HMCS BEACON HILL K407 / 303

 

River Class / Prestonian Class Frigate

 

 

 

SEMPER LIBER

 

Post WW II Badge

HMCS BEACON HILL - Jan 1966.  2nd Squadron

Courtesy of Robert Berbeck

 

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1944-45,   English Channel  1944-45

 

 

Laid down: 16 Jul 1943

Launched: 06 Nov 1943

Commissioned: 16 May 1944

Paid off 05 Feb 1946

Re-Commissioned: 16 May 1949

Paid off:

Re-Commissioned: 15 Feb 1950

Paid off:

Re-Commissioned 15 Apr 1951

Paid off: 1954 for Prestonian class conversion

Re-Commissioned 21 Dec 1957

Paid off: 15 Sep 1967

Fate: Broken up in 1968

 

Built by Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt, BC, she was commissioned there on 16 May 1944. BEACON HILL arrived at Halifax on 11 Jul 1944, having escorted Puncher from New Orleans to New York en route, and proceeded to Bermuda to work up. On her return to Halifax she left in Sep 1944 to join EG 26, an RCN support group based at Londonderry, but for varying periods was detached to Plymouth and Portsmouth. She remained in U.K. waters for the balance of the European war, leaving Greenock for home on 28 May 1945. Intended for Pacific service, she underwent tropicalization refit at Liverpool, N.S., from Jun to Nov 1945, and sailed from Shelburne for Esquimalt on 22 Dec 1945. She was paid off at Esquimalt on 06 Feb 1946, but re-commissioned in the summer of 1949 for cadet training. Paid off later in 1949, she was re-commissioned on 15 Feb 1950 and paid off at the end of the summer training cruises. She was re-commissioned again on 15 Apr 1951.  During 1951, the West Coast training flotilla, consisting of the CRUSADER, ANTIGONISH and BEACON HILL, sailed on three 21-day UNTD cadet training cruises to Pearl Harbor - 08 May, 27 Jun and 08 Aug.  BEACON HILL was again paid off in 1954 for conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort, was commissioned as such on 21 Dec 1957, and served on the west coast until finally paid off on 15 Sep 1967. She was broken up in 1968 at Sakai, Japan.

 

 

RCN Memories:     Gut Instincts or Don't forget the funnel covers

 

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

A/Cdr Edward T. Simmons, RCNVR - 16 May 1944 - 02 Mar 1945

Lt Hall William Frederick Tingley, RCNVR - 03 Mar 1945 - unk

Cdr Robert Mariott Aubrey, RN - 05 Mar 1945 - unk

LCdr Howard Lee Quinn, DSC, RCNVR - 13 Sep 1945 - 05 Feb 1946

Lt Joern Eilert Korning, RCN - 16 May 1949 - 15 Sep 1949

LCdr Robert Waugh Murdoch, RCN - 15 Apr 1950 - 23 Sep 1951

LCdr J.W. McDowall, RCN - 24 Sep 1951 - 20 Sep 1953

Cdr George Albert LaRue, RCN - 21 Sep 1953 - 04 Jan 1954

LCdr P.F. Wilson, RCN - 21 Dec 1957 - 14 Nov 1958

LCdr Frederick Graham Henshaw, RCN - 15 Nov 1958 - 01 Dec 1958

LCdr W.S. Blandy, RCN - 02 Dec 1958 - 18 Aug 1959

LCdr A.G. Kilpatrick, RCN - 19 Aug 1959 - 24 Aug 1961

LCdr Jack Leroy Panabaker, RCN - 25 Aug 1961 - 17 May 1962

LCdr Arthur Clark McMillan, RCN - 18 May 1962 - 15 Sep 1963

LCdr Keith Murray Young, RCN - 16 Sep 1963 - 27 Oct 1964

LCdr W.A. Hughes, RCN - 28 Oct 1964 - unk

LCdr Gordon Voldar Hartman, RCN - 10 Jan 1966 - 01 May 1966

LCdr Pierre Edouard Gerard Simard, RCN - 02 May 1966 - 11 Sep 1966

LCdr Sidney Charles Gould, RCN - 12 Sep 1966 - 15 Sep 1967

 

 

Captain for the day

 

Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.

 

OS Tillie - 1950

 

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

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Former Crew Members

 

Ambrose, Paul Hamilton, Paym/Lt, RCNVR - 06 Jun 1944

 

Aust, Edward Girardot, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Feb 1945

 

Bauer, Wilfred A. (Wilf), Radar Plotter

 

Bell, George Alfred (Dinger), Sto 

 

Berbeck, Robert, Jun 1967 - Sep 1967

 

Bernatchez, Joseph Louis Philippe, Inst/Lt, RCN - 16 May 1949

 

Borland, William John, Lt, RCNVR - 21 Jul 1944

 

Burton, Len, RCNR 

 

Carmichael, Currie McRae, Lt, RCNVR - 15 Apr 1945

Crawford, George Lyndon, Lt, RCNVR - 01 May 1944

 / 16 May 1944

 

Dawson, Kenneth Nelson, V56258, RCNVR

 

Fleming, John Henderson, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - Jan 1945

 

Greene, Justin Wilfred de Puisaye, Lt, RCN(R) - 10 Jun 1950

 

Hunt, William George, Lt, RCN - 16 May 1949, XO

 

Jones, Marus Ormond, Lt, RCNVR - 09 Feb 1945

 

Kent, Roland McCormick, Lt, RCNVR

 

Kellington, Thomas Martin, Cd (E), RCN - 15 May 1950

Ladouceur, Alaxandre (Alex), U-40912, Cdt, RCN(R), UNTD - 08 May 1951 Pearl Harbor training cruise

 

Longworthy, William Harold, Lt (E), RCNVR - 22 Feb 1944 / 16 May 1944

 

Morrison, David Robert, Lt, RCNVR - 04 Jun 1944

 

Robertson, Gary, AB.EM, RCN - 1963-1964

 

Shuckburgh, Trevor Cole, LCdr, RCN, Sea Training Officer

 

Smith, Roy, Lt (E), RCN - 16 May 1949

 

Theriault, Robert (Bob), Signalman

 

Tilford, N. Allan, UNTD - summer 1951

 

Whittle, Murray Russell - WW2

 

Wilson, Roger Allardyce, Sto 1c

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS BEACON HILL K407 with wartime camouflage

 

DND / RCN Photo

HMCS BEACON HILL in wartime camouflage circa 1944.

Source: CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

Photo Catalogue No. VR991.383.1

Newspaper article on the commissioning of HMCS BEACON HILL in Esquimalt

Kenneth Dawson - 2nd from left

From the collection of Kenneth Dawson

Courtesy of Randy Dawson

V.E. Day on HMCS BEACON HILL K407 - Cdr Ted Simmons addresses his crew

 

     

 

From the collection of Dick James

Courtesy of Steve Hlasny

Splice the Mainbrace on HMCS BEACON HILL circa 1945

Gordon Sommer front, centre. Other three sailors unknown

from the collection of Gordon Sommer

Courtesy of Janet Hillaby

Music in the mess deck on HMCS BEACON HILL K405 circa 1944-1945

Gordon Sommer in front playing guitar. Other sailors unknown

From the collection of Gordon Sommer

Courtesy of Janet Hillaby

HMCS BEACON HILL K407 circa 1944

 

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(1) Messmates on BEACON HILL  L-R: Tommy Stephens, ERA4c of North Vancouver, BC; A. MacFarlane, ERA5c of Toronto, ON; Kenneth N. Dawson, ERA4c of Oshawa, ON; John E. Cooper, ERA4c of Vancouver, BC; Thomas Benny Graham, ERA4c of Montreal, QC; Jack Danes, ERA3c, of Victoria, BC; Andy Lamont, ERA4c of Edmonton, AB  (2) Back of photo #1  (3) Lt Longworthy on his way up to the bridge. Taken 3 weeks before Xmas 1944  (4) "A picture of the boys while at Bermuda. It was taken while waiting for the boat race to start. We are sitting on the port anchor chain up on the focsle. Just the way everyone goes around in the tropics. Doc Cooper, Benny Graham, unknown, Andy Lamont, Jack Danes"   (5) "Some prisoners being taken off HMCS Thetford Mines. The sub was sunk by our group (E.G. 26) when the sub ran into the New Glasgow. (last sub got by Canadians in the war)" Webmaster's note: The prisoners were from U-1003 which was rammed by New Glasgow.  (6) Ken Dawson holding a couple of fish on HMCS BEACON HILL.  Back of photo - "Myself holding up some real fish we picked up after dropping a pattern of charges."  (7) HMCS New Glasgow K320 alongside HMCS BEACON HILL at sea  (8) HMCS Jonquiere alongside HMCS BEACON HILL at sea.  Back of photo - "HMCS Jonquiere came alongside to transfer some mail to us. In the same group as us."

 

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(9) Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS BEACON HILL  (10) Jack Danes, Alex MacFarlane and Andy Lamont standing in front of the 12 pounder  (11) "Floating fortress anchored down outside of Portsmouth"  (Historical note: The floating fortress in photo #11 is the NAB Tower Lighthouse, located in the English Channel southeast of Bembridge, just off the eastern end of the Isle of Wight. Click on the link to read the history of the NAB Tower Lighthouse) (12) A German escape Life belt taken from a sub got by Montreal and Ribble at X-mas.  (Historical Note:  On 17 Dec 1944, Montreal rescued survivors of U 1209, which ran aground and was wrecked on Wolf Rock southwest of Land's End.)  (13) "ERAs gun crew.  A. Lamont sighting gun; J. Danes holding tray for shell; A. McFarlane going to fire gun; a stoker holding a star shell"  (14) V.E. Day on HMCS BEACON HILL - Back Row PO James; MacFarlane / Middle Row OA Sunby; EA Hancock, Dallin, Sto PO Olive, Tommy and Doc; TGM Butler; Sto PO Jelleau; Jack Danes / Front Row - Shipwright Tompson; PO Carrey; Sarg Iszy; ERA Louches; PO Rafuse; ERA MacDonald  (15) VE Day on HMCS BEACON HILL - James & MacFarlane / Sunby, Hancock, Dallin, Olive, Stephens, Cooper, Edwards / Carey, Thompson, Louches, Rafues, MacDonald / Iszy - Sergeant Dental Corp  (16) HMCS BEACON HILL heading to sea.  

 

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(17) "taken one Sunday in Bermuda right after divisions with everyone dressed in whites.  Back Row - MacFarlane, Cooper, Danes, Stephens. Front Row - Lamont, Graham, Dawson  (18) "Lt Hardy Gunnery Officer singing a song on the quarter deck at V.E. day celebration"  (19) "Lt Longworthy Engineering Officer singing a song at V.E. day celebration"

 

From the collection of Kenneth Dawson

Courtesy of Randy Dawson

HMCS BEACON HILL  303 - 09 May 1959

Source: City of Vancouver Archives. Photographer: Walter E. Frost

Lowering the ensign for the last time on HMCS BEACON HILL.  P2SG Rosie Dale on the right and LSSG Robert Berbeck on the left

Courtesy of Robert Berbeck

Roger Allardyce Wilson, Stoker

Only son of Harold and Margaret Wilson, Roger was born at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, November 6, 1925. He attended Hollywood and Langruth schools. He enlisted on July 8, 1943, at H.M.C.S. CHIPPAWA, Winnipeg. After three months training, he went to Esquimalt on the west coast where he took courses at H.M.C.S. GIVENCHY and H.M.C.S. NADEN I. In the spring of 1944, he joined the H.M.C.S. BEACON HILL and via the Panama Canal went overseas. He was stationed at Londonderry, Ireland, where the BEACON HILL belonged to the striking force. At the close of hostilities Roger returned to Canada in the BEACON HILL and volunteered for Pacific duty. He was at Liverpool, N.S., until November, 1945, when he received his discharge at H.M.C.S. CHIPPAWA, Winnipeg. He returned home and after a two-year course in agriculture at the University of Manitoba, he started farming in the Langruth district.

Source: "A Tribute to the Soldiers and Pioneers of the Langruth District", published 1950

CPO2 BN4 Harold Wesley Bingham receiving his CD

 

CPO2 (BN4) Harold Wesley Bingham (born 11-10-1920 - died 01-02-2001) was the last Cox'n on the BEACON HILL before she was paid off. Her last cruise was a West Coast "show the flag" down the Pacific Coast as far as Mexico before working her way home back to Victoria. Dad was fortunate to receive one of the original ship's copper rum tots with BEACON HILL's crest attached and it was engraved by the boys onboard "HMCS BEACON HILL 1944-1957" with Dad's name on the back.

 

Courtesy of Stafford Bingham

HMCS BEACON HILL 303

Courtesy of Gary Robertson

HMCS BEACON HILL 303

Courtesy of Gary Robertson

HMCS BEACON HILL 303

 

DND / RCN Photo

 

 

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(GB-BCN-001) Newspaper article on the collision between HMCS BEACON HILL 303 and HMCS NEW GLASGOW 315 off Hawaii - year unknown

(GB-BCN-002) HMCS BEACON HILL 303  //  From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster

(GB-BCN-003) G.A. Broster (left) on HMCS BEACON HILL - date unknown  //  From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster

 

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Christmas 1950 onboard HMCS BEACON HILL

(GB-BCN-004)  A bit of fun on Christmas morning. “A funeral for Don Hamilton. Boy was he suffering from a hangover.”  On Left: Stan Hill/Stan Stark.  On Right: John Hodaseck, George (Shorty) Don Lampert.  Under the flag and wreath is Don Hamilton

(GB-BCN-005) The other end of the table

(GB-BCN-006) The drinking session before the dinner Christmas 1950

 

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Christmas 1950 onboard HMCS BEACON HILL

(GB-BCN-007) Dishing out dinner. The server is Norm Dawe

(GB-BCN-008) Some of the boys preparing the meal. The 3 PO’s in the back served everyone

(GB-BCN-009) The Captain for the Day and the Captain – OS Tillie (CO for the day) and LCdr Murdock

(GB-BCN-010) The 3 cooks that cooked the dinner.  Left: P.O. Ralph Caldwell, Right: holding cakes is Gordie Long. Two of the six tturkeys are on Ralph’s right.

From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster

Courtesy of Cathy Robinson

 

 

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