HMCS KENORA J281 / 191

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 

 

HMCS KENORA J281

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Source: The Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

 

Laid down: 18 Aug 1941

Launched: 20 Dec 1941

Commissioned: 06 Aug 1942

Paid off: 06 Oct 1945

Re-acquired by RCN: 1952

Transferred to Turkish Navy: 29 Nov 1957

Paid off: 1972

Fate: Unknown

 

Commissioned on 06 Aug 1942, at Port Arthur, she arrived at Halifax on 07 Sep 1942 and proceeded to Pictou for workups. She was then assigned to WLEF and in Jun 1943, became a member of EG W-8. 

 

Ship's movements 15 Dec 1943 - 26 Jan 1943 from the diary of Edward Belsey, RCNVR:

 

- Departed Halifax 15 Dec 1943 at 0700  //  Arrived Newfoundland 20 Dec 1943 at 1500

- Departed Newfoundland 29 Dec 1943 at 0800  //  Arrived Halifax 06 Jan 1944 at 1230

- Departed Halifax 13 Jan 1944 at 2400  // Arrived New York 18 Jan 1944 at 1030

- Departed New York 21 Jan 1944 at 1220  // Returned to New York 21 Jan 1944 at 1330

- Departed New York 22 Jan 1944 at 1330  // Arrived Halifax 26 Jan 1944 at 2300

 

She left Halifax on 21 Feb 1944 with CANSO, GUYSBOROUGH and WASAGA via the Azores for Plymouth, arriving on 08 Mar 1944. KENORA was assigned to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla, with which she was present on D-Day, and in October returned to Canada for a refit at Liverpool, N.S. She proceeded to the U.K. again in Feb 1945, and was assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla until 04 Sep 1945, when she left Plymouth for Canada. KENORA was paid off at Halifax on 06 Oct 1945, and placed in reserve at Shelburne. In 1946, she went into strategic reserve at Sorel until re-acquired by the RCN in 1952 and moved to Sydney. On 29 Nov 1957, she was transferred to the Turkish Navy as BANDIRMA. She was removed from service in 1972.

 

 

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

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

A/LCdr F.R.F. Naftel, RCNVR - 06 Aug 1942 - 14 Sep 1943

 

Lt Douglas Wilson Lowe, RCNVR - 15 Sep 1943 - 07 Feb 1945

 

A/LCdr Ralph Morton Meredith, RCNR - 08 Feb 1945 - 06 Oct 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Boudreau, Melvin 

 

Brockington, Laurence, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jul 1943

 

Cybulski, Walter Joseph

 

Gore, Stanley John, Wt (E), RCNR - 04 Jul 1944

 

Lee, Robert Elias, Lt, RCNVR - 23 Apr 1945

MacCallum, Peter Malcolm, Lt, RCNVR - 27 Jan 1945

 

Minty, Gordon Robert, SLt (E), RCNVR - 04 Jun 1943

 

Ross, Francis Lawrence, SLt, RCNVR - 02 Feb 1945

Shea, Frank Earl, A/War (E), RCN - 21 Feb 1945

 

Stone, Kenneth Albert, Lt, RCNVR - 29 Jan 1945

 

Vincelli, John, SLt, RCNVR - 29 Jan 1945

 

Young, Frank Malcolm, Surg/Lt, RCNVR - 10 Apr 1945

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

HMCS KENORA J281 (centre of photo) in formation with minesweeping flotilla

 

Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax

On board HMCS KENORA - 1945

 

Lt Hugh Hamilton, RCNVR, 1st Lt "WASAGA", LCdr Ralph Meredith, RCNR, CO "KENORA", Lt MacCallum, 1st Lt "KENORA" with Adolph Hitler, ex-Fuerher [sic], Germand Forces on board HMCS "KENORA" at Sydney, NS, 24 Sep 1945

 

From the collection of Hugh Hamilton

Courtesy of Rick Hamilton

HMCS KENORA - 1942

Source: Naval History and Heritage Command. Catalog #: NH 60538

HMCS KENORA J281 - undated

 

DND / RCN photo

HMCS KENORA J281 - undated

 

DND / RCN photo

 

 

AG01

AG02

AG03

(AG01) SLt Alexander Murray Gow on HMCS KENORA  (AG02) Lt, Douglas Wilson Lowe, CO, HMCS KENORA  (AG03) Officers on HMCS KENORA L-R:  Jack Morgan, Johnny Steedman, Lt Doug Lowe, CO, Alexander Gow, Dave Stevens and Andrew (Scotty) Scott

 

AG04

AG05

AG06

AG07

AG08

Up Spirits on HMCS KENORA J281

 

Alexander Gow can be seen in photos AG04-AG07 in the white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up.

 

From the collection of Lt Alexander Gow

 

Courtesy of Doug Gow

 

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