HMCS FRASER H48

C - Class Destroyer (RN)

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

The history of HMCS FRASER H48 - from an article in the Daily Colonist 28 Jun 1957

The first HMCS FRASER was one of two destroyers acquired from the British Admiralty by the Canadian Navy to replace two over-age destroyers, HMCS CHAMPLAIN and VANCOUVER.

One, the CYGENT, was to become the first HMCS ST LAURENT, while the other, the CRESCENT, was renamed HMCS FRASER.

Both destroyers were laid down in the Royal Navy's 1929 program.

Construction began in 1930 and they were launched the same day, Sept. 29, 1931.

The two warships were commissioned into the RCN on Feb. 17, 1937. Captain (later rear-admiral) V.G. Brodeur was the FRASER's first commanding officer. The destroyers sailed for Canada from Portland, Dorset, on March 12 of the same year. Twelve days later they entered Carlisle Bay, Barbados, to rendezvous with HMC Ships SKEENA and SAGUENAY. On March 25, Captain Brodeur exchanged command with Commander (later vice-admiral) H.E. Reid of the Skeena. At Barbados, the FRASER and the St. Laurent parted company, the St. Laurent proceeding to Halifax in company with the SKEENA and SAGUENAY, and the FRASER sailing for Esquimalt, B.C. where she arrived on May 3.

For the few remaining pre-war years, the FRASER carried out a busy schedule of training cruises. In the early months of 1938 she sailed south to join Halifax-based units at Panama for a cruise down the west coast of South America. A year later, under her third and last commanding officer, Commander (later rear-admiral) W.B. Creery, she sailed with other Pacific coast units through the Panama Canal for exercises in West Indies waters.

Other activities of the FRASER included the embarkation of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada, during his 1937 visit to British Columbia; participation in the escort of President Roosevelt during his visit to the province in September of the same year, and in the four-destroyer escort of Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their crossing to Victoria in May, 1939, during the Royal visit. A little over three months later, Canada was at war. On August 31, four destroyers, FRASER, OTTAWA, ST LAURENT and RESTIGOUCHE, lay at anchor just off Coal Harbor in Vancouver, where they were to take part in the celebrations for the city's annual exhibition.

The same day a message was received from Ottawa ordering FRASER and St. Laurent to Halifax. The ships were rapidly prepared. One hour and 49 minutes after the orders had been received, the destroyers were steaming at high speed for the Panama Canal.

Canada declared war on Sept. 10, while they were still en route for their destination. The FRASER arrived at Halifax Sept. 14, exactly 14 days and 30 minutes after weighing anchor at Vancouver.

Joining the Halifax Force, the FRASER spent the next few months on convoy duties. Among the vessels she assisted in escorting into Halifax Harbour were ships bringing gold bullion from England to Canada for safekeeping. In March, 1940, the ship was ordered south to join the Jamaica force in the Caribbean where the allied naval forces had been bottling up German shipping caught in that area by the war.

However, her time with this force was short. The Nazi tide was rolling down to the coastline of western Europe and Canadian ships were urgently requested to help protect British shores against threatening invasion, and keep open the vital supply routes to the British Isles.

In the latter part of May, 1940, FRASER was one of the Canadian destroyers sent overseas. Following her arrival, she was assigned mainly to convoy duties, including the escort of troopships carrying Canadian soldiers to the United Kingdom.

On June 21, the day that Hitler imposed the armistice of Compiegne, the FRASER was dispatched to assist in the evacuation of St. Jean de Luz, a small town on the Bay of Biscayne coast near the Franco-Spanish border and one of the last outlets for refugees attempting to leave the continent. On the evening of June 22, she carried out anti-submarine patrols in the bay off the town, and later helped cover the vessels arriving to embark the refugees. At dawn on June 23, she was ordered northwards to Arcachon, on the Biscay coast southwest of Bordeaux. Her commanding officer , Commander Creery, carried two secret hand messages; one addressed to Sir Ronald Campbell, the British Ambassador to France, and the other to Admiral Darlan. It was believed that Sir Ronald was in Arcachon at the time.

As she approached the coastal town, the FRASER sighted a small sardine boat tossing in the rain-swept waves. When she came alongside, it was found that the boat was carrying the British ambassador, The Canadian Minister to France (Lieutenant-Colonel Georges P. Vanier) and the South African Minister to France, as well as naval, military and air attaches. The FRASER returned to St. Jean de Luz where the rescued diplomatic personnel were transferred to the British cruiser Galatea.

At St. Jean de Luz, the evacuation continued smoothly and efficiently and by June 23 the evacuation was practically complete. The first warships in the harbour were the FRASER, another Canadian destroyer, the RESTIGOUCHE, and the British cruiser CALCUTTA. When they stood out to sea shortly after, the FRASER had embarked five officers and 33 men of the Royal Navy, one British army officer, and four Polish seamen.

The three ships next headed north toward the mouth of the Gironde River, up which lay the port of Bordeaux. German vessels had been reported in the area, but when the Canadian and British units arrived nothing was seen of the enemy, and the CALCUTTA ordered a return to the United Kingdom.

The FRASER was never to reach her destination for, late that night, June 25, she was in collision with the CALCUTTA while the ships were forming into line ahead. Shortly after 8:30 p.m. 12 miles due west of Pointe de la Coubre light at the Gironde River mouth, the Calcutta's bows sliced into the FRASER'S starboard side, cutting through to the centre line of the destroyer and stopping inside the crushed wheelhouse. The FRASER'S bow broke off at the forecastle while the aft portion, engines still going astern in obedience to the order which sought to avoid the collision, moved quickly off the cruiser's port side.

The FRASER went to the bottom in the early hours of June 26 - Canada's first naval loss of the Second World War. Rescue efforts by the RESTIGOUCHE and CALCUTTA, and by the officers and men of the FRASER themselves saved many, but 65 of her ship's company were lost. Most of those who survived went down four months later, on October 23, with HMCS MARGAREE.

Photos and Documents

The Loss of HMCS FRASER

Commanding Officers

Capt Victor Gabriel Brodeur, CB, CBE, RCN - 17 Feb 1937 - 24 Mar 1937

Cdr Howard Emerson Reid, CB, RCN - 25 Mar 1937 - 31 Aug 1938

Cdr Wallace Bourchier Creery, CBE, RCN - 01 Sep 1938 - 25 Jun 1940

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

(s) - Survived the sinking of HMCS FRASER

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Photos and Documents