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HMCS DONNACONA
MONTREAL HALF-COMPANY "E" and "F" RCNVR
MONTREAL COMPANY RCNVR
Cartier Division RCNVR (francophone) / Montreal Division RCNVR (Anglophone)
NSCM CARTIER (Francophone) / HMCS MONTREAL (Anglophone)
Montreal, Quebec
In Montreal, two Half-Companies (totaling 50 officers and sailors each) were formed for the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and were established on June 28, 1923. They were named the Montreal (English) Half-Company and the Montreal (French) Half-Company, RCNVR. These titles would be abbreviated to Montreal "E" and "F" Half-Companies. Again in January 1927, they were changed to "A" and "B" respectively. One year later they would be amalgamated to form the Montreal Company, RCNVR. After several years another name change was due so in 1935, the term "Division" would replace "Company".
The separation along language lines would be reintroduced in June 1939, when the Francophone CARTIER Division was established. On November 1, 1941, it would be commissioned as HMCS CARTIER, and at the same time the Anglophone Montreal Division would be commissioned as HMCS MONTREAL. The Anglophone unit would go through one more name change in 1943 and become HMCS DONNACONA so that the name "Montréal" could be used for the newly built River-class frigate. At the end of the Second World War, we would see a reorganization of the Reserves in Canada. On September 15, 1945 HMCS CARTIER would be paid off and merged with HMCS DONNACONA.
In 1944, HMCS DONNACONA's football team (combined with players from HMCS HYACINTHE, also in Montreal) won the Grey Cup, beating the Hamilton Wildcats 7-6 at the Civic Stadium to bring the cup to Montreal for only the second time. In the summer of 2007, HMCS DONNACONA was moved to a new purpose-built federal government facility at 3525 St-Jacques Street shared with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency.
Photos and Documents Seamanship Notes - HMCS Montreal
Commanding Officers
Lt Frank Meade, RCNVR - 14 Mar 1923
OS, RCNVR died - 07 Feb 1942
Photos and Documents
DON000 (DON000) Parade night at RCNVR Division Montreal - Jul 1940 From the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM Courtesy of Gary Medford
Montreal Division RCNVR 1940-1941 Hockey Team
(1) Rogerson, W. (2) Gurnham, J. (3) Turner, E. (4) Dupras, J. (5) Howard, G. (6) Boyer, F.J., SLt, Coach (7) Turner, F. Team Captain (8) Rcaine, K. (9) Caldwell, M. (10) Watson, J. (11) Bird, H., Lt, E.O. (12) Newman, Doug., (13) Mulvanie, R. (14) Fullerton, R., (15) Dussalt, P. (16) McRobie, D.R., Pay-Lt, Team Manager
From the collection of Harry Douglas (Doug) Newman, PO.HSD, RCNVR
Courtesy of Brian Newman
New Entry Training - 25 Jul - 10 Oct 1944 HMCS DONNACONA Click on the above photo to view a larger image
From the collection Kealey Cummings, RCNVR
Courtesy of Charlene Cummings
(1) Cummings, Kealey
HMCS DONNACONA New Entry Cooks Course Photo photo between Dec 44 and Mar 1945
From the collection of C1CK John McGowan, RCN
Courtesy of Taryn McGowan
(3) O/Cook John McGowan
Post Second World War photos
Remembrance Parade in Montreal - c1960
(GM-DON051) UNTDs from HMCS DONNACONA heading to Hamilton, ON to crew Porte St Jean and Porte St Louis - May 1965 Art Kuiper on left reading newspaper, Gary Medford on right
Combined RCNR/Sea Cadet band rounding the NW corner of the drill hall of DONNACONA in a May 1963 Parade. Gary Medford (bottom photo) on snare drum left of the base drum
(GM-DON009) 12 information cards for ships and aircraft of the Royal Canadian Navy These information cards were available for the public at the quarterdeck of HMCS DONNACONA during the early 1960s From the collection of Gary Medford Courtesy of Gary Medford
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
