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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
LAKE, Bernard Summers (Bernie) - was a school teacher in Regina when the war started. He tried to join up then, but they would not take him till they had enough ships. He enlisted at RCNVR DIVISION REGINA in Jul 1941 and was sent to ROYAL ROADs for officer training. Bernard served in several ships but was extremely seasick on the smaller ships. After a trip on HMCS MORDEN to the UK, he was landed and remained there as they didn't think he'd survive a trip back. While at HMCS NIOBE he served for a period in HMS MALAYA until his appointment to ONTARIO and return to Canada in 1945. Demobilized in Jan 1946 he returned to Regina and teaching before being asked to rejoin as an Instructor and served until retiring in 1964 to Victoria, BC. He lived in Victoria until his passing in 1998.
Awards and Decorations: 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Bar; War Medal 1939-45; Canadian Forces Decoration (C.D.)
Ships served in: REGINA DIVISION RCNVR - Listed as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR (Navy List Jul 1941) HMCS ROYAL ROADS - Appointed to Royal Roads 02 Sep 1941 as a Prob. SLt, RCNVR (Navy List Oct 1941) HMCS NIPIGON - Appointed to NIPIGON 04 Jan 1942 as a SLt, RCNVR (seniority 18 Aug 1941) (Navy List Jan 1942) RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS HALIFAX 09 Mar 1942 as a SLt, RCNVR (Navy List Apr 1942) HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS 01 May 1942 as a Lt, RCNVR (seniority 18 Aug 1942) (Navy List Sep 1942) HMCS MORDEN - Appointed to MORDEN 03 Aug 1943 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Aug 1943) HMCS NIOBE - Appointed to NIOBE 29 Oct 1943 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Oct 1943). Seniority backdated to 18 Aug 1941 (Navy List Feb 1944) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Loaned to RESTIGOUCHE from NIOBE 1943 while David Groos was CO (family records) HMS MALAYA - Loaned to MALAYA from NIOBE in Dec 1943 (family records). End date unknown. HMCS ONTARIO - Appointed to ONTARIO 12 Jan 1945 as a Lt, RCNVR (Navy List Jan 1945). Served ONTARIO until Dec 1945. * Appointed terminated. Demobilized 31 Jan 1946 (Navy List Apr 1946) * Listed on the Active List, RCN(R) as a Lt, RCN(R) (seniority 18 Aug 1942) (Navy List Jan 1947) RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT 31 Mar 1947 as a Lt, RCN. Appointed Instructor Lieutenant-Commander, RCN (seniority 01 Jun 1946) (Navy List Jun 1947) HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS 08 Aug 1949 as an Instr. LCdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1950) RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT - Appointed to RCN BARRACKS ESQUIMALT, Educational Training School 25 Mar 1952 as an Instr. LCdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1953) HMCS ONTARIO - Appointed to ONTARIO 28 Aug 1953 as an Instr. LCdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1954) HMCS VENTURE - Appointed to VENTURE 11 Aug 1954 as an Instr. LCdr, RCN (Navy List Jan 1955) HMCS CORNWALLIS - Appointed to CORNWALLIS as Education Officer 04 Aug 1958 as an Instr. LCdr. Appointed Instr. Cdr Jan 1959 (seniority 01 Jan 1959) (Navy List Jan 1959) NAVAL HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA - Appointed to NHQ OTTAWA, Staff of Director of Naval Training 08 Aug 1961 as a Cdr (Instr), RCN (Navy List Apr 1962) HMCS BYTOWN - Appointed to BYTOWN, Training and Transient 20 Sep 1963 as a Cdr (Instr), RCN (Navy List Oct 1963) * Retired 01 Mar 1964
HMCS NIPIGON
(BL01) HMCS NIPIGON J154 under construction (BL02) Unknown sailor on the fo'c's'le of HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL03) Looking aft down the starboard side of HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL04) Looking aft from the starboard side boat deck to the quarterdeck of HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL05...) Looking aft at the depth charge thrower and minesweeping paravane on the starboard side of the quarterdeck with of HMCS NIPIGON J154
(BL06) HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL07) Looking forward from the quarterdeck at the after gun tub on HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL08) Looking aft from the boat deck on HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL09) Quarterdeck of HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL10) 4-inch gun on HMCS NIPIGON J154
(BL11) Unknown RCNR SLt on HMCS NIPIGON J154 (BL12) HMCS NIPIGON J154 iced-up - 1942. Sailors in bridge windows having a smoke unidentified
HMCS NIOBE
(BL13) HMCS NIOBE - Feb 1944 (BL14) Magazine article/photo - Time out for a brisk game of volleyball at HMCS NIOBE on a sunny summer day during the Second World War (BL15) Magazine article/photo - HMCS NIOBE
(BL16) Sightseeing - "Mons Meg" cannon at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
HMS MALAYA
(BL17) HMS MALAYA - Fo'c's'le from bridge - Dec 1943 (BL18) HMS MALAYA - looking aft from the bull ring at the forward turrets and bridge - Dec 1943 (BL19) Quarterdeck messenger by after 15-inch gun on HMS MALAYA. Circular emplacements are Oerlikons (BL20) "B" Turret and bridge of HMS MALAYA - Dec 1943
HMCS ONTARIO
United Kingdom to Esquimalt via the Suez and Hong Kong
(BL21) HMCS ONTARIO
(BL22) HMCS ONTARIO at anchor in the River Clyde. RCN neg # K-910 (BL23) HMCS ONTARIO steaming into Belfast Harbour. RCN neg # HN-2614
(BL24) HMCS IROQUOIS G53 at Greenock, Scotland. Photo from HMCS ONTARIO (BL26) HMS SEARCHER D40 loaded with aircraft to be ferried to the Pacifc. Photo from HMCS ONTARIO (BL26) Manning HMCS ONTARIO'S motor boat by the boom. Lamlash, Scotland. RCN neg # ON-0005 (BL27-BL28) HMCS ONTARIO at Lamlash, Scotland
Note: Lamlash is a village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It lies three miles south of the island's main settlement and ferry port Brodick, in a sheltered bay on the island's east coast, facing the Holy Isle.
(BL29) HMCS ONTARIO, Liverpool, England - Jun 1945. RCN neg # ON-0009-5
Enroute to Hong Kong
Gibraltar - Mediterranean - Suez Canal - Red Sea - Malacca Strait
(BL30) HMCS ONTARIO approaching the Rock of Gibraltar. RCN neg # ON-0013 (BL31) HMCS ONTARIO entering Grand Harbour, Malta. HMS BELFAST (left) and Dido Class light cruiser HMS SIRIUS (right) ahead. RCN neg # ON-0015 (BL32) HMCS ONTARIO secured alongside Dido Class light cruiser HMS SIRIUS in Malta (BL33) HMCS ONTARIO oiling a Hunt Class destroyer HMS CHIDINGFOLD L31 in the Med. RCN neg # ON-0020 (BL34) HMCS ONTARIO oiling an unknown destroyer while in the Med.
(BL35) Malta (BL36) HMCS ONTARIO leaving Malta 23 Jul 1945. RCN neg # ON-0024 (BL37) HMCS ONTARIO leaving Malta 23 Jul 1945. RCN neg # ON-0024-1 (BL38) HMS BELFAST off Malta Jul 1945 (BL39) HMCS ONTARIO "X-Turret firing to port"
(BL40) "Torpedo away" HMCS ONTARIO fires practice torpedo. RCN neg # ON-0022 (BL41) HMCS ONTARIO Hoisting in torpedo after practice run. RCN neg # ON-0022-4 (BL42) Swimming in the Med off of HMCS ONTARIO (BL43) Lt Bernard Lake in front of the Great Sphinx at Cairo, Egypt - Aug 1945 (BL44) "The Padre" in front of the Great Sphinx at Cairo, Egypt
(BL45) HMCS ONTARIO Leaving Alexandria for Port Said with 2 destroyers in company. RCN neg # 0026 (BL46-BL49) HMCS ONTARIO transiting the Suez Canal (BL49) The French Suez Canal Defence Monumnet at Ismalia, Gebel Mariam
Historical note for the French Suez Canal Defence Monument: The memorial was constructed between 1926 and 1930. Architects were the French architect Michel Roux-Spitz and Raymond Delamarre. Some French troops supported the British/Allied effort to fight the Turkish forces attacking the Suez Canal in February 1915. The Allied forces comprising some 30,000 men defended successfully the unexpected Turkish army's advance which included approximately 20,000 Turkish troops including some German officers of the German Military Mission. The Turkish forces suffered under massive supply problems. In the end, they have lost 14 officers dead, among which was German captain von dem Hagen, 15 officers wounded, 15 MIA, 178 soldiers dead, 366 wounded, 712 MIA. The British lost some 150 soldiers.
(BL50-BL51) HMCS ONTARIO transiting the Suez Canal (BL52) "Red Sea Routine" - Sailors on HMCS ONTARIO hosing down to keep cool (BL53) HMCS ONTARIO Y-Turrent Triple 6" MK XXIII on HMCS ONTARIO. RCN neg # ON-0029 (BL54) HMCS ONTARIO departing Trincomalee, Ceylon on 31 Aug 1945. RCN neg # ON-0034
Historical note: On August 31, a convoy consisting of HMS Glengyle and HMS Smiter (carrying No. 132 Squadron RAF), HMIS Llanstephan Castle (carrying 3 Commando Brigade) and HMCS Ontario departed Trincomalee and headed for Hong Kong as part of Operation Armour - the reoccupation of Hong Kong.
(BL55) Pom-pom and Bofors on HMCS ONTARIO during practice firing. RCN neg # ON-0037-1 (BL56) HMIS Llanstephan Castle in Malacca Strait. RCN neg # ON-0039 (BL57) HMS SMITER D55 in convoy (BL58) 6" practice Y-Turret. Inserting cordite. RCN neg # ON-0043 (BL59) "Broadsides. Waiting for fire gong to ring." RCN neg # ON-0043-2
Note: In "BL58" you can see one gun labelled "Yolanda". The 3 guns in Y-turret were Yolanda, Yvette and Yvonne
Hong Kong
(BL60) Visiting officers greeted as they board HMCS ONTARIO (BL61) Hong Kong harbour. Kowloon mainland to right (BL62) Victoria, Hong Kong (BL63) Allied warships in Hong Kong harbour (BL64) HMS ANSON at anchor in Hong Kong harbour
(BL65) Allied warships in Hong Kong harbour (BL66) Sampans bartering alongside HMCS ONTARIO in Hong Kong Harbour (BL67-BL69) Haw Par Mansion Hong Kong (BL69) Tiger Pagoda, Haw Par Mansion, Hong Kong
(BL70) "My platoon" (Lt Bernard Lake) - One Platoon 'A' Company with PO Holmes on HMCS ONTARIO, Hong Kong - RCN neg # ON-0065 (BL71) HMCS ONTARIO'S pinnace loading platoons to go ashore. RCN neg # ON-0066 (BL72) HMCS ONTARIO'S motor cutter with tow awaiting to unload in Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0069 (BL73) Platoon landing in Honk Kong. 1/2 Lanchester, 1/2 Rifle. RCN neg # ON-0070 (BL74) Forming up just after landing "my platoon" (Lt Bernard Lake), Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0072
(BL75) Filing into our HQ ashore. RCN neg # ON-0073 (BL76) HMCS ONTARIO sailor on patrol in Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0078 (BL77) Victory celebrations in Hong Kong. Fireworks from ships in harbour. RCN neg # ON-0091-2 (BL78) Jenny's Side Party brought in to do officer laundry on HMCS ONTARIO. RCN neg # ON-0110-1 (BL79) Band concert on HMCS ONTARIO'S boat deck. RCN neg # ON-0111
(BL80) HMCS ONTARIO departed Hong Kong to rescue the Admiralty Tanker Wave King seen here taking her in tow. RCN neg # ON-0118-5 (BL81) Newspaper article on the rescue of the Admiral Tanker Tide King by HMCS ONTARIO (BL82) Part of Victory Celebrations, Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0123 (BL83) Victory Parade, Hong Kong - RCN neg # ON-0124-3 (BL84) Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Kowloon and mainland in background. RCN neg # ON-0143
(BL85) HMCS ONTARIO sailor armed with Lanchester SMG ashore in Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0162 (BL86) Adopted orphan, Aberdeen, Hong Kong - RCN neg # ON-0165-1 (BL87) Sampan Jenny's Side Party, Hong Kong. RCN neg # ON-0173-2 (BL88) HMCS ONTARIO departing Hong Kong. RCN neg # 0177
Enroute to Pearl Harbor from Hong Kong
(BL89) HMCS ONTARIO off Manila, Nov 1945. Note her paint scheme in this photo .... and then the all light grey after they painted ship while in Pearl Harbour. (BL90) Voluntary church service on the quarterdeck of HMCS ONTARIO. RCN neg # ON-0193 (BL91) HMCS ONTARIO'S ball team. RCN neg # ON-0205 (BL92) Officers on HMCS ONTARIO. Lt Bernard Lake, back row seated 2nd from left. RCN neg # ON-0226. This photo is also posted on the ship's company photo page for HMCS ONTARIO (BL93) Lt Bernard Lake in front of "Y" Turret on HMCS ONTARIO. Note the depression stops, rails and wheels to prevent the guns from firing at the deck
Pearl Harbour
(BL94) HMCS ONTARIO arriving at Pearl Harbor. RCN neg # ON-0250 (BL95) HMCS ONTARIO alongside at Pearl Harbor (BL96) Pali Road and Pass (BL97) Diamond Head, Oahu (BL98) Liberty men from HMCS ONTARIO being inspected before going ashore in Hawaii. RCN neg # ON-0214
Historical note: Pali Road and Pass is the site of the Battle of Nuuanu, where in 1795 "King Kamehameha I" won the struggle that finally united Oahu under his rule. This fierce battle claimed hundreds of soldiers' lives, many of which were forced off of the Pali's sheer cliffs.
(BL99) HMCS ONTARIO ship's company photo - Pearl Harbour. RCN neg # ON-0215. This photo is also posted on the ship's company photo page for HMCS ONTARIO (BL100-BL101) HMCS ONTARIO at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor to Esquimalt
(BL102) HMCS ONTARIO "Taking them green" Pearl Harbor to Esquimalt. RCN neg # ON-0250 (BL103) HMCS ONTARIO experiencing a beam sea enroute Pearl Harbor to Esquimalt. RCN neg # ON-0253
Arrival Esquimalt
(BL104) HMCS ONTARIO arriving in Esquimalt - RCN neg # F-4760 (BL105) HMCS ONTARIO arriving in Esquimalt - RCN neg # F-4765 (BL106) HMCS ONTARIO passing Fizgard Lighthouse on her return to Esquimalt. RCN neg # F-4763 (BL107) "CRESCENT in the way! Capt Grant was angry." HMCS CRESCENT, manoeuvering the the harbour, blocks HMCS ONTARIO'S arrival in ESQUIMALT. Note the wake as ONTARIO'S engines aree put astern. RCN neg # F-4764. HMCS UGANDA alongside at "C" jetty (BL108) With CRESCENT out of the way, HMCS ONTARIO manoeuvers to come alongside in Esquimalt
(BL109) HMCS ONTARIO approaching the jetty on her return from Hong Kong. RCN neg # F-4757 (BL110) HMCS ONTARIO coming alongside in Esquimalt with family waiting to greet them. RCN neg # F-4766 (BL111) Unknown dignitary addressing the crew of HMCS ONTARIO after her arrival in Esquimalt. Capt Grant standing to the left of the photo. RCN neg # F-4756 (BL112) Capt Grant address the ship's company of HMCS ONTARIO after her return to Esquimalt. RCN neg # F-4762 (BL113) Crew of HMCS ONTARIO mustered on the quarterdeck after arrival in Esquimalt. Capt Grant leading dignitaries forward. RCN neg # F-4755. The stern of HMCS GATINEAU H61 visible astern of ONTARIO
Various Ships
(BL114) HMCS IROQUOIS G89 (BL115) HMCS LA MALBAIE K273 - RCN negative # R-158-R (BL116) HMCS QUINTE J166 - RCN negative # NP1013 (BL117) HMS SEAWOLF N47 - RCN negative # H-6946 (BL118) HMCS ST CLAIR I65
(BL119-BL120) HMCS MONTGOMERY G95 and the Free French submarine SURCOUF, Halifax
Historical note for the French submarine SURCOUF: SURCOUF participated in the capture of the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon from the Vichy French on 24 Dec 1941. SURCOUF vanished on the night of 18/19 February 1942, about 130 km (70 nmi) north of Cristóbal, Panama, while en route for Tahiti, via the Panama Canal. An American report concluded the disappearance was due to an accidental collision with the American freighter Thompson Lykes. Steaming alone from Guantanamo Bay on what was a very dark night, the freighter reported hitting and running down a partially submerged object which scraped along her side and keel. Her lookouts heard people in the water but, thinking she had hit a U-boat, the freighter did not stop although cries for help were heard in English. A signal was sent to Panama describing the incident. (source: wikipedia)
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