HMCS MELVILLE J263

 

Bangor Class Minesweeper

 

 

HMCS MELVILLE J263

 

Laid down: 17 Dec 1940

Launched: 06 Jul 1941

Commissioned: 04 Dec 1941

Paid off: 18 Aug 1945

Fate: Transferred to the Fisheries Protection Service on 18 Aug 1945 and re-named Cygnus.  Sold in 1960 and broken up in 1961

 

Built at Levis, Que., the first of the diesel-engined Bangors, MELVILLE was commissioned at Quebec City on 04 Dec 1941. She arrived at Halifax on 13 Dec 1941, worked up, and was assigned to WLEF. In May 1942, she was transferred to Shelburne Force, returning to WLEF that September. On 03 Feb 1943, she arrived at Lunenburg for refit and proceeded to Halifax to continue it. She did not resume service until 08 Jul 1943, when she joined WLEF's recently created EG W-5. In Mar 1944, she underwent further repairs at Lunenburg, following which, on 06 Jun 1944, she sailed for Bermuda to work up. Returning to Halifax 02 Jul 1944, she was assigned to Sydney Force until Jun 1945. MELVILLE was paid off at Sydney on 18 Aug 1945, and handed over to the Dept. of Fisheries and re-named CYGNUS. She was renamed LAMNA in 1959. LAMNA was sold to Marine Industries 25 Apr 1960 to be broken up. Her registry was cancelled 29 Dec 1961 - Vessel dismantled.(1)

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

 

Commanding Officers

 

Lt R.T. Ingram, RCNR - 04 Dec 1941 - 19 Jun 1942

A/LCdr Eric Rigby Shaw, RCNR - 20 Jun 1942 - 13 Oct 1943

Skpr/Lt J.B. Cooper, RCNR - 08 Nov 1943 - Dec 1943

Lt J.E. Taylor, RCNVR - unk - 17 Jan 1944

Lt James Sloman Foster, RCNR - 18 Jan 1944 - 25 Jan 1944

Lt Walter Nelson Winters, RCNVR - 26 Jan 1944 - 20 Apr 1944

Lt James Sloman Foster, RCNR - 20 May 1944 - unk

Lt Donald Burton Harding, RCNR - unk - 18 Aug 1945

 

 

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

 

MCDONALD, William A.

 L/SA, RCNVR

died - 25 Nov 1944

 

 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

 

 

Former Crew Members

 

Collingwood, Frank Joseph, SLt, RCNVR - 15 May 1945

 

Dickinson, George Cyril, Wt (E), RCNR - 11 Mar 1941 (Stand by)

 

Exley, William Mills, Skpr, RCNR - 15 May 1945

Ferguson, Raymond Douglas, SLt, RCNVR - 23 May 1944

 

King, Ronald Henry, SLt, RCNVR - 26 Jan 1944

 

Moyes, Robert Joseph, Lt, RCNVR - 22 Apr 1943

Noel, Eugene Francois, Lt, RCNVR - 30 Apr 1942

 

Sorensen, Paul Frentz, Cd (E), RCNR - Jan 1943

 

Williams, Ronald John, Lt, RCNVR - 15 Mar 1943

 

 

Photos and Documents

 

Lieutenant Donald Harding, HMCS MELVILLE J263

Courtesy of Paul Harding

Donald Harding

Courtesy of Paul Harding

Newspaper article on Don Harding being promoted to commanding officer of HMCS MELVILLE J263

Courtesy of Paul Harding

Survivors from the British merchant Fort Qu'appelle on board HMCS MELVILLE J263

From the collection of George King

Courtesy of Greg King

Torpedoed tanker - photo taken from HMCS MELVILLE J263

From the collection of George King

Courtesy of Greg King

Turgeon (left) and George King (right) with ship's mascots

From the collection of George King

Courtesy of Greg King

HMCS MELVILLE J263

HMCS MELVILLE J263, other ship unknown, circa 1945

(2nd in ship in photo could be either HMCS Fergus K686, HMCS Guelph K687 or HMCS Merrittonia K688)

From the collection of Robert David Masters

Courtesy of Cathy Masters

Jasper Kenneth O'Hanley (standing, centre) and shipmates (names unknown), HMCS MELVILLE J263

From the collection of Jasper O'Hanley

Courtesy of Winona Adams

HMCS MELVILLE J263 - outboard minesweeper in centre of photo

From the collection of Robert Webster, PO, RCNVR

 

Footnotes:

(1) - Information on transfer to Dept. of Fisheries, renaming and final disposition from the research of Bryon Taylor.

 

 

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