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HMCS DIGBY
J267 / 179
Bangor
Class Minesweeper
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Post wartime badge |
HMCS DIGBY J267
Credit: H.S. (Tim) Lee
Click on the above photo to view a larger image
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Battle honours and awards: Atlantic
1942-44, Gulf of St. Lawrence 1942, 1944
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Laid down: 20
Mar
1941
Launched: 05
Jun 1942
Commissioned: 26
Jul 1942
Paid off: 31
Jul 1945
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Re-commissioned: 29
Apr 1953
Paid off: 14
Nov 1956
Fate:
Sold in 1960 and broken up.
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Built at Levis, Que, she was commissioned at Quebec City on
26 Jul 1942, she
arrived at Halifax on 15 Aug 1942, and after completing workups at
Pictou, was assigned to WLEF. When WLEF was divided into escort
groups in Jun 1943, DIGBY became a member of EG W-5. In Apr
1944, she arrived at Lunenburg to commence a refit that continued at
Shelburne and at Halifax and was completed on 07 Aug 1944. She then
proceeded to Bermuda for workups. On returning she was allocated to
Sydney Force and, in Feb 1945, to Newfoundland Force. She was
paid off on 31 Jul 1945, and placed in reserve at Sydney. DIGBY was proposed for transfer to the marine section of the RCMP in 1945,
to be re-named Perry, but was not taken over. She lay in strategic
reserve at Sorel until re-acquired by the RCN in 1951 and refitted
for training duties. She was re-commissioned on 29 Apr 1953,
finally being paid off on 14 Nov 1956 and scrapped.
Photos
and Documents Ship's
company photos
Commanding Officers
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A/LCdr Stanely Warren Howell,
RCNR - 26 Jul 1942 - 09 Jul 1943
Skpr/Lt John Winston Sharpe,
RCNR - 10 Jul 1943 - 06 Apr 1944
Lt Edward Oswald Ormsby,
RCNVR - 07 Apr 1944 - 01 Jul 1945 |
LCdr E.G.T. Fisher,
RCN - 29 Apr 1953 - 07 Dec 1954
LCdr
Ellsworth T. Coggins,
RCN - 08 Dec 1954 - 28 Sep 1955
LCdr Arthur Francis Rowland,
RCN - 29 Sep 1955 - 14 Nov 1956 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
They shall not be
forgotten
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Armstrong,
W. C. Leslie
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Arnason,
Johann T.
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Bandoian,
John V.
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Chizy, Harold
I.
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Clark,
William G.
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Clarkson,
Norman
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Coates, John J.
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Coggins,
Ellsworth T.
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Dobing,
Sidney
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Doyle,
John
J.
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Elliott,
Ronald E.
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Emberly,
William G.
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Goyetche,
Arthur R.
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Jones,
Gordon G.
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MacLachlan,
James
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Marsh, Arthur
T.
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McLeod, Cathel
J.
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Ormsby,
Edward O.
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Paterson,
William A.
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Pelletier,
Alfred W.
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Pow,
James D.
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Pridham,
Ernest R.
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Rowland,
Arthur F.
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Schmitke,
Edmund G.
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Seager, R.
Benjamin |
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Sharpe,
John W.
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Slaght,
William H.
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Tedford,
Jack
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Urquhart,
Alexander H.
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Ship's Mascot |
Former Crew Members
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Armstrong,
William Charles Leslie, Tel - WW2
De
Lotbiniere, Edmond Joli, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1942
Dube,
Jacques, Ch/Skpr, RCNR - 26 Jul 1944
Farrand,
Charles Jackson Snider, Lt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1942
Ford,
Phillip Ernest, SLt, RCNVR - 21 Apr 1945
Griffin,
Thomas Francis, Lt, RCNVR - 28 Jun 1943
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Howe,
William, SLt, RCNVR - 05 Jun 1944
Kurtz,
Edmund Franklin, SLt, RCNVR - 15 Apr 1944
MacKinnon,
Donald Leslie John, A/Wt (E) RCNR - 30 Apr 1942 / Wt (E), RCNR - 26
Jul 1942
Peever,
William, CK
Perrault,
Paul, Skpr, RCNR - 13 Jul 1942
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Revfem,
Erik, Lt (E), RCNR - 11 Jun 1943
Stephens,
Robert Eric, A/Wt (E), RCNR - 20 Mar 1945
Tangye,
Walter Addy, SLt (E), RCNVR - 23 Jul 1944
Theriault,
Robert (Bob), SG, RCN
Wilcox,
John Philip, A/Lt, RCNVR - 10 Jun 1944
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Photos and
Documents
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Two
sailors posing with HMCS DIGBY'S risqué gunshield art. From the book
"Gunshield Graffiti" - painted on the canvas gun cover of
HMCS DIGBY, she lit up the waterfront for a brief 48 hours before
authorities decreed her removal.
From
the collection of Joe Black, AB,
RCNVR
Courtesy
of John H. Rickard
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A HMCS DIGBY J267 Christmas Card
The
card is signed by Bill Alderson. It is not know who Bill
Alderson is - perhaps he is the sailor mentioned in this wedding
announcement from the Aug 1943 edition of the Crowsnest.
Note:
the photo of the ship shows a Bangor Class minesweeper with a
pendant number of HMCS GRANBY J264
Courtesy of James Lapp
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HMCS DIGBY J267 - note the convoy on the
horizon
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee |
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Newspaper
article from the Picton Gazette, Picton, Ont. on the visit of 6 RCN
vessels - 14 Jul 1954
Courtesy
of John Lyons
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HMCS DIGBY 179, Ketchikan, Alaska, Jun 1955
From the collection of Sid Dobing
Courtesy of Brian Dobing
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Photos of H.S. (Tim) Lee on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee |
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H.S. (Tim) Lee (right) with unknown officer
playing cards in the Wardroom on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
HMCS Wetaskiwin K175 and HMCS Cobalt K124 in background on
the right
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Corvettes tied up at trot buoys - location unknown. HMCS Long
Branch K487 centre group, front - location unknown
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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H.S. (Tim) Lee (left) and unknown officer on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Corvettes tied up at trot buoys
HMCS Dawson K104 and HMCS Wetaskiwin K175 port side ships -
location unknown
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor sitting on the gun of HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor reading a book by the after gun
on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267 - corvettes
secured at trot buoys. HMCS Dawson K104 on right
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor with pistol by forward gun on
HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Two unknown sailors on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267 trailing a bunch of balloons -
reason unknown
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Up Spirits! Tot time on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors with ship's mascot on HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Sailing training with the ship's boat - HMCS DIGBY
J267
A couple of the boat crew look a little bored
with the evolution
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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A Catalina flying boat about to fly past HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor manning the Oerlikon gun on HMCS
DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown officers on in the bridge on HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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H.S. (Tim) Lee (left), other officer unknown,
in the bridge of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor manning the Oerlikon gun on HMCS
DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor, sentry on the jetty with the
mascot from HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Two unknown sailors with the ship's mascot on
HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor on the signal lamp on HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Ship's Mascot, HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Sailors hauling taught on the lines, HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Gunnery drills on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown officers on the bridge of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown small craft approaching / passing by HMCS
DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors on the jetty believed to be
from HMCS DIGBY J267
(note the Fairmile ML in the background - either
Q086 or Q096)
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailors on the jetty believed to be
from HMCS DIGBY J267
(note the Fairmile ML in the background - either
Q086 or Q096)
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
Identified: William Charles Leslie (Les)
Armstrong - standing, 2nd from left
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Two unknown sailors man the after gun on HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown officers / sailor on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Depth charge exploding astern of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Quarterdeck awash on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown officer on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Two unknown sailors keeping out of the elements
as best they can on the bridge wing of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Unknown sailor relaxing with a book in the
ship's boat of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY escorting merchant ships through an ice field
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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A couple unknown sailors enjoying a break and
some sun on the quarterdeck of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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A couple unknown sailors by the signal lamp on
HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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One Sig reading light from another ship, while
the 2nd Sig writes - two officers in the background observing the
other ship(s)
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Seaboat Drills on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Depth Charge Drills on HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Barge - believed to be coming alongside HMCS DIGBY
J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267 with two tugs alongside
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267 alongside the jetty - outboard
ship unknown
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS Transcona J271 with HMCS DIGBY J267
(foreground) following astern
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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Rough seas - looking forward from the Starboard
side bridge wing of HMCS DIGBY J267
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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HMCS DIGBY's saluting cannon - by the
breakwater, directly in front of the forward gun
From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy of Ryan Lee
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North
Atlantic Convoy
Photo
taken from convoy escort HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Whaler from HMCS DIGBY J267 (right foreground)
heading out to the ships tied up at the trot buoys
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Ships secured at the trot buoys. HMCS
Stellarton K457, port side, front group of 3 ships
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Unknown Castle class corvette, St. John's,
Newfoundland
Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
Photo
description submitted by Donald (Bud) Rose: Taken from the
South Western area of St. John's harbour where N A D was located.
[Naval Armament Depot] Photographer was facing east towards Signal
Hill which can be seen stretching across the top of the photo. The
bell shaped rock in the center of the hill is a dead giveaway. Cabot
Tower is to the right of this bell shape.
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Left to right: HMCS Truro J268, HMCS
Brockville J270, unknown, HMCS Transcona J271 - Location unknown
Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Left to right: HMCS Truro J268, HMCS
Brockville J270, unknown, HMCS Transcona J271 - Location unknown
Note the plum of smoke in the distance
Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Troopship RMS Aquitania - location unknown
Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Sailors in the Calgary Stampede Parade - it is
believed these sailors are part of the crew of HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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Two unknown sailors in a punt - believed to be
from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
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L-R: HMS Cyclamen K83, HMS Gardiner K478,
HMS Seychelles K592, St. John's Newfoundland
Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY J267
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
Photo
description submitted by Donald (Bud) Rose: Appears to be
taken from a vessel which is located near M H C Dockyard and facing
North - East towards the harbour entrance.
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Hills around the harbour at St. John's,
Newfoundland - Cabot Tower on Signal Hill in the distance in the top
photo
From
the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee
Courtesy
of Ryan Lee
Photo
description submitted by Donald (Bud) Rose: Top photo:
Taken from the Eastern most end of the South Side Hills, overlooking
the entrance to St. John's harbour. Cabot Tower can be seen in the
distance but not the harbour entrances, known as the
"Narrows". Defence Construction used this area as an
access to the hill area above the West side of the
"Narrows". There they constructed a bulk oil storage tank.
Bottom
photo: Taken from the same area as first photo, but looking
to the North. This area was first cleared and used in 1914 as a
shooting range, for new recruit training for the Nfld Regiment.
During WWII the area was used for the installation of a "tank
farm" for the Navy. It contained several large bulk oil storage
tanks. At war's end, some tanks were turned over for civilian use
and the others removed.
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HMCS DIGBY J267 in refit in Lunenburg, NS
Courtesy of David MacLachlan
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HMCS DIGBY 179
From the collection of Robert (Bob) Theriault
Courtesy of Bob Theriault
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HMCS DIGBY 179
From the collection of Robert (Bob) Theriault
Courtesy of Bob Theriault
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HMCS DIGBY 179 - undated
DND / RCN photo
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WP119
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WP120
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WP121
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WP122
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WP123
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(WP119)
HMCS DIGBY (foreground) transiting the Panama Canal - 1954
(WP120)
HMCS DIGBY (foreground) in the Miguel Locks, Panama Canal - 1954
(WP121)
Jamaican Cop - 1954 (WP122) HMCS DIGBY alongside jetty in Jamaica -
1954 (WP123) Downtown Acapulco - 1954
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WP124
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WP125
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WP126
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WP127
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WP128
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(WP124) Yacht "El
President" - Acapulco - 1954 (WP125) HMCS JONQUIERE (inboard), HMCS
DIGBY (centre) and HMCS BROCKVILLE (outboard) alongside in Acapulco - 1954
(WP126)
HMCS JONQUIERE 318 - 1954. Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY (WP127) HMCS
JONQUIERE 318 laying a smoke screen. Photo taken from HMCS DIGBY
(WP128)
HMCS DIGBY 179 - 1954
(WP29) Partial crew of HMCS
DIGBY 179 - 1954
(WP130) HMCS DIGBY - 1955 (WP131) Newspaper article on the former HMCS
DIGBY awaiting a buyer - dated 1961. Webmaster's note: the report is a bit
off on his facts as the photo he is using is taken sometime between 1953 and
1957, not when she was fresh off the builder's way in 1942.
From the collection of William
(Bill) Argyle Paterson, P1BN, RCN / C.A.F.
Courtesy of Bruce Paterson
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