HMCS AGASSIZ K129

 

Flower Class Corvette

 


 

HMCS AGASSIZ - May 1944

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

 

Laid down: 29 Apr 1940

Launched: 15 Aug 1940

Commissioned: 23 Jan 1941

Paid off: 14 Jun 1945

Fate: Sold in 1946 to Irving & Brunswick Motors, Moncton, NB and broken up at Sydney, N.S. in 1946

 

Built by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., Vancouver, BC, AGASSIZ was commissioned at Vancouver on 23 Jan 1941. On 17 Mar 1941, HMCS ALBERNI, HMCS AGASSIZ and HMCS WETASKIWIN departed Esquimalt for Halifax. Enroute they stopped at San Pedro, California for fuel, where a party for the crew, hosted by actress Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks, was held for them. They arrived at Halifax on 13 Apr 1941. On 23 May 1941, ALBERNI, AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN left Halifax for St. John's to join the recently formed NEF. She sailed early in Jun 1941 with a convoy for Iceland and was thereafter in continuous service as an ocean escort until the end of 1943. On 18 Jun 1942, HMCS AGASSIZ picked up 51 survivors from the American merchant Seattle Spirit that was torpedoed and sunk by U-124 in the North Atlantic. In Sep 1941, she took part in a major battle around convoy SC.44, rescuing survivors of her torpedoed sister, HMCS LEVIS. She was also part of the escort of the hard-pressed convoy ON.115 in July 1942. On 05 Jan 1943, she commenced a major refit at Liverpool, N.S., completing in mid-Mar 1943, and in Apr 1943 was assigned to newly designated EG-C-1. At some point prior to her next refit ALBERNI'S boat crew had to transfer the medial officer to a US merchant ship in rough winter seas. She arrived at New York on 16 Dec1943 for another major refit, including extension of her fo'c's'le, completing 04 Mar 1944. After working up in St. Margaret's Bay in Apr 1944, she joined EG W-2 of WEF, transferring in Aug 1944 to W-7. She spend the remainder of the war with W-7, being paid off on 14 Jun 1945, at Sydney, and was broken up in 1946.

 


 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          Convoys escorted

 


 

Commanding Officers

 

LCdr Bernard Dodds Leitch Johnson, RCNR - 23 Jan 1941 - 14 Mar 1943

A/LCdr Edward Middlemas More, RCNR - 15 Mar 1943 - 12 Mar 1944

A/LCdr Freeman Elkins Burrows, RCNVR - 14 Mar 1944 - 08 Jan 1945

LT John Patrick Jarvis, RCNVR - 09 Jan 1945 - unk

  


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 


 

Former Crew Members

 

Beullac, Pierre Berthellet, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1944

 

Covernton, George Stephen, SLt, RCNVR - Jan 1941

 

Derry, William Charles, Lt, RCNVR - 17 Mar 1944

 

Dewar, John Thomas, SLt, RCNVR - 16 May 1942

 

Dunn, James Alexander, Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1941

 

Gardner, Donald Hambidge, Slt, RCNVR - 26 Feb 1945

 

Gauthier, Fernand 

Haugan, Wilbert Martin, Lt, RCNVR - 11 Jul 1942

 

Hodding, Aubrey Vyvyan, War (E), RCNR - 16 Feb 1944

 

Hoffman, Harris Oscar, Lt, RCNVR - 24 Feb 1944

 

Lloyd, Henry Douglas, A/Lt, RCNVR - 17 Mar 1944

 

Mayhew, M.J., AB - 1944 (of Sturgeon Falls ON)

 

McCulloch, Thomas Alexander, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Apr 1945

 

Poitras, Roland, AB - 1944 (of Ville La Salle, Montreal, QC)

 

Shaw, W.C., LS - 1944 (of Winnipeg, MB)

 

Taylor, Stephen Dalrymple, Mate, RCNR - Jan 1941

 

Thomas, Gordon Costett, Lt, RCNVR - 06 May 1945

 

Wight, Cleat

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

AGZ001

AGZ002

AGZ003

AGZ004

AGZ005

(AGZ001) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 - RCN photo

(AGZ002) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 Jacket Patch  //  Courtesy of Daron Fairfax

(AGZ003) HMCS AGASSIZ K129  //  Source: Flickr photo collection of Ron Bell

(AGZ004) HMCS AGASSIZ K129  //  From the collection of Nick Vukson, Tel (S.O), RCNVR  //  Courtesy of John Vukson

(AGZ005) Unidentified ratings eating a meal aboard HMCS AGASSIZ, Esquimalt 1941  //  Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-139897

 

AGZ006

AGZ007

AGZ008

AGZ009

AGZ010

(AGZ006) Gun shield art on HMCS AGASSIZ. Photo taken in Greenock, Scotland, 1942  //  From the collection of Larry Hartman, Tel, RCN  //  Courtesy of Ray Hartman

(AGZ007) HMCS AGASSIZ K129  //  From the collection of Larry Hartman, Tel, RCN  //  Courtesy of Ray Hartman

(AGZ008) HMCS AGASSIZ K129  //  From the collection of Ivan Chamberlain, AB.AA3, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Dave Chamberlain

(AGZ009) HMCS AGASSIZ K129  //  From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Denis Messier

(AGZ010) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 riding high following astern of HMCS ORILLIA K119  //  From the collection of Lt W. Ralph Moxley, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Robert Moxley

 

AGZ011

AGZ012

(AGZ011) HMCS AGASSIZ'S seaboat crew transferred a medical officer in rough seas  -  AB M.J. Mayhew, AB Roland Poitras, AB Dale Hudgins, Sig T.I. Moore, LS W.C. Shaw and Lt Robert Douty  //  Crow's Nest newspaper Feb 1944

(AGZ012) Newspaper article on AGASSIZ'S boat transfer of the convoy medical officer

 



 

TM01

TM02

TM03

TM04

TM05

(TM01) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 - circa 1944

(TM02) Sig Thomas (Tim) Moore, HMCS AGASSIZ K129

(TM03) Lowering AGASSIZ's seaboat

(TM04) Sea boat crew rowing back towards HMCS AGASSIZ K129

(TM05) Sig Thomas (Tim) Moore on HMCS AGASSIZ - note the ice covering all over the ship. HMCS WETASKIWIN tied up alongside HMCS AGASSIZ

 

TM06

TM07

TM08

TM09

TM10

(TM06) Tel Frank (Mac) McAleese on HMCS AGASSIZ - note the ice covering all over the ship. HMCS WETASKIWIN tied up alongside HMCS AGASSIZ

(TM07) HMCS AGASSIZ K129 biting into a wave

(TM08) Corvettes entering St. John's, NFLD.  HMCS AGASSIZ in the foreground

(TM09) Frank McAleese (right) and an unknown sailor on HMCS AGASSIZ K129

(TM10) 4-inch gun with gunshield art on HMCS AGASSIZ K129

 

TM11

TM12

TM13

TM14

TM15

(TM11) Survivors of the SS Seattle Spirit, torpedoed and sunk on 18 Jun 1942. Part of Convoy ON.102 (Liverpool to Halifax 09-25 Jun 1942). Survivors picked up by HMCS AGASSIZ. Four crew from the Seattle Spirit were lost  //  Click here to view the back of the photo

(TM12) Sig Thomas (Tim) Moore perched on the Carley floats at sea

(TM13) Thomas (Tim) Moore (left) and Frank McAleese on the 4-inch gun of HMCS AGASSIZ

(TM14) Hands fallen in and being inspected on the fo'c's'le of HMCS AGASSIZ

(TM15) Ladder leading up to the after section of the bridge of HMCS AGASSIZ K129

 

TM17

TM18

(TM16) Three shipmates - (L-R) Tim Moore, Frank McAleese, unknown

(TM17) Crew of HMCS AGASSIZ on the jetty - unknown person in civilians

From the collection of Thomas I. (Tim) Moore, RCNVR

Courtesy of China Moore King

 



 

Convoys escorted during the Second World War

 

Convoy Desig.

Convoy Departs from

Arrives at

Join as escort

Depart Convoy 

HX.127

Halifax

(16 May 1941)

Liverpool

(02 Jun 1941)

16 May 1941

Unk

HX.130

Halifax

(01 Jun 1941)

Liverpool

(20 Jun 1941)

04 Jun 1941

15 Jun 1941

SC.33

Sydney, CB

(01 Jun 1941)

Liverpool

(21 Jun 1941)

04 Jun 1941

15 Jun 1941

OB.336

Liverpool

(15 Jun 1941)

Dispersed

(25 Jun 1941)

15 Jun 1945

25 Jun 1941 (Dispersed)

HX.136

Halifax

(30 Jun 1941)

Liverpool

(18 Jul 1941)

04 Jul 1941

13 Jul 1941

SC.36

Sydney, CB

(01 Jul 1941)

Liverpool

(19 Jul 1941)

04 Jul 1941

13 Jul 1941

OB.347

Liverpool

(16 Jul 1941)

Dispersed

(31 Jul 1941)

22 Jul 1941

31 Jul 1941 (Dispersed)

HX.143

Halifax

(05 Aug 1941)

Liverpool

(20 Aug 1941)

08 Aug 1941

17 Aug 1941

ON.8

Liverpool

(16 Aug 1941)

Dispersed

(25 Aug 1941)

21 Aug 1941

25 Aug 1941 (Dispersed)

SC.44

Sydney, CB

(11 Sep 1941)

Liverpool

(30 Sep 1941)

12 Sep 1941

22 Sep 1941

ON.19A

Reykjavik

(28 Sep 1941)

Dispersed

(04 Oct 1941)

28 Sep 1941

04 Oct 1941 (Dispersed)

SC.50

Syndey, CB

(17 Oct 1941)

Liverpool

(04 Nov 1941)

19 Oct 1941

31 Oct 1941

ON.32

Liverpool

(01 Nov 1941)

Halifax

(16 Nov 1941)

06 Nov 1941

14 Nov 1941

SC.56

Sydney, CB

(22 Nov 1941)

Liverpool

(10 Dec 1941)

24 Nov 1941

05 Dec 1941

HX.183

Halifax

(02 Apr 1942)

Liverpool

(15 Apr 1942)

02 Apr 1942

05 Apr 1942

HX.184

Halifax

(08 Apr 1942)

Liverpool

(20 Apr 1942)

12 Apr 1942

19 Apr 1942

HX.190

Halifax

(17 May 1942)

Liverpool

(28 May 1942)

20 May 1942

27 May 1942

ON.102

Liverpool

(09 Jun 1942)

Halifax

(25 Jun 1942)

10 Jun 1942

21 Jun 1942

HX.196

Halifax

(29 Jun 1942)

Liverpool

(10 Jul 1942)

02 Jul 1942

10 Jul 1942

ON.114

Liverpool

(19 Jul 1942)

Dispersed

(04 Aug 1942)

20 Jul 1942

30 Jul 1942

ON.115

Liverpool

(24 Jul 1942)

Boston

(08 Aug 1942)

31 Jul 1942

03 Aug 1942

SC.97

Halifax

(22 Aug 1942)

Liverpool

(07 Sep 1942)

22 Aug 1942

26 Aug 1942

SC.98

Halifax

(29 Aug 1942)

Liverpool

(13 Sep 1942)

02 Sep 1942

08 Sep 1942

ON.131

Liverpool

(18 Sep 1942)

New York City

(04 Oct 1942)

19 Sep 1942

28 Sep 1942

HX.210

New York City

(01 Oct 1942)

Liverpool

(16 Oct 1942)

07 Oct 1942

14 Oct 1942

ON.141

Liverpool

(24 Oct 1942)

New York City

(10 Nov 1942)

26 Oct 1942

03 Nov 1942

SC.109

New York City

(09 Nov 1942)

Liverpool

(30 Nov 1942)

16 Nov 1942

27 Nov 1942

ON.152

Liverpool

(09 Dec 1942)

New York City

(31 Dec 1942)

10 Dec 1942

28 Dec 1942

SC.127

Halifax

(16 Apr 1943)

Liverpool

(03 May 1943)

20 Apr 1943

02 May 1943

ON.184

Liverpool

(15 May 1943)

New York City

(31 May 1943)

16 May 1943

25 May 1943

HX.242

New York City

(31 May 1943)

Liverpool

(15 Jun 1943)

06 Jun 1943

14 Jun 1943

ON.190

Liverpool

(24 Jun 1943)

New York City

(09 Jul 1943)

25 Jun 1943

03 Jul 1943

HX.247

New York City

(08 Jul 1943)

Liverpool

(22 Jul 1943)

14 Jul 1943

21 Jul 1943

ON.195

Liverpool

(31 Jul 1943)

New York City

(13 Aug 1943)

01 Aug 1943

08 Aug 1943

HX.252

New York City

(14 Aug 1943)

Liverpool

(28 Aug 1943)

20 Aug 1943

27 Aug 1943

ON.201

Liverpool

(09 Sep 1943)

New York City

(24 Sep 1943)

10 Sep 1943

18 Sep 1943

HX.258

New York City

(22 Sep 1943)

Liverpool

(06 Oct 1943)

28 Sep 1943

05 Oct 1943

ON.207

Liverpool

(18 Oct 1943)

New York City

(04 Nov 1943)

19 Oct 1943

28 Oct 1943

HX.264

New York City

(31 Oct 1943)

Liverpool

(17 Nov 1943)

05 Nov 1943

16 Nov 1943

ON.213

Liverpool

(26 Nov 1943)

New York City

(14 Dec 1943)

27 Nov 1943

07 Dec 1943

HX.282

New York City

(06 Mar 1944)

Liverpool

(22 Mar 1944)

06 Mar 1944

08 Mar 1944

ON.236

Liverpool

(11 May 1944)

New York City

(27 May 1944)

24 May 1944

27 May 1944

HX.292

New York City

(19 May 1944)

Liverpool

(02 Jun 1944)

21 May 1944

24 May 1944

HX.294

New York City

(02 Jun 1944)

Liverpool

(19 Jun 1944)

02 Jun 1944

09 Jun 1944

ON.242

Liverpool

(25 Jun 1944)

New York City

(11 Jul 1944)

05 Jul 1944

07 Jul 1944

HX.299

New York City

(11 Jul 1944)

Liverpool

(24 Jul 1944)

15 Jul 1944

16 Jul 1944

ON.245

Liverpool

(18 Jul 1944)

New York City

(02 Aug 1944)

28 Jul 1944

30 Jul 1944

HX.302

New York City

(04 Aug 1944)

Liverpool

(17 Aug 1944)

06 Aug 1944

08 Aug 1944

ON.247

Liverpool

(02 Aug 1944)

New York City

(15 Aug 1944)

10 Aug 1944

15 Aug 1944

HX.304

New York City

(17 Aug 1944)

Liverpool

(01 Sep 1944)

17 Aug 1944

20 Aug 1944

ON.255

Liverpool

(22 Sep 1944)

New York City

(09 Oct 1944)

04 Oct 1944

09 Oct 1944

HX.314

New York City

(15 Oct 1944)

Liverpool

(29 Oct 1944)

15 Oct 1944

19 Oct 1944

ON.260

Southend

(15 Oct 1944)

Halifax

(30 Oct 1944)

27 Oct 1944

01 Nov 1944

HX.315

New York City

(20 Oct 1944)

Liverpool

(03 Nov 1944)

23 Oct 1944

26 Oct 1944

HX.319

New York City

(09 Nov 1944)

Liverpool

(25 Nov 1944)

09 Nov 1944

13 Nov 1944

SC.161

Halifax

(17 Nov 1944)

Liverpool

(04 Dec 1944)

17 Nov 1944

19 Nov 1944

ON.266

Southend

(12 Nov 1944)

New York City

(03 Dec 1944)

26 Nov 1944

03 Dec 1944

HX.325

New York City

(09 Dec 1944)

Liverpool

(23 Dec 1944)

09 Dec 1944

12 Dec 1944

SC.163

Halifax

(17 Dec 1944)

Liverpool

(31 Dec 1944)

17 Dec 1944

20 Dec 1944

ONS.38

Liverpool

(13 Dec 1944)

Halifax

(02 Jan 1945)

27 Dec 1944

02 Jan 1945

BX.140

Boston

(05 Jan 1945)

Halifax

(07 Jan 1945)

05 Jan 1945

07 Jan 1945

SC.165

Halifax

(16 Jan 1945)

Liverpool

(31 Jan 1945)

16 Jan 1945

20 Jan 1945

ON.278

Southend

(12 Jan 1945)

New York City

(31 Jan 1945)

24 Jan 1945

27 Jan 1945

HX.336

New York City

(02 Feb 1945)

Liverpool

(14 Feb 1945)

02 Feb 1945

05 Feb 1945

ON.280

Southend

(22 Jan 1945)

New York City

(09 Feb 1945)

06 Feb 1945

07 Feb 1945

 


 

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