HMCS FORT FRANCES J396 / 170

Algerine Class Minesweeper

Commissioned at Port Arthur on 28 Oct 1944, she arrived at Halifax on 26 Nov 1944, and sailed for Bermuda in Jan 1945 to work up. Returning to Halifax, Fort Frances served briefly with escort groups W-8 and W-9 of Western Escort Force before being paid off into maintenance reserve on 03 Aug 1945. She was again in commissioned from 23 Oct 1945 to 05 Apr 1946, and in 1948 was handed over to the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys as a hydrographic survey ship. In 1958 she revered to naval service as a civilian-manned oceanographic research vessel. She was sold for breaking-up in 1974.

Photos and Documents          The Ship's Bell

Commanding Officers

Lt D.E. Ryerson, RCNVR - 28 Oct 1944 - 25 Jul 1945

Lt L.F. Horne, RCNVR - 19 Oct 1945 - 06 Mar 1946

LCdr Wilfred Orvin Oakley Barbour, RCNVR - 06 Mar 1946 - 05 Apr 1946

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(FTF001) HMCS FORT FRANCES, Dartmouth, NS

(RB027) HMCS FORT FRANCES J396

(RB028) On 16 Jul 1945, Raymond Burton was drafted to HMCS Fort Frances.  Two days later, on 18 Jul 1945 a series of explosions at the Bedford Magazine rattled Halifax - which became known as the Second Halifax Explosion. Mushroom cloud rising from the Bedford Magazine

(BR029) Troopship in Halifax harbour - 18 Jul 1945

(RB030-RB031) Hospital ship in Halifax harbour - 18 Jul 1945

From the wartime photo collection of Raymond Burton

These photos are not for reproduction, distribution or sale

Copyright Elizabeth Wagner