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HMCS
LOUISBURG K143
Flower
Class Corvette
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HMCS LOUISBURG K143 - 19 Oct
1942
From the collection of Thomas J. Simpson. |
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Laid down: 04
Oct
1940
Launched: 27 May 1941
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Commissioned: 02
Oct 1941
Fate: Sunk on
06 Feb 1943
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Built at Quebec City and commissioned there on
02 Oct 1941, LOUISBURG arrived at Halifax on 15 Oct 1941. She was
assigned to Sydney Force until mid-Jan 1942, when she was
transferred to Newfoundland Command. On 01 Feb 1942 she left St.
John's for Londonderry as escort to convoy SC.67, another of whose
escorts, HMCS SPIKENARD, was lost.
After a long refit at Halifax, from 27 Mar 1942 to 27 Jun 1942, LOUISBURG
made two more round trips to 'Derry before being assigned
to duties in connection with Operation "Torch," the
invasion of North Africa. She arrived at Londonderry on 23 Sep 1942, then proceeded to the Humber for fitting of extra
AA armament.
This work was completed on 18 Oct 1942. On 09 Dec 1942, while
anchored at Londonderry, she was accidentally rammed by HMS BIDEFORD,
necessitation five weeks' repairs at Belfast. LOUISBURG had scarcely
commenced her "Torch" duties when, on the afternoon of 06 Feb
1943 near Cape Tenes, Algeria convoy KMF-8 (Gibraltar to Bone) was attacked
by Italian Planes Savoia 79. HMCS LOUISBURG was hit by bombs and torpedoes
and sank in position 36º15'N, 00º15'E. The torpedo hit her amidships on
the port side of the engine room and the ship sank within 3 minutes. Forty-three of her crew were lost
including several R.N. sailors and 2 Canadian sailors who died later of
injuries received as a result of the sinking.
Photos and Documents
Commanding Officers
LCdr
William Franklin Campbell,
RCNVR - 02 Oct 1941 - 06 Feb 1943
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
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ADAMS,
Charles J.
AB, Royal Navy
MPK - 06 Feb 1943
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ALDRED,
Leslie
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943
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ANDERSON,
Archibald
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943
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ANDERSON,
Cecil F.
L/Sig, RCNVR
DOW - 18 May 1943
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ANNABLE,
Grant C.
OS, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943
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BANKS,
Merle A.
AB, RCNR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
BENJAMIN,
Stanley
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
BETTESS,
Edward
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
CAMPBELL,
William F.
LCdr, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
CARTWRIGHT,
Kenneth
OS, Royal Navy
MPK
- 06 Feb 1943 |
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COURNOYER,
Roland
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
DUNCAN,
James
OS, Royal Navy
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
FORREST,
George A.C.
ERA 4c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
GARDEN,
Rayburn V.
ERA 4c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
GAUVIN,
Joseph M.R.
OS, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
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GILBERT,
William M.
Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
GRAVES,
Carleton S.
AB, RCNR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
GRIFFIN,
Earle F.
AB A/SD, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
HALL,
James
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
HANCOCK,
Archibald
L/Radio Mech, Royal Navy
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
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LEWIS,
William E.
AB AA III, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
LIDDLE,
Eric
OS, Royal Navy
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MACDONALD,
Donald
LS AA III, RCNVR
DOW - 08 Feb 1943 |
MACGREGOR,
Duncan
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MACLEOD,
Gordon I.
Sig, RCNVR
killed
- 06 Feb 1943 |
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MACPHAIL,
John A.
Coder, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MACPHAIL,
Sidney J.
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MCCLELLAN,
John F.
AB, RCN
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MCDONALD,
Ronald
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MCNEILL,
Donald
CERA, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
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MERRYWEATHER,
Hugh
Coder, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
MORIN,
Joseph G.E.V.
OS, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
NINIAN,
Thomas M.
O/Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
PATERSON,
Robert L.
Sig, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
RICE,
Stanley N.
Sto 1c, RCNVR
MPK
- 06 Feb 1943 |
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ROBINSON,
Elwin
Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
SHEPPARD,
Thomas W.
AB, Royal Navy
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
SMITH,
Arthur J.
PO Tel, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
STEVENSON,
James
LS, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
TANNER,
James A.
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
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VIKSTROM,
Jack R.
AB, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
WATSON,
Norman R.
Stoker, RCNVR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
WILSON,
Ernest
Lt, RCNR
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
Ship's Mascot
MPK - 06 Feb 1943 |
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar
They shall not be
forgotten
(s)
- survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG on 06 Feb 1943
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Carragher,
Francis E. (s)
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Jarvis,
Robert A. (s)
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MacDonnell,
Donald J.
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McLean,
Elvin R. (s)
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McDonald,
Mel
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McNeney,
James R. (s)
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Money,
John
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Nickerson, Edward W.
(s)
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Pain, Ernest
(s)
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Parks,
Blanchard S. (s)
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Robinson,
William E. (s)
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Tingley,
Hall W. F. (s)
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White,
George E.
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Wright,
William R. (s)
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Former Crew Members
(s) -
survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG on 06 Feb 1943
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Anderson, C., L/Sig, RCNVR (s)
Ayres, OS (s)
Brewer, F., Sto, RCNVR (s)
Buckley, Andrew, LS, RCNVR (s)
Charlton, John, AB, RCNVR (s)
Cornell, James, L/SBA, RCNVR (s)
Crone, K.K., Tel, RCNVR (s)
Dupont, I.J., Tel, RCNVR (s)
Gibson, Lorne, AB, RCNVR (s)
Guersette, Joseph Rene, OS, RCNVR (s)
Hawes, James, Sto, RCNVR (s)
Heslam, Richard Murray, Lt (G), RCNVR 
Jenkins, Gordon, AB, RCNVR (s)
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Juillette, Charles, PO, RCNR (s)
Keenan, R., Stwd, RCNVR (s)
Keill, John, LS, RCNVR (s)
Latremouille, J.M., L/SA, RCNVR (s)
MacDonald, Donald, LS, RCNVR (s)
McCauley, J., Stwd, RCNVR (s)
McDonald, G., AB, RCNR (s)
McIntyre, A., PO, RCN (s)
McPhee, Daniel, PO ERA, RCNVR (s)
Mercer, Maxwell, CPO, RCN (s)
Morrison, H., Sto, RCNR (s)
Musselman, D., AB, RCNVR (s)
Oliphant, W., Sto, RCNVR (s)
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Quinsey, W.J., AB, RCNR (s)
Ransome, Wilson, L/CK, RCN (s)
Regan, M., AB, RCNVR (s)
Reimers, I., Sto, RCNVR (s)
Rhodes, Hubert, AB, RCNVR (s)
Ritson-Bennett, W., AB, RCNR (s)
Ruthven, Albert, AB, RCNVR (s)
Senior, Arthur, OS, Royal Navy (s)
St. Laurent, James, OS, RCNVR (s)
Stewart, D., AB, RCNVR (s)
Tembley, R., OS (s)
Welsh, C., OS, RCNVR (s)
Willett, James A., L/Sto, RCNVR (s)
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Photos and Documents
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HMCS LOUISBURG
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Distribution of Salvage Money for the salvage of the
Motor Vessel "G.S. Waldren" on 04 Aug 1942
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Article on 4 brothers who served in WW II -
one, René Gauvin - lost when HMCS LOUISBURG was sunk
Courtesy of Rene Gauvin (nephew of René Gauvin)
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Duncan Macgregor, Stoker, V19596, RCNVR
Photo taken in from of the family home on Hall Ave,
Windsor, Ont.
Courtesy of William (Bill) Macgregor
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Article on the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
The Toronto Globe and Mail - 17 Feb 1943
Source: Democracy at War (Canadian War Museum)
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Drawing that appears in local newspapers on the loss of
HMCS LOUISBURG K143
From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks
Courtesy of Karla Kordyban
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"A Gallant Ship"
Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks
Courtesy of Karla Kordyban
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Article on 4 survivors from the sinking of
HMCS LOUISBURG K143
From the collection of Blanchard (Budd) Parks
Courtesy of Karla Kordyban
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Article on casualties and survivors of the loss of HMCS
LOUISBURG K143
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Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 casualties and survivors
from Ontario
Stoker
Duncan MacGregor of Windsor; Lt Ernest Wilson of Ottawa; Stoker
Stanley Norman Rice of Toronto; AB James Arthur Tanner of Sault Ste
Marie; Tel Elwin Robinson of Toronto; OS James Hall of
Belleville; AB Leslie Aldred of Toronto
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Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 Casualties and Survivors
OS
H. Hall of Belleville; Stoker D. MacGregor of Windsor; AB J.A.
Tanner of Sault Ste Marie; AB E.F. Griffin of Dalhouse Jct, NB;
Tel E. Robinson of Toronto; L/Cook W. Ranson of Woodstock;
Soker S.N. Rice of Toronto; LS J.C. Stevenson of Verdun, QC; AB
L. Aldred of Toronto; Stoker F. Brewer of Toronto
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Article on HMCS LOUISBURG K143 Casualties and Survivors
The Toronto Evening Telegram, 16 Feb 1943
Lt
Ernest Wilson of Ottawa; Lt H.F. Tingley of Vancouver; LCdr W.F.
Campbell of Saskatoon & Toronto; SLt W.R. Wright of
Montreal; Lt. R.A. Jarvis of Toronto
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Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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Article from the Globe and Mail, 17 Feb 1943
on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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Article from the Family Herald and Weekly
Star on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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Photos of LOUISBURG survivors and casualties - from the
Daily Star 16 Feb 1943
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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Photos of HMCS LOUISBURG casualties from Toronto, ON
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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List of survivors of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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HMCS LOUISBURG K143 - Casualty list
Courtesy of Beverly Plume
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Article on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG -
survivors tell their story
The Moncton Daily Time - 11 Mar 1943
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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LOUISBURG's Crew Wants to Stay as One
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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Articles on the loss of HMCS LOUISBURG K143
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Margaret Best (widow of Earle Griffin), Francis
Carragher and Florence Lewis (widow of Erskine Lewis)
Francis Carragher survived the sinking of HMCS LOUISBURG
on 06 Feb 1943. Both Earle Griffin and Erskine Lewis lost their
lives that day.
Francis Carragher crossed the bar on 04 Jun 2012
Courtesy of Beverley Plume
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