oil skin coat he is wearing was to protect our sailors from the raging North Atlantic. Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK051)
HMCS WASAGA’s Bridge Iced
With only a single window cleared on HMCS WASAGA’s bridge and her upper-works encased in ice, the minesweeper steams off Halifax in 1944. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNVR. (RTL-REM076)
TRENTONIAN’s Gun Crew
LS Gordon Harley (Hamilton), AB Arthur Slater (Winnipeg) and AB Stan Bennett (Conception Bay), HMCS TRENTONIAN’s after 2 pounder Pom-Pom gun crew in 1944. Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR photo, courtesy Bruce Keir, RCNVR. (RTL-BK159)
HMCS KOOTENAY (1st)
HMCS KOOTENAY (1st), River class destroyer alongside HMCS ARVIDA in 1943. As a member of Canadian Escort Group-C5, KOOTENAY wears the Barber Pole Band on her funnel with a Griffin below. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Howard Abbott, RCNVR. (RTL-HA059)
SS Drumahoe Pressed into Ocean Service
SS Drumahoe underway to join an ocean convoy out of Sydney Harbour, in her wartime colours in 1942. Owned by Sarnia Steamships Ltd, the Laker has been pressed into wartime ocean service. Photo was taken from HMCS WASAGA. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM041)
TRENTONIAN Anchored Cherbourg
HMCS TRENTONIAN anchored outside of Cherbourg, France in the “false hull” camouflage scheme, September 1944. The maple leaf on her funnel is visible and her name board has been hung on the railings above the depth charge throwers. The corvette’s pennant number has been partially removed by censors. Roger Litwiller Collection, Allen E. Singleton, RCNVR […]
A Busy Bee -HMCS COBALT’s Gunshield ART
Norman Baker admires the colourful gunshield art on HMCS COBALT, as designed and painted on the corvettes forward 4 inch gun by her ship’s company. The corvette is named after the town, Cobalt in Ontario, known for mining. The gunshield art depicts a busy bee drilling into the swastika. This photo was taken in St. […]
HMCS SHAWINIGAN (II)
HMCS SHAWINIGAN (2nd), Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel (MCDV), departing Halifax Harbour on 30 April 2016. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Roger Litwiller. (RTL06312)
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship
Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) at anchor in Sydney Harbour, NS. in 1942. Photo taken from HMCS WASAGA. Roger Litwiller Collection, courtesy Ross Milligan, RCNR. (RTL-REM042)