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HMCS GODERICH J260 / 198
Bangor Class Minesweeper
Commissioned at Toronto on 23 Nov 1941, GODERICH arrived at Halifax on 06 Dec 1941. She spent her whole career based at Halifax as a member, alternately, of Halifax Local Defence Force and Halifax Force. She was damaged on 18 Nov 1942, in a collision with the tanker Iocoma in Halifax harbour, which necessitated three weeks' repairs there. GODERICH saw almost continuous service service, undergoing only one major refit at Liverpool, N.S., from 05 Mar to 15 May 1943. On 29 Jan 1943, she rescued survivors from the after section of the U.S. tanker Brilliant, which had broken in half during a storm. She was paid off at Halifax on 06 Nov 1945, and in 1946 placed in strategic reserve at Sorel. In 1951 she was re-acquired by the RCN and underwent modernization at Lauzon. Never re-commissioned, however, she lay in reserve at Sydney until sold in Feb 1959 for scrap.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
Commanding Officers
Sto PO, RCNR Lost at sea - 14 Aug 1943
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
Sailors on HMCS GODERICH J260
(AW01a) - photos # AW01 with sailors numbered. #10 Witt, Arthur William (PP01) - L-R: Boam, Pigeon, Cunningham, unknown, unknown (PP02) In the galley on HMCS GODERICH - L-R: Boam, unknown, Pigeon
(WR09) Starboard Communication Mess Feb 1945 (WR09a) Names on back of # WR07 (WR09b) photo #WR07 with sailors numbered (WR09b) - (1) Donald Barton, Sig TO (of Mount Brydges, Ontario) (2) L.W. Vanderlip, Tel TO (0f 6544 King St. W., Sunnyside, Toronto, Ontario (3) Rodney N. Walker, L/Sig (of 5408 Verdun Ave, Verdun Quebec) (4) J.K. Cunningham, Tel (of 190 Cooper St., Ottawa, Ontario) (5) John P. Roberts, Sig (of 63 Erie St., South Ridgetown, Ontario (6) Brian Prentice, L/Tel (of 544 Home St., Winnipeg, Manitoba) (7) "Little Gersh" on the table
(WR10) HMCS GODERICH Communications Branch - 1945 (WR10a) names on back of # WR09 (WR10b) photo # WR10 with sailors numbered (WR10b) - (1) "Little Gersh" (2) Harold Wannamaker (3) Don Barton (4) Jack Cummingham (5) Pat Connolly (6) Brian Prentice (7) Lloyd Vanderlip (8) Barry Nelson (9) William Roast (10) Harold Metcalf (11) Rodney Walker (12) Jack Roberts
(HM) = From the collection of Harold Murray. Courtesy of Rick Murray (AW) = From the collection of Arthur Witt. Courtesy of Dale Witt (PP) = From the collection of Paul Pigeon. Courtesy of Patricia Pigeon (WR) - From the collection of William Roast. Courtesy of Brad Roast
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Unknown merchant ship sinking Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Unknown merchant ship sinking
This above photo is from the collection of Paul Pigeon. It is not known who Jean-Guy Desforges (of 8245 Berri Nor, Montreal) is - crew member of GODERICH or perhaps a survivor of the merchant ship. If you have any info on him please send me an email.
(1) S.S. Gulhag sitting low in the water (2) Unknown corvette (3) Approaches to Halifax (4) Gate vessels operating the anti-submarine nets Halifax Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Submarine U-889 (either in Shelburne or Halifax, NS)
She was commissioned in to the RCN as HMCS U-889 for trials and testing. She was transferred to the USN in Jan 1946 for disposal. Note in the photos that her periscope and other pieces of equipment have been removed.
(1 & 2) U-889 with a Fairmile motor launch on her portside (3) HMCS GODERICH approaching U-889 from astern - Fairmile moving away (forward) (4) HMCS GODERICH coming alongside U-889. Note the buoy just to the left of the sub that she is secured to. (5 & 6) HMCS GODERICH alongside U-889
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
(1) Flags and pennants on HMCS GODERICH for V.E. Day (2) Sweep deck of HMCS GODERICH - rough seas (3) Sweep deck of HMCS GODERICH - line secured to the paravane (4) HMCS GODERICH (foreground) merchant ship on the horizon (5) HMCS Huron G24 (6) tug approaching HMCS GODERICH through ice (7) Minesweepers alongside
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
(1) Photo appears to be of Halifax Harbour (2) Two corvettes and a minesweeper in Halifax. Outboard corvette is HMCS Barrie K138 - identified by the artwork on the face of her bridge. The minesweeper (inboard) is HMCS Kentville J312 (3) Hospital ship Lady Nelson (4) unknown vessel - possibly a troop ship
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Minesweepers at work off the approaches to Halifax
(4) HMCS Kentville J312
(1) three minesweepers in formation astern of HMCS GODERICH (2) Either preparing to stream or retrieving the paravane on HMCS GODERICH
Photos from the collection of Arthur Witt during his time serving in HMCS GODERICH J260
Webmaster's note: This photo is of an island (location unknown) - but was significant enough for Arthur Witt to photograph it. If anyone can identify it, please send me an email
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
